RABBI RACHEL STEINER | Senior Rabbi

Rabbi Rachel Steiner began serving Barnert Temple in 2010 and became the Senior Rabbi in 2018.  During her years at Barnert, Rabbi Steiner has spent her time building relationships, teaching people of all ages and stages, and traveling with individuals and families on their Jewish journeys.  Rabbi Steiner is passionate about connection: in the sanctuary with or without her guitar, on the floor of Barnert Preschool classrooms telling stories with the children, leading 10th-12th graders in Confirmation and Post Confirmation, or engaged in one-on-one conversations with people of all ages.

Rabbi Steiner grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and has always loved the New York City area. Growing up, she spent much of her time outside of school at Congregation Rodeph Sholom, her home synagogue. It was her love of music that opened the door into that community, and it was there that she discovered her passion for Jewish life, learning and community. 

She received her B.A. in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2002. Before beginning her rabbinical studies at HUC-JIR in 2005, she spent a year in San Francisco working in Jewish education and a year and a half back in New York City, where she worked at the Covenant Foundation and at Rodeph Sholom. She spent six months on Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael in Israel before her first year of rabbinical school in Jerusalem. 

RABBI ELIZA SCHEFFLER | Assistant Rabbi

Prior to coming to Barnert, Rabbi Scheffler received her rabbinical training at HUC-JIR in New York City and served as the Rabbinic Intern at Brooklyn’s largest Reform synagogue, Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE). At CBE, she taught learners of all ages, officiated at lifecycle events, led Shabbat and holiday services, and built community for young adults.  Before rabbinical school, Rabbi Scheffler lived in San Francisco, where she worked for GiveWell, a non-profit that evaluates charities in the field of global health and development. She also co-founded and lived in a Moishe House, where she led events for Jewish young adults.

Rabbi Scheffler received her B.A. in American Studies from Yale University in 2012. Growing up, Rabbi Scheffler was a youth leader at her congregational home, Larchmont Temple. It was there that she first discovered how Judaism prompts us to ask big questions, live with purpose, and care for one another. These are the same values that drew her to Barnert Temple.

RABBI ELYSE FRISHMAN | Rabbi Emerita 

Rabbi Elyse Frishman was ordained in 1981, and served as Barnert's Senior Rabbi for 22 years before retiring in 2017.

Rabbi Frishman was the editor of the Reform movement's new prayer book, Mishkan T'filah, now widely used in Reform congregations nationally and internationally.  She serves on the Board of American Jewish World Service.

MARINA VORONINA
Cantorial Soloist

Marina Voronina, Mezzo-Soprano, received her Masters Degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Marina is equally at home performing opera, oratorio as well as art song and musical theater. Some of her most memorable experiences have been performing with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Brevard Music Center, Eastman Opera Theater, and numerous concerts of Russian music at various cultural events in Boston, Rochester and Long Island.

JANET MONTROY
Music Director

Janet Montroy wears many hats at Barnert Temple, including Pianist, Adult Choir Director, Worship Band Leader, Brass Ensemble Coach, and Purim Shpiel Lyricist.  She has been at Barnert for over 25 years, and is also the Director of Music at the Community Church in Glen Rock.  She is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and has a Masters degree from the Manhattan School of Music.  Janet and her husband Gary live in Mahwah and are the parents of three adult children.

NAN SUMNER
Director, Early Childhood Education

Nan has spent 31 years in early childhood education.  She began her journey in the Preschool as the founding mother of the Parent Association while her three children attended Barnert’s Preschool.  In the subsequent years, she took on the responsibilities of Assistant Director, international conference speaker, staff motivator, and parent educator.

Nan introduced social media as a tool for early childhood advocacy, proving its power for professional development, parent teacher communications, and children’s learning.  She established the Preschool fine arts curriculum that quickly became the showcase event of the fours class.  As an avid nature enthusiast, she launched weekly Forest Fridays for children to explore and notice their natural surroundings. She initiated the inquiry-based learning approach in all classrooms while developing a "loose parts store" for teachers and children to explore materials.

Nan is passionate about empowering children to step into discovery, risky play, collaboration, the outdoors, and inquiry.  "Aha" moments and inspiration fuel her passion for learning and educating children and families.  The world is for a child’s taking, and she is honored to be a part of their journey. 

SHARON RAMSEY | Assistant Director

JACKIE SILVER | School Administrator

JENNIFER KATZ GOLDSTEIN
Director, Jewish Journey Project

Jennifer has been working in the field of Jewish Education for over twenty years in a variety of settings.  She has a degree in History and Jewish Studies from the State University of New York at New Paltz and earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Yeshiva University, Wurzweiler School of Social Work. She began her career working at the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America developing and then directing their Teen Israel Summer Programs department. Following this she worked as the Religious School Director in several Reform Synagogues before arriving to teach and eventually lead at Barnert Temple.

Jennifer has always strongly believed that Jewish learning should be interesting, fun, and make you feel connected.  Some of her greatest joys in her work come from creating spaces and moments where people of all ages can come together, study, worship, laugh, play, hope, and find support and strength.

Jennifer can often be heard singing with our youngest children in the Preschool, talking with our older students about Jewish social issues or sitting on the floor playing games with children learning their first Hebrew letters.

SAMANTHA ROSENBLOOM | JJP School & Family Coordinator

MARISSA STORINGE | JJP Assistant Administrator