Clergy and Staff
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
Joshua Hammerman has served Temple Beth El in Stamford, CT for over two decades, synthesizing rabbinic and journalistic passions. He received his B.A. from Brown University, Magna Cum Laude, where he twice won the university’s prestigious Bishop McVickar Prize in Religious Studies. He also received a masters degree from NYU in journalism and was ordained in 1983 by the Jewish Theological Seminary.
He is the author of “thelordismyshepherd.com: Seeking God in Cyberspace” and contributor to the children’s book, “I Have Some Questions About God.” His articles and essays have appeared widely (see many of them on his blog, at http://joshuahammerman.blogspot.com/), and his column, “On One Foot,” has appeared regularly in The New York Jewish Week since 1995. Rabbi Hammerman was a 2009 winner of the Simon Rockower award, the highest honor in Jewish journalism, for his columns on the Bernard Madoff case, which appeared first on his blog and then were discussed widely in the media. Among his many personal essays are several written for the New York Times Magazine.
Rabbi Hammerman came to Beth El as assistant rabbi in 1987, after serving pulpits in Peekskill and Beacon, NY. He was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1983, and also received a Masters in journalism from N.Y.U. and a B.A. from Brown University. He became TBE’s senior rabbi in 1992.
At Beth El, he has focused his efforts on creating an oasis of warmth, love and mutual respect, befitting the role of a modern congregation in an increasingly alienating world. Simultaneously, he strives to challenge congregants — and himself — to reach ever higher in setting spiritual and ethical objectives, and to delve more deeply into the rich vein of Jewish inspiration and wisdom available to us. He been a champion of inclusiveness and innovation in synagogue life, implementing programs like Synaplex and Shabbat Unplugged and embracing people of all backgrounds.
The rabbi has been president of the Council of Churches and Synagogues of Lower Fairfield County (now called the Interfaith Council) and the Stamford Board of Rabbis and is a member of the National Rabbinic Cabinet of the United Jewish Communities, a chaplain for the Stamford Police and member of the pastoral advisory committee of Stamford Health Systems. He also serves on the Rabbinic Leadership Council, a select group of rabbis chosen by JTS Chancellor Arnold Eisen, and has been heavily involved in many Jewish think tanks, including JESNA’s Jewish Education 3.0 project, STAR-Tech and Synaplex. He also has lectured widely and is a member of the faculty of CLAL, The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. He is a champion of interfaith dialogue and his “Learning and Latte” series, involving himself along with Christian and Muslim leaders, has been a local fixture since 2002. A noted Cyber-Rebbe, he has pioneered the use of the Internet for inspirational and educational purposes.
Rabbi Hammerman loves surfing the Internet, rooting for the Boston Red Sox, a good, Israeli hummos, and all things Jewish. He lives with his wife, Dr. Mara Hammerman, a psychologist, two children, Ethan and Daniel, and their two standard poodles, Crosby and Chloe.
Contact Rabbi Hammerman: rabbi@tbe.org | (203) 322-6901 x 307
Al Treidel, Director of Jewish Life EducationAl Treidel possesses tremendous background working in Jewish education as well as working in the public sector.
Al comes to TBE after seven years as Principal of Fox Run Elementary School in Norwalk, CT. He has also served as principal of middle schools and elementary schools in Bethany, Waterford and Easton. In addition to these positions, Al has served as Educational Director at Temple Beth El in Norwalk and in Fairfield where he also served as president of the congregation. His Judaic involvement includes being an instructor, since 1992, at Merkaz Community High School of Judaic Studies in Bridgeport. He has extensive experience working with youth as a field worker with METNY Region, USY as well as Youth Director for the award-winning USY chapters in West Hartford, CT and Mt. Kisco, NY.
Contact Al: eddir@tbe.org | (203) 322-6901 x 305
Steven Lander, Executive DirectorSteven Lander most recently served as Executive Director at Congregation Agudath Sholom (CAS) since July of 2000. He has been an active leader in many Jewish organizations and synagogues dating back to his high school years. He served as Regional Advisor to the CT Region of Young Judaea. Upon graduation from Bryant College with a degree in business management and marketing, Steven became Youth Director and Program Director and then served as Executive Director of the Norwalk Jewish Community Center for six years.
