Temple Torat Yisrael

Rabbi Amy Levin has served our congregation with warmth, enthusiasm, spiritual vision and scholarship since the summer of 2004.  Rabbi Levin grew up in New Jersey and worked as the Education Director of a collaborative Hebrew High School program for three Conservative congregations in New Jersey before making aliyah in 1981. 

Rabbi Levin was the second woman to be ordained by the Schechter Institute of Jewish studies, the rabbinic seminary of the Israeli Masorti (Conservative) Movement and served as a congregational rabbi in Jerusalem.

Our rabbi is currently Vice-President of the Rhode Island Board of Rabbis and sits on the boards of The Jewish Voice and Herald and The Girl Scouts of Rhode Island.  Rabbi Levin chairs Kateif el Kateif, the community-building process within the international Rabbinical Assembly.

Since 2008, Rabbi Levin has served as a mentor for senior rabbinical students at The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York who are fellows of the Legacy Heritage Rabbinic Fellows Program.

Rabbi Levin is the extremely proud parent of her daughter Adina Lederhendler, who works in Israel's hi-tech industry and her son Aryeh Lederhendler, a fine arts student at the Jerusalem Studio School run by the Israeli artist Israel Hershberg.

Email: rabbi@toratyisrael.org

Hazzan Goldenberg (the title “Hazzan” is Hebrew for “cantor”) has extensive training and experience in Judaic studies, Jewish education and as a cantor.

Hazzan Goldenberg has served congregations in Beverly Hills, Tucson, Sacramento, Scottsdale and in Worcester, Mass..  For the past five years he has been on the faculty of the Maimonides School in Brookline, MA and Temple Aliyah in Needham and held High Holy Day and guest cantor positions in New York and Staten Island. .

His many concert credits include memorable performances with Hazzanim Alberto Mizrahi, Kimberly Komrad, Ivor and Joel Lichterman.

Hazzan Goldenberg greatly enjoys composing, and his work was honored this past year by the Shalshelet Foundation for New Jewish Liturgical Music.  His published compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by numerous artists, as well as synagogue, church and university ensembles worldwide.  

Hazzan Goldenberg is a longtime member of the Cantors Assembly, the professional organization of Conservative cantors.

Email: hazzan@toratyisrael.org

Torat Yisrael is blessed to have the support of a dedicated, caring and capable staff in our temple office:

Shery Ponder - Office Manager and Bookkeeper
Stephanie Reinsant - Rabbi's Administrative Assistant
Evelyn Nussenfeld - Receptionist
Anita Olinsky - Volunteer Coordinator of Everything and Anything

Office Hours:
As of 9/6/11, the Temple office will be returning to regular hours:

Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am – 2:30 pm. 

Donna Tarutz joined the Temple Torat Yisrael Family in July 2011 as the new Education Director for the Frederic G. and Lawrence G. Cohen School for grades K-7.

Donna was awarded her Bachelor’s from Brandeis University in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, History and her Bachelor’s of Jewish Education from Boston’s Hebrew College.  Donna was recognized for her academic achievement and commitment to community service, tikkun olam by Boston’s Hebrew College.  She was awarded the highest academic award and community service award ever granted by Hebrew College in honor of the institutions’s Jubilee at her graduation.  Donna Tarutz received her Master’s Degree from Brandeis University in Jewish Communal Service.  She was awarded a Fellowship for her graduate studies and was a Research Assistant in the field of American Jewish Sociology.

She has studied in Israel in cooperative programs with Hebrew University.  Donna was awarded a fellowship for professional educational development in Israel and this included workshops with Israel’s University faculty, classroom teachers, and with other educational leadership.

Donna Tarutz has worked in the field of Jewish education and Jewish Communal Service since her graduation from Brandeis University in 1976 in different venues throughout Greater Boston.  She directed the Jewish Education Program at Camp Pembroke, Pembroke, MA, a Zionist camp for girls, worked at the Israeli Consulate for New England, and was a Hillel Director where she was recognized for her intergenerational work between college students and older adults.

 Donna recently developed and managed a multigenerational site in Greater Boston to promote positive aging.  In this work, she also taught American Jewish History to immigrants and older adults in their 80’s and 90’s.  She has also served as a consultant in non-profit organizations and small businesses.

Donna is passionate about Jewish education and teaching.  She is deeply committed to children’s Jewish education and creating a love for Judaic learning.  She has taught throughout Greater Boston in various academic settings including supplementary religious schools, universities, and informal Jewish educational settings.

Donna Tarutz is the founder and owner of Hebrew a La Mode.  She promotes Hebrew reading fluency for adults of all ages.

She has served on several local boards for universities and Jewish Communal institutions. Donna is active on the steering committee of Brandeis University’s Alumni Reunions and continues to work on behalf of the University.

In her spare time, Donna can be found photographing throughout New England. She resides in Newton, MA.

Email: tarutz@toratyisrael.org

Andrea Epstein joined Jewish Family Service of Rhode Island in 2009 as part of their clinical counseling team.  She has recently expanded her role into the Kesher program and will be providing social work services for the Torat Yisrael community. 

A social worker for over ten years, Andrea has worked with people of all ages. Prior to Jewish Family Services she worked in both medical and psychiatric settings.  With an extensive background in mind and body wellness Andrea is pursuing post Master’s training in treatment of trauma. 

Email: andrea@toratyisrael.org
Phone: (401) 369-0160
Jewish Family Service of Rhode Island: www.jfsri.org