Who We Are

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 Hayley Kobilinsky

cantorhayley@tinw.org

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.

Michelle cohen, temple administrator

michelle@tinw.org

Michelle recently joined Temple Israel as Temple Administrator, bringing over 25 years of experience in leading operations, driving growth and creating efficient policies and procedures.

Known for her ability to foster a culture of positivity and inclusivity, Michelle is thrilled to bring her expertise and trademark energy to this new role, ensuring the Temple thrives as a foundation of the community.

 Michelle is an advocate for Animal rights and has worked in Animal Rescue and rehoming for over 20 years. She has dedicated significant time and effort to helping animals in need.

Michelle currently lives in Pomona NY with her husband Rafi and their 3 dogs. Michelle and Rafi have 2 children. Their son Daniel lives in Givatayim Israel with his wife Lily and Grandson Eden. Their daughter Ayelet lives in North Bergen NJ with her husband Ethan and grandson Jaden.

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.

S. DAVID SPERLING, SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE

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 Temple Israel of Northern Westchester.

EDDIE PLEASANT, CHOIR DIRECTOR

Edward Pleasant, baritone, 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 AND COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE

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 92^nd Street Y School of Music, NYC.