Leadership
Rabbi