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Our clergy & staff

Temple Israel's clergy, staff and board are here to help make sure everything is in place for a great experience.  Photos, bios, office hours and contact information for our clergy and staff are below to make connecting easy.  Always feel free to call the Temple Office at 914.271.4705 if you have any trouble finding what you need. Please note that office hours are subject to change.

Clergy Office Hours:     Tuesday - Sunday              8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
 
Staff Office Hours:        Monday - Friday                 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
 
Director of Education:  Tuesday - Thursday           10 AM - 6 PM
                                     Sunday                               8:30 AM - 12 PM
 
Facilities:                      Tuesday - Friday, Sunday  8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
 

clergy bios & contact

RABBI JENNIFER JAECH (She/Her)

rabbi@tinw.org
914.271.4705 x132

Rabbi Jennifer Jaech became the Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel of Northern Westchester in 2006. She is an insightful leader and gifted educator who interprets the complexity of contemporary American life through the prism of our Jewish history and traditions.  She enjoys teaching children and adults, both within our synagogue and in the broader community.

Rabbi Jaech is active in interfaith work in the community with an emphasis on social justice.   She is a former Co-Chair of Reform Jewish Voice of New York State and served on the Union for Reform Judaism’s Commission on Social Action and the Central Conference of American Rabbis’ Committee on Justice, Peace and Civil Liberties.

Rabbi Jaech co-authored a recently published book: He’s All I Have:  Nurturing a Young Child through the Loss of a Loved One. She also published an essay in the Reform Jewish Quarterly (Winter 2011) entitled: “Don’t let that Horse Bite You:  Rabbinical Lessons Learned in the Riding Ring” and two articles about Temple Israel’s 2018 congregational civil rights journey in The Forward. A child’s book entitled An Accidental Angel is currently in production.

Rabbi Jaech previously served as Assistant Rabbi, Temple Educator, and Rabbinic Intern at Temple Israel. She received her MA in Hebrew Literature from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2002 and was ordained rabbi in 2003. While at HUC-JIR, she earned thirteen academic prizes in several disciplines, including history, liturgy, human relations and Hebrew. She completed her undergraduate education at The Evergreen State College, earning a BA with a concentration in American Studies in 1985.   Prior to coming to Temple Israel, Rabbi Jaech worked in higher education administration, government relations, and politics.

Rabbi Jaech lives with her husband, S. David Sperling, in Peekskill, NY.  Her grown son, Isaac Meyer, teaches high school in Seattle, WA.  Rabbi Jaech’s interests outside the Jewish community include horses, hiking, and Seahawks football.  Read Rabbi Jennifer Jaech's blog for more insight into her perspective or read some of her High Holy Day Sermons from prior years to see what she has been contemplating over time.

CANTOR LAUREN PHILLIPS FOGELMAN

cantor@tinw.org
914.271.4705 x127

Prior to joining Temple Israel in July of 2018, our dynamic cantor, Cantor Phillips Fogelman, served Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, CT . She was ordained as cantor from the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in 2013 and holds degrees from Tufts University and The Boston Conservatory.

Cantor Phillips Fogelman previously served as cantor at Congregation Sinai in Milwaukee, WI, as well as student cantor at Union Temple, the oldest Jewish congregation in Brooklyn, NY. Highlights from her time in Milwaukee include founding the award-winning Sinai in the City program for young professionals, founding the Kol Simcha youth band, and singing the National Anthem at a Brewers game.

​In addition to being an accomplished prayer leader and musician, Cantor Phillips Fogelman has a diverse portfolio of expertise in many areas, including formal and informal education, B'nai Mitzvah preparation, pastoral counseling, and media relations. A dynamic and innovative educator, Cantor Phillips Fogelman has worked with teens and youth, leading international trips for the National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY).  She also has experience with Clinical Pastoral Education at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center where she served as chaplain intern in the Breast Cancer and Gynecology Unit, helping patients cope through some of life's most difficult challenges.

Cantor Phillips Fogelman lives in Westchester with her husband Dan and their two adorable young sons.  She shares some of her thoughts on the Cantor's Blog and you can see some of her music and song here.

