Rabbi Rebecca Gutterman
We are very excited to introduce you to Rabbi Rebecca Gutterman, our new rabbi!
Rabbi Gutterman came to us from Congregation B’nai Tikvah in Walnut Creek, California, where she served as senior rabbi for the past five years. Ordained from Hebrew Union College in New York City in 2004, she also served as associate rabbi at Temple B’rith Kodesh in Rochester, NY for ten years.
She has been involved in every aspect of congregational life – worship and life cycle, pastoral care, the Religious School and youth activities, adult education, life long Jewish learning, communal and interfaith programs and more. She developed innovative Shabbat programming including a speaker’s series and different sermon formats, many of which include storytelling and congregant participation. She loves working with youth, writing with Bar and Bat Mitzvah students and singing “The Chicken Soup Song” at Tot Shabbat! She has also taught adult education classes on topics ranging from Religious & Spiritual Poetry to Jewish views of moral issues in complicated times. Her writing has appeared in reformjudaism.org, ravblog (CCAR Reform Rabbis Speak), The Sacred Calling: Four Decades of Women in the Rabbinate, and the Jewish News of Northern California. In Rabbi Gutterman’s own words:
In every moment, with every act, the stage really is set for building a synagogue community that is lively, engaging and warm. One that offers meaningful paths into Jewish learning, social justice, community and prayer. Temple Emanu-El is that synagogue, and I can’t wait to write our next chapters together.
Rabbi Gutterman, her husband Michael Simons - a longtime theatre professional specializing in set design and construction - and their 3-year old son Jonah happily reside in Metuchen. When not at Temple, you can find her at the pool, talking with congregants at Brewed Awakening or Cai’s and attempting to catch up on the Sunday New York Times.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone: (732) 549-4442 Ext. 101
Email: rabbigutterman@edisontemple.org
Cantor Emily Simkin
Cantor Emily Simkin is thrilled to be joining Temple Emanu-El! Recently ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music, she has served the Jewish community in cantorial, educational, and youth professional roles in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.
Cantor Simkin cares deeply about utilizing music as a vehicle for spirituality and fostering vibrant congregational life. It was through Jewish camping with the Union of Reform Judaism that she recognized the power of music to unite community and developed a passion for Jewish life. Cantor Simkin aims to frame her cantorate around Jewish mindfulness, pastoral care, experiential education, and youth engagement. She particularly enjoys training b’nei mitzvah students, writing creative values-based curriculum, interfaith programing, and engaging with congregants of every age and stage in our community.
The Cantor loves to spend her free time practicing yoga, gardening, making art, and enjoying good wine. She lives in Staten Island with her husband, Adam, a medical student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (Harlem). Together they enjoy time outdoors, cooking, and the best that Netflix has to offer. They are the proud pet parents of two cats, Hilly and Ru, named for Hillary Clinton and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone: (732) 549-4442 Ext. 102
Rabbi Alfred B. Landsberg - Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Alfred B. Landsberg served as Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El, Edison, N.J. for thirty eight years. In June 2006 Rabbi Landsberg became Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Emanu-El and we thank him for his many wonderful years of commitment and leadership.
Rabbi Alfred B. Landsberg holds several academic and religious degrees (Artium Baccalaureus, Artium Magister, Bachelor of Hebrew Letters, Master of Hebrew Letters, Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) -- but truly derives a sense of fulfullment from being married for over fifty years to his beloved wife, Ruth -- and from his wonderful children -- Lori, Adam Debra, and Michael, -- and from his eight grandchildren.
Rabbi Landsberg was ordained in 1962, -- served in the United States Army Chaplaincy, -- was Spiritual Leader in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
He has served as President of many organizations, -- and as a Member of the Board of numerous others, --- these Organizations dealing with racism, homosexuality, mental retardation, alcoholism, family life curricula, affimative action, adoption of "hard to place" children, planned parenthood, drug abuse, community relations, abortion counseling, homelessness, hospital institutional review board and ethics committees, pastoral education, ecumenical concerns, and HIV-AIDS ministry.
Rabbi Landsberg has been quoted as saying: "The many affiliations in which I have served may "look good on paper', but are merely tools to attempt, -- in whatever small fashion I can, -- to leave the world a somewhat better place for my having been there.
TIKKUN OLAM, --partnering with whatever God we may worship in order to enhance the world and the lives of those who dwell within it, -- is not simply a slogan to be shouted but, rather, an action to be implemented."
CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone: (732) 549-4442 Ext. 103
