Shalom,
Thanks for coming to visit. I hope I will have the opportunity to get to know you as I begin my journey as the Rabbi of the Little Neck Jewish Center. My door and email box are always open and my phone line (732) 859-3101 is always available.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself.
I began my Rabbinic Career 20 years ago upon my ordination as a Conservative Rabbi from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1990. My first congregation was Temple Beth Shalom in Stratford, Connecticut where I served as both Rabbi and Cantor for 5 years. In addition to nurturing and building our synagogue community, I also served as a leader in the greater community as the president of the Stratford Clergy Association and the president of the Bridgeport Board of Rabbis. It was during these years that my wife, Carrie, and I were blessed with our two sons, Robert and Neal. This fall, Robert will be a senior in the Engineering School of the University of Pennsylvania and Neal will be a sophomore in the Business School at the University of Maryland. Carrie is a Geriatric Social Worker and we will be celebrating our 25th anniversary in November.
In August of 1995, Carrie, Robert, Neal and I moved to Ocean Township, New Jersey when I became the spiritual leader of Temple Beth El, a Conservative synagogue serving the needs of the community of the North Jersey Shore. If you would like to read about my rabbinate in New Jersey, please click here.
On August 2, 2010 Carrie, Robert, Neal and I will be moving to Great Neck as I begin the next stage in my rabbinic career as the Rabbi of the Little Neck Jewish Center.
My rabbinate is guided by my belief in the relevancy of Jewish tradition as a vibrant force in contemporary life. One of my primary goals is to help to make life cycle events, holiday and Shabbat celebrations, daily prayer and the study of Torah transforming experiences. I welcome the opportunity to share the beauty and the depth of Jewish tradition in informal dialogues and conversations as well as in formal classes and sermons.
In my life I am guided by the words of the prophet Micah who said, "God has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Do justice, love goodness and walk humbly with your God." I invite you to walk together with me as we can discover together the blessings of our world and of our lives.
Rabbi Gordon Yaffe