RABBI Wendy Pein

educator@tinw.org
914.271.4705 x126

Rabbi Wendy Pein serves as Temple Israel's Director of Congregational Learning and oversees the curriculum and faculty of Temple Israel's Center for Jewish Learning, Temple tot programs and adult education programs.  Rabbi Pein has twenty years of rabbinical experience, having served as the senior rabbi of Adat Chaverim in Plano, TX and as a congregational rabbi for nine years in Westchester, NY.

Rabbi Pein received her Executive M.A. in Jewish educational leadership through Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 2020 and her honorary doctorate of divinity in 2022. She has served as the co-chair of WATE, the Westchester Association of Temple Educators since 2019.  Rabbi Pein is passionate about Jewish education and revealing how Judaism is relevant and meaningful to our modern lives. She resides in Harrison, NY with her family and lives by the maxim to “keep growing and learning.” Read more on her thoughts, ideas and perspectives in Rabbi Pein's Blog.

RABBI EMERITA, HELENE FERRIS

rheleneferris@gmail.com

Rabbi Ferris is the first second-career female rabbi in Judaism.  Rabbi Ferris was ordained by the Reform Jewish seminary Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1981, and worked as an associate rabbi for Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York from 1981 until 1991.  From 1991 until her retirement in 2006 Ferris was the rabbi at Temple Israel of Northern Westchester.

Among her most well-known activities, on December 1, 1988, Ferris helped prepare a prayer service and read from the Torah at the Western Wall, along with over 70 other Jewish women. This was the first time in history Jewish women prayed together and read from the Torah together at the Western Wall.  Rabbi Ferris is a board member of the International Committee for Women of the Wall (ICWOW), which is a group working to give women the right to pray at the Western Wall, which is now illegal.

Rabbi Ferris supports the inclusion of lesbian and gay Jews in religious life. In 1986 she organized a conference on lesbian and gay Jews in New York City.  In 1989 she presided over a same-sex wedding ceremony for Ileen Kaufman and Jan Catalfumo; few rabbis would officiate such a ceremony in those days.

In 2007 Letty Cottin Pogrebin chose her as one of "The Other Fifty Top Rabbis in America."  She has written for Reform Judaism magazine and her Letter to the Editor, Female Prisoners and #MeToo was published in The New York Times in 2018.

SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE, S. DAVID SPERLING

davidsperling1@me.com

Dr. S. David Sperling serves as Professor of Bible and holds the Rabbi Julian Morgenstern Chair in Bible at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. Among his scholarly interests are the religion of ancient Israel, the history of modern Jewish biblical scholarship and comparative Semitic languages.

Dr. Sperling earned his BA at Brooklyn College, was ordained at The Jewish Theological Seminary, and holds a Ph.D. in Ancient Semitic Languages from Columbia University. He is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

Before coming to HUC-JIR, Dr. Sperling taught at SUNY-Stony Brook and then at Barnard College. He has served as visiting professor at New York University, Syracuse University, The College of William and Mary, and The Jewish Theological Seminary.

Among his publications are the books, Ve-Eileh Divrei David: Essays in Semitics, Hebrew Bible and History of Biblical Scholarship, Students of the Covenant (a history of modern Jewish biblical scholarship in America) and The Original Torah: The Political Intent of the Bible’s Writers (visit here for more information). He was the editor of the Bible division of the revised Encyclopaedia Judaica (2007) to which he contributed some 145 articles. Dr. Sperling also served as consulting editor to The Haftarah Commentary by Rabbi Gunther Plaut and Rabbi Chaim Stern, as well as to the new URJ Torah Commentary. His current project is a book on the Hallel Psalms (Psalm 113-118).

Dr. Sperling is married to Rabbi Jennifer Jaech, Senior Rabbi of TINW.

