| Rabbi: Joshua Goldstein | |
| Email: rabjogo@aol.com |
Rabbi Goldstein is marking nearly three decades of service as spiritual leader of Temple Sha'arey Shalom.
Rabbi Goldstein has been active in a number of local and national organizations. Included among these are his positions on the Rabbinic Cabinet of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA), on the Rabbinic Advisory Committee of Camp Harlam, and on the Board of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He is a Past President of the Springfield Clergy Association.
Rabbi Goldstein received his undergraduate degree from Temple University, and his rabbinical degree from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. In 2000, he was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree. He had served congregations in Geneva, New York and Springfield, Illinois before coming to Sha'arey Shalom in 1982.
Rabbi Goldstein is a native of Princeton, New Jersey. He is married to Sally Reiter Goldstein. They have two sons, Dov and Zachary. A selection of Rabbi Goldstein's articles and sermons was published in 2007, under the title "Standing on the Shoulders".
Our Rabbi is a warm person with a great sense of humor. His passions run from a love for Israel, to books, to Tar Heel basketball, to a fascination for Africa. Every year, Rabbi Goldstein speaks at our Annual Brunch. In April 2008, the Rabbi spoke on "Illness Is My Teacher." He loves teaching all ages, sharing his love for Reform Judaism and Sha'arey Shalom.
| Cantor/Educational Director: Amy Daniels |  |
| Email: cantor@shaarey.org |
Cantor Amy Daniels has a background in both folk and classical music, a strong attachment to Israel and a devotion to all forms of Jewish cultural expression. She received a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music Degrees from Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied modern dance and music education. She was invested as a Cantor from the Hebrew Union College School of Sacred Music in 1985, at which time there were less than 35 women cantors in the Reform movement nationwide.
Since coming to Sha'arey Shalom in 1988, she has expanded and developed our legacy of a very active Adult Volunteer Choir and created both Junior and Teen Choirs. She continues to explore ways that our rich Jewish musical heritage can create community and enhance our experience of spirituality.
| Pre-School Director: Nina Greenman | |
Nina Greenman began her career at Temple Sha'arey Shalom as a Religious School Teacher in 1980. After taking time off to raise her children, Nina returned to Sha'arey Shalom as a Preschool Teacher. In 1996, Nina was offered the position of Director of the Preschool. Unable to leave the job she loved as a teacher, Nina took on the dual role of Preschool Director and PreK teacher. She has continued to maintain both positions from 1996 to the present. Nina's philosophy is that once a family enters her Preschool, they become a member of the Sha'arey Shalom "family" for life.
| Family Educator/Assistant Principal: Mindy Schreff |  |
| email: familyed@shaarey.org |
Mindy is responsible for providing our congregation with engaging, enriching Jewish family experiences that enable our families to strengthen their Jewish identity. As parents learn alongside their children, they become Jewish teachers and role models for their children. As adults learn for their own sake, they become more involved and committed to Judaism.
Mindy facilitates a variety of programs which service the needs of all members of our congregation. She works with both adults and children, guiding them on their journey through life-long Jewish learning. Mindy also shares her passion for Judaism in many other capacities throughout the congregation, such as faciltating our monthly Rosh Hodesh group and Beginning Torah study. She is often the catalyst behind many of our mitzvah and tzedakah programs.
| President: Jeri Greenberg |
I come to the presidency of Temple Sha'arey Shalom with high hopes and great expectations. Our vibrant temple community, from preschool to seniors, is warm, welcoming and entering our 51st year with a renewed passion for Jewish life and learning.
I personally have been on the TSS board for over ten years, from trustee to committee chair to executive vice president. I have taught both 3rd and 4th grade Hebrew as well as bar and bat mitzvah tutoring here. At Sha'arey Shalom not only did I see both my sons become bar mitzvah as well as confirmands, I too became a bat mitzvah and confirmand as an adult.
As an illustrator, fabric designer and graphic artist, I bring my love of color and design sense to both my students in their class projects - such as designing their own Aleph-Bet illuminations for their parshat of the week; and to the congregation as a whole, whether it be designing the Torah Covers or painting murals on the school walls.
I continue to grow in my own love of Judaism, taking adult classes with area rabbis and lay leaders as well as our own beloved rabbi and cantor.
My husband and I live in Mountainside with our two sons, Jake 19 and Sam 13, as well as an ever growing assortment of reptiles, lizards, frogs and fish.