Mr. Lander founded Amazing Stores in 1975. As a pioneer in the close-out industry, Steven and two partners built up the chain to seven stores throughout Connecticut. During his 20 year reign as “Mr. Amazing,” Steven also remained active in the community serving as President of the Norwalk Jewish Community Center for two years; Chairman of the Federated U.J.A. drive in Norwalk for two years; as well as President for two years and Treasurer for three years of Beth Israel Synagogue in Norwalk. At Beth Israel, Mr. Lander served as co-chair of the Mortgage Burning Campaign and also founded and served as co-chair of the Bingo fund-raiser for eight years.
Prior to joining the staff at CAS, Steven served on the Board of Directors as assistant treasurer and marketing chairman of The Human Services Council of Mid-Fairfield and then joined the professional staff as the Director of Development, Marketing and Communications. He also served as the co-chair of the committee that brought the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus to Norwalk as a major fund-raiser for The Human Services Council for four years.
Steven has served as a guest lecturer at UCONN, Bryant College, and also taught the marketing and advertising entrepreneurial course as part of the BECON Program at the Norwalk Community College.
Steve’s wife, Lieba Lander, is a teacher at the Gan Yeladim Pre-School. The Landers have three children: Joshua, Deborah (who lives in Israel), and Karen and two grandchildren.
Contact Steven: execdir@tbe.org | (203) 322-6901 x 304
Ariela Pelaia, Director of ProgrammingAriela Pelaia is a Wexner Fellow with a master’s degree in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a master’s degree in Jewish Studies from Columbia University. She also has bachelors degrees in Psychology and Religion from Wellesley College.
Ariela has been teaching adults and students in 5th-12th grade for the past five years. Her teen classes have explored subjects such as midrash, ethics and Jewish values in pop culture. Her adult classes have included topics such as adolescent psychology, informal educational techniques and the evolution of Lilith and Eve legends in Jewish tradition. Ariela has also taught at the Wexner Institute, where she led a photography workshop titled “Searching for Images of the Divine.”
In June 2009 Ariela became the Judaism Guide for About.com, where she publishes articles on Jewish knowledge and writes about current events in the Jewish community. In her spare time, she is a photographer and digital artist who also writes about food on her personal website, Baking and Books. Her husband, Peter, also enjoys teaching and for years taught the Jewish cooking class at Kulanu.
Contact Ariela: programdir@tbe.org | Phone (203) 322-6901 x 311
Rabbi Emeritus Alex J. Goldman, z”lRabbi Goldman was Beth El’s spiritual leader from 1966 to 1992 and passed away in late 2004. One of his greatest contributions to the synagogue is the Rabbi Alex Goldman Heritage Museum, a magnificent collection of Judaica found in our sanctuary lobby. And our beautiful sanctuary itself, with its walk-in ark and unique windows, remains as a tribute to his leadership and vision.
The son of one of America’s most respected rabbinic leaders, Rabbi Yehuda D. Goldman, he was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College of Chicago and served Hillel foundations and congregations in Tallahassee, Florida, and Philadelphia before coming to Stamford. He has published twelve books, including a novel, and his latest children’s book, “I Am A Holocaust Torah,” will be published by Gefen Publishers, Israel.
Rabbi Goldman held advanced degrees in law and marriage counseling and was president of the Hew Family Service. He was married to Edith, father to Robert and Pam, and grandfather of two.
Hazzan Emeritus Sidney G. RabinowitzHazzan-Emeritus Sidney G. Rabinowitz, formerly Cantor and Director of Musical Activities at Temple Beth El, Stamford, Connecticut, since 1970, is a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He is a member of the Cantors Assembly, from which he has been commissioned. He is a past president of the Connecticut Region of the Cantors Assembly and has served as a member of the Executive Council of the Cantors Assembly, where he served on the Commission of Youth Activities. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Cantors Institute.
