Leadership
Rabbi
Samuel H. Weintraub
rabbi@kanestreet.org 718-875-1550 x 103
Members Call-in Hours: Tues 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM; Wed 11 AM – 1 PM
Rabbi Weintraub serves as spiritual guide to over one thousand individuals within the Kane Street community and counsels people ages five to ninety-five. The Rabbi officiates at all life cycle events and generally provides educational and spiritual preparation before such passages as Bar/Bat Mitzvah and weddings. Since 1996 when he came to Kane Street, he has spearheaded several innovations, including a weekday/Shabbat Hebrew School curriculum, a “Synaplex” Shabbat series, the two-year Me’ah course on Jewish civilization with Hebrew College and a conversational Hebrew “Ulpan”.
The Rabbi teaches at many levels of learning. He visits our preschoolers and Hebrew School students. His adult education courses and workshops have covered topics ranging from “The Jewish Prophets” to “Jewish Sexual Ethics”. Passionate about aiding people’s entry into Jewish life, he has taught and sponsored over sixty converts to Judaism during his tenure at Kane Street. Each week he delivers a D’var Torah on Shabbat mornings that connects the Torah Portion to spiritual and ethical questions.
Tikkun Olam, the ethical repair of the world, is central to Rabbi Weintraub’s vision. He has led efforts to protest the genocide in Darfur, supported victims of terror and promoted dialogues among the Jewish, Muslim, Christian and African-American communities.
Apart from his congregational service, Rabbi Weintraub has served as a Hillel Director and organized outreach projects for intermarried couples. He is a graduate of Haverford College and the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Executive Director
Linda Kass-Mahler
Kanestreet@kanestreet.org 718-875-1550 x 102
A vital part of Kane Street since 1999, Linda is the gateway to “everything Kane Street’. She oversees all office administrations and coordinates the scheduling of meetings, programs and events. It’s all entered into Linda’s giant calendar or computer. As liaison between committee chairs and congregants, Linda can help you with most synagogue matters or direct you to the right people.
The path to Executive Director began in 1994, when Linda and her family became members. Although Marine Park residents, they came to Kane Street because they feel it’s the best synagogue in Brooklyn. Linda’s three children are Hebrew School graduates; the eldest was Rabbi Weintraub’s first bar mitzvah at Kane Street. Linda began working part time as our Hebrew School Administrator in 1999 and became full time Office Manager the following year. She is truly devoted to the Kane Street community.
Director of Education & Family Programming
Valerie Lieber
vlieber@kanestreet.org 718-875-1550 x 117
Rabbi Valerie Lieber oversees our Hebrew School, Shabbat and Holiday children’s services, Shabbat Club and Family Education programs. Valerie was selected for the position in the spring of 2008 because of her strengths as an educator and administrator. She has developed engaging Hebrew and Judaic curricula for grades K through 12 and led innovative family programs and services.
Rabbi Lieber received ordination at Hebrew Union College in 1995 and served as Rabbi-Educator at Temple Beth Ahavath Sholom in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn for seven years. Since then she served as Rabbi of Temple Israel of Jamaica in Queens for six years where she led the congregation through the Experiment in Congregational Education Re-Imagine program, a national project. Valerie graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Swarthmore College.
Preschool Director
Peggy Geller
Peggy@kanestreet.org 718-875-1550 x 101
Peggy Geller joined Kane Street Kids as Director in September 2010, bringing with her over thirty years’ experience in early childhood education. Before coming to Kane Street, Peggy served for twelve years as Director of the Sephardic Community Center’s Playcare Center at Brooklyn College, where she oversaw a licensed preschool program for children ages two through five. She also directed the SCC’s summer, Sunday, and vacation programs, and wrote grants for and supervised their Universal Pre-K program. Prior to her time at the SCC, Peggy served as Teacher/Director at Manhattan’s 74th Street Magic preschool, and Director of Children’s Services as the Grand Street Settlement.