Staff Bios & contact

TEMPLE ADMINISTRATOR, ROBIN SAFAROWIC

robin@tinw.org
914.271.4705 x121

Robin Safarowic is the Temple Administrator at Temple Israel and the right person to call with almost any question you may have about our Temple.  Robin has served Temple Israel for 21 years in a variety of roles with increasing responsibility and complexity.  In most cases, Robin is the first person you see or speak with when you reach out to Temple Israel. She immediately will put you at ease, whether you are asking questions about membership, wanting to connect with clergy, or dealing with a difficult life cycle event. Robin also has an incredible knack of being able to deal with business issues, building maintenance, and all of the Temple’s vendors.

Prior to her time at Temple Israel, Robin raised her three sons.  She lives in Putnam County with her husband of 42 years.

Director of Marketing,
Communications & Public Relations, Melanie Appelbaum

Melanie comes to Temple Israel of Northern Westchester with 30 years of marketing experience.  Melanie has an MBA in Marketing from NYU Stern School of Business and a BA in Psychology from Brandeis.  She is a results-driven, highly organized, persistent and detail-oriented marketing professional as well. She has corporate and not-for-profit experience in designing, implementing and analyzing direct and indirect marketing campaigns.

Prior to coming to Temple Israel, Melanie has worked in the corporate world at American Express developing their first “Find me a Card” website which helped guide people towards the right card for them.  Since that time, she has worked as a consultant for small businesses looking to boost their online presence and has also built websites for a number of small businesses in different industries.  For the past 9 years, Melanie was Marketing & Communications Director at Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont & Emanu-El. 

Melanie is the mother of 4 children and lives in southern Westchester with her husband of 28 years.

SUPERINTENDENT, RUBEN CORREA

Ruben Correa keeps us running smoothly!  Whether it's a light fixture that needs repair, a meeting that needs a quick turn over or burgers that need grilling, Ruben's the man!  His work ethic is unrivaled as evidenced in our neat building and landscaped exterior.  Thank him the next time you see him!

 

 

 

 

 

 

CUSTODIAN, BOB HAYES

Bob Hayes is often on our super early and super late shifts.  He helps make sure all of our events are expertly set up and cleaned up as well as lots and lots of other responsibilities that make our daily lives here more pleasant.  Say "hi" the next time you see him!

 

EDDIE PLEASANT, CHOIR DIRECTOR

Edward Pleasantbaritone, is recognized as one of the most versatile performers of his generation.  Critically acclaimed in both opera and musical theater, he has distinguished himself as a gifted actor with brilliant comic timing and a luscious baritone voice.  Eddie first came to Temple Israel in 1991 and he has been a fixture during the High Holidays at Temple Israel ever since.  He first served as bass soloist in the professional quartet and then in 2008 he was asked to take the helm of the adult choir Hallel B’Shir.  Along with his duties with the adult choir, Eddie enjoys working other vocal ensembles at Temple Israel, namely the Glee Club and Selah.  Eddie particularly enjoys his time with the Brotherhood Choir every year as well.  He is proud to have been named an honorary member of this fine group of brothers.  

DINA PRUZHANSKY, ACCOMPANIST 

Our accompanist Dina Pruzhansky is a NYC based, award-winning composer, pianist, and educator. Born in the former USSR and Israeli-raised, Ms. Pruzhansky enjoys a diverse international career in various genres, ranging from classical to musical theater and from liturgy to cabaret. As a composer-performer, she has been featured in many of New York's renowned music venues, such as Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Merkin Hall, Bargemusic, Le Poisson Rouge, Symphony Space, The Kosciuszko Foundation, YIVO, Opera America Center, and others. Her music has been broadcast on WQXR in an exclusive 'Young Artist' program with the renowned host Robert Sherman. Following the successful premiere of her original Hebrew opera SHULAMIT  in 2014, additional production was enabled by popular demand in 2016. The opera was also presented in part at the Aspen Music Festival 2019. An alumna of the BMI Advanced Musical Theater Workshop, Ms.Pruzhansky was nominated for the Fred Ebb Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre writing and was selected as a finalist for the 2019 NY Musical Theater festival with her musical for children CENTRAL PARK. She has served as a liturgy composer-in-residence at Temple Israel and Temple Shalom, Dallas. A passionate educator, Ms. Pruzhansky is the author of the ‘I Can Play Chopin’ series — a collection of easy piano arrangements for beginners. She currently serves as a faculty member at the 92nd Street Y School of Music, NYC.