Hazzan Rabinowitz has distinguished himself as an interpreter of Jewish music. He was the conductor of three choirs at Temple Beth El: The Adult Mixed Voice Choir, the Sisterhood Choir and the Temple Beth El Junior Choir. Besides their extensive repertories, the choirs premiered new works of Jewish music composed for them. In the community, Hazzan Rabinowitz had an enviable reputation for his loving care and professionalism in preparing 1,500 children and adults in becoming Bar and Bat Mitzvah candidates.
In 1985, Hazzan Rabinowitz was the recipient of the Mitzvah Award, presented by Jewish Family Service of Stamford, for his humane contribution to the welfare of the community. As a member of the Board of Trustees of Jewish Family Service, he took the initiative to produce six concerts to benefit the Jewish Family Service. Hazzan Rabinowitz, under the auspices of Jewish Family Service organized a wedding for 11 Russian couples who did not have the opportunity to be married according to Jewish Law in Russia. In doing so, he was able to involve all rabbis and cantors in Stamford, and the general Jewish community, which provided a traditional reception with all food donated by various caterers and a well known Jewish orchestra which also offered its services gratis. He is also a recipient of the Hall of Honor Award, presented by the Connecticut Association for Children with Learning Disabilities. In 1991 Hazzan Rabinowitz was the artistic director of “A Celebration of Choir,” an interfaith concert sponsored by the Council of Churches and Synagogues. In 1992 he was honored by the Stamford Jewish Community Center at the Annual POSH Luncheon in appreciation for his many years of service to the Senior Adult Program at the Center. In 2000 he was again honored by POSH at a dinner in his honor.
In 1995, Temple Beth El honored its Hazzan for 25 years of service to the Temple and community. In his honor, a system to aid the hearing impaired was installed in the sanctuary, chapel and junior auditorium. It is also the year during which the Hazzan was designated the “Clergy of the Year” by The Council of Churches and Synagogues, he being the first Jewish clergy in Stamford, CT to be the recipient of this honor.
In May 2002 Hazzan Rabinowitz was honored by Temple Beth El and the Stamford Community upon his retirement after 32 years of service. In March 2006 Hazzan Rabinowitz was honored by the Jewish Theological Seminary with the degree of Doctor of Music Honoris Causa.
Hazzan Rabinowitz is married to the former Sondra Resnick. They are the parents of three daughters and have nine delightful grandchildren.
Hazzan & Mrs. Rabinowitz now reside in Burke, Virginia.
Telephone and E-Mail Directory
Our staff is eager to assist you.
Office hours: Mon. – Thurs., 9AM – 5PM; Fridays, 9AM – 2PM
Telephone: (203) 322-6901 Fax: (203) 322-0532
Address: 350 Roxbury Rd., Stamford, CT 06902
| Name | Position/Department |
Extension |
|
| Joshua Hammerman |
Rabbi | rabbi@tbe.org | 307 |
| Sidney G. Rabinowitz | Hazzan Emeritus | hazzan@tbe.org | 309 |
| Steven Lander | Executive Director | execdir@tbe.org | 304 |
| Al Treidel | Director of Jewish Life Education |
eddir@tbe.org | 305 |
| Ariela Pelaia | Director of Programming | programdir@tbe.org | 311 |
| Linda Rezak | Bookkeeper | bookkeeper@tbe.org | 302 |
| Mindy Rogoff | Temple Secretary | office@tbe.org | 301 |
| Ellen Gottfried | Secretary | TempleSec@tbe.org | 308 |
| Alberto Eyzaguirre | Facilities Manager | maint@tbe.org | 314 |
| Jennifer Meth | Sisterhood Gift Shop |
|
637-7676 |
| Andrew Lehrfeld | Webmaster | webmaster@tbe.org |
Temple Beth El is a vibrant, warm and inclusive community committed to enhancing Jewish life. We are an egalitarian synagogue with members from all generations. We welcome everyone and would love it if you joined us. 