Peggy plays both piano and guitar, skills she brings into the classroom to share with students. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Art Education and Masters Degrees in Art History and Education, all from Hofstra University, with core education courses taken at Bank Street. She meets all City and State requirements necessary to lead our preschool.
Music Enrichment Director
Joey Weisenberg
music@kanestreet.org
Joey Weisenberg joined the Kane Street community in September 2007 in the new position of Music Enrichment Director. Joey leads various Shabbat Kabbalat and morning services each month and coordinates music programs for children and families. He is also available to develop Jewish music skills through private meetings and group workshops.
Joey graduated from Columbia University with a major in music theory and composition, and currently studies traditional Jewish nusach with Cantor Noah Schall. At age twelve, he began performing as a harmonica player and guitarist in blues bars in Milwaukee. He now performs as a mandolinist and guitarist with bands including Romashka, Zagnut Circus Orchestra, The Marija Krupoves Trio, Ansamble Mastika, The Amazing Frosen String Quartet, Michael Winograd’s Klezmer Outfit and his own ensembles. He has accompanied established artists such as Neshama Carlebach, Debbie Friedman, Henry Sapoznik, Yuri Yunakov, German Goldenstein and Gerard Edery. As a teacher, Joey leads his “Spontaneous Jewish Choir” workshops, teaches at institutions including Klez Kanada and the Jewish Theological Seminary, and gives private lessons.
Office and Building Staff
Administrative Assistant – Jeannie Chan
Preschool Assistant – Anthony Alibocas
Custodian – Pedro Sanchez
Porters – Daniel Baidoo, Justin Simmons
Officers
President – Vicky Vossen – president@kanestreet.org
Executive VP – Harry Chevan
Vice President – Adina Solomon
Vice President – Rena Schklowsky
Vice President – Tracy Makow
Treasurer – Susan Rifkin
Financial Secretary – Ellen Phillips
Recording Secretary – Ann Powell
KSS Contacts
Adult Learning – Tim Rucinski
Building – Ellen Bowin, Susan Rifkin
Cemetery – Ellen Phillips
Chesed Network – Linda Kane, Lisa Kleinman
Development – Howard Schneider
Graphic Design – Naomi Berger, David Grupper
Hebrew School Board – Jenny Breznay – hebrewschoolchair@kanestreet.org
History – Judith R. Greenwald, Carol Levin history@kanestreet.org
Israel Film Festival – Hedda Kafka, Sara Porath
Kane Street Kids Board – Gillian Kahtan kidsboard@kanestreet.org
Kane Street News / Kane Yirbu – Barbara Speregen
Membership – Vicky Vossen
Mensch Squad – Debbie Polinsky – MenschSquad@kanestreet.org
Newspaper Ads – Laurie Lieberman
Personnel – Leslie Wilsher
Ritual – Rena Schklowsky – ritual@kanestreet.org
Security – Sharon Neuman
Social Justice – Laureve Blackstone – socialjustice@kanestreet.org
Technical Support – Jack Hogan, Michael Speregen
The Scroll Newsletter – Judith R. Greenwald
Website – Andrea Glick, Carol Levin, Joanne Robinson, Ellen Phillips – website@kanestreet.org
Trustees
Ros Aaron – Elise Bernhardt – Laureve Blackstone – Andrea Glick – Jonathan Katz -Gillian Kahtan – Laurie Lieberman – Sharon Neuman – Penny Owen – Joanne Robinson – Albert Romano – Tim Rucinski – Jonathan Sack – Anne-Maureen Sarfati-Magill – Jessica Schoengold – Lisa Smith – Charlene Visconti – Leslie Wilsher
Past Presidents / Life Trustees*
Arnold Badner* – Ellen Bowin – Jay Brodsky – Herbert L. Cohen – Isaac Druker – Nancy Fink – Stanley Friedman – Judith R. Greenwald – A. Seth Greenwald – Ralph Kleinman – Daniel Magill – Donald Olenick – Susan Rifkin – Allen Rubenstein* – Evelyn Rubenstein* – Howard Schneider* – Ronald Stein – Benjamin Zalman*