Rabbi Rebekah Goldman
Rabbi Bekah has been the spiritual leader at FVJC-Emek Shalom since 2016, having previously served as the sole spiritual leader of two congregations in New England, where she led Shabbat services, provided pastoral care, and officiated at lifecycle events.
A native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, she majored in Philosophy and Religious Studies at Louisiana State University, where she co-founded the LSU Hillel. Subsequently, she received her rabbinic ordination and a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from Boston’s Hebrew College.
Rabbi Bekah is deeply passionate about education and has worked extensively with children and teens in religious schools and Jewish camps for two decades. She is equally passionate about enhancing the fabric of Jewish life and strengthening understanding, compassion, and cooperation within the entire Farmington Valley interfaith community and beyond, by leveraging her modern, progressive, and deeply compassionate view of the intersections of religion, culture, and society.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: rabbibekah@fvjc.org Phone: (860) 256-9822
Rabbi Mira Weller
Rabbi Mira Weller joins FVJC-ES as our Assistant Rabbi and Director of Lifelong Learning effective July 1st.
Rabbi Mira is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service with a focus in ethnic conflict and received an MA in Jewish education and a rabbinic degree from Hebrew Union College. Rabbi Mira most recently served as an assistant rabbi at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in New York City. Her responsibilities there includes serving as rabbinic liaison to their Sprouts program, which served their youngest children and families, as well as teaching in their religious school, b’nai mitzvah program and day school. In addition, Rabbi Mira will co-lead Shabbat and other services as well as officiating at lifecycle events.
Previously, Rabbi Mira served as a spiritual counselor at Beit T’shuvah, an addiction rehab center in Los Angeles, and as a Rabbinic intern at Or Ami in CA. In that role, Rabbi Mira directed their religious school, developing weekly curriculum components and supervising their religious school faculty.
Rabbi Mira is an accomplished musician who will bring her viola and guitar skills as well as a lovely voice in support of Rabbi Bekah on the bimah.
CONTACT INFORMATION: rabbimira@fvjc.org 860-651-4218
Rabbi Emeritus Howard Herman
Rabbi Howard Herman retired after his 36th year of service at the Temple and now holds the title of Rabbi Emeritus. He was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1978 at their New York campus. Rabbi Herman is the host of “Reflections”, his program on WTIC-AM 1080 radio on Sunday mornings.
Cantor Emerita Susan Levine
Cantor Levine holds a special place in our Temple; as our first Cantor Emerita, she has seen generations of our families through life cycle events, educated our children, inspired us with Jewish music, and counseled us.
During her 32 years with our congregation, Cantor Levine co-led services with Rabbi Herman, conducted our choir, developed and directed our B’nai Mitzvah program, taught music in our Religious School, and brought creative and innovative programming to our congregation in the areas of women’s spirituality, Jewish music, and post-B’nai Mitzvah mentoring and education. She has been a very active representative of FVJC-ES in the Greater Hartford area in the areas of community learning, interfaith activities and programming, and cantorial concerts. She also served as the first woman chair of the Simsbury Clergy Association. In 1999, Cantor Levine was a recipient of the Woman of Valor Award, presented by the Women’s Branch of the Greater Hartford Federation. In 2011, Cantor Levine became a member of the Executive Board of the American Conference of Cantors. She also formed a Retired Cantors Network for the American Conference of Cantors.
Cantor Levine is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music with degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education. She received her Cantorial Certification from Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion, School of Sacred Music. She has a Masters Degree in Pastoral Counseling from St. Joseph College and is a Connecticut Licensed Professional Counselor. Cantor Levine was in private practice with Bethany Pastoral Counseling Services for 15 years. She also spent some time facilitating the JACS (Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons and Significant Others) group at Jewish Family Services in West Hartford.
Cantor Levine has begun a counselling practice in Simsbury and facilitates an employment transitions support group for Jewish Family Services.