BRIAN GELFAND, BAND DIRECTOR 
Brian is a pianist and Jewish educator with over 35 years of performing and teaching experience. He has worked in many Jewish day schools and synagogue religious schools teaching choirs, singing and Jewish liturgy. He currently teaches at the Leffell School, the Kinneret Day School, and Congregation Sha’rei Tikvah in Scarsdale. He is also a pianist at Rodeph Shalom in NYC and Congregation Emanuel Of Westchester. 

 

 

Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky

STARTING JULY 2023

Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky is delighted to be joining the Temple Israel of Northern Westchester community.  Cantor Kobilinsky plays multiple instruments, though you will most often see her with a guitar in hand as she sings. She loves weaving together Jewish music from all eras, regions, and traditions, and is very much looking forward to making music with Temple Israel's musical team. 

After receiving a B.A. in Psychology from Columbia University while also attending The Juilliard School of Music, Cantor Kobilinsky decided to combine her love for music and Judaism by becoming a Cantor. She received a Master of Sacred Music degree followed by Ordination as a Cantor from Hebrew Union College in 2005. Cantor Kobilinsky formerly served as Student Cantor of East End Temple in New York City (2002-2005), and Cantor of Congregation B‘nai Yisrael in Westchester (2005-2019). She also served as an adjunct professor at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and the President of Kol Hazzanim, Westchester's Cantors' organization. Cantor Kobilinsky has been the Spiritual Leader of Chavurat Tikvah of Mid-Westchester, a small congregation of 25 families, since 2019. 

Over her career Cantor Kobilinsky has taught and officiated for approximately 600 bar and bat mitzvah students.  Cantor Kobilinsky is a polyglot who has studied 5 foreign languages including Yiddish, and is also a Soferet STaM (a scribe who can write and repair Torah scrolls, megillot, etc.). She has even performed repairs on one of Temple Israel's own Torah scrolls! Cantor Kobilinsky has lived in Bedford Hills for 17 years, with her husband, Benjamin Poserow and their son, Samuel, who will become bar mitzvah this year.

RABBI/CANTOR DAN SKLAR

STARTING JULY 2023

Rabbi/Cantor Dan Sklar is looking forward to working alongside the talented clergy and staff at Temple Israel of Northern Westchester and getting to know the community.  He was ordained as Cantor from the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in 2006 and was ordained from HUC as a rabbi in 2008. After ordination, Rabbi/Cantor Sklar went on to serve Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, NY (2006-2012) and Temple Israel in Westport (2012-2020). He currently serves as a chaplain with Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Fairfield County, CT and he has been the music director for musicals at Bedford Middle School in Westport, CT.

Rabbi/Cantor Sklar grew up in Northbrook, IL and earned a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory in 1994. After college, he lived and worked in New York City – first as a secretary for director Hal Prince and then as an actor. His theatrical credits include two and a half years in the Broadway tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Lefou). More recently, he had an opportunity to appear in an Equity production of the Jewish-themed musical Falsettoland (Marvin) with his son Ari (Jason) at Music Theatre Connecticut for which they both won a 2022 Connecticut Critics Circle award. Rabbi/Cantor Sklar’s creative pursuits include writing, music composition and digital content creation resulting in a mention on the list of Kveller's Best Purim Parodies of 2022. He was a Hebrew consultant for the Coen brothers’ film, A Serious Man, and a rabbinic consultant on an episode of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. Rabbi/Cantor Sklar self-published his first book entitled Sh*tshow: A Memoir and 2020 Mixtape, a memoir, playlist and reflections on the pandemic in 2020.

Rabbi/Cantor Sklar is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the American Conference of Cantors.  His wife, Rabbi/Cantor Shirah Sklar is the senior rabbi at Temple Shalom in Norwalk, CT. The Sklars live in Westport with their 8th grader Ari, and their 3rd grade twins, Isaac and Jonah.

Sat, April 1 2023 10 Nisan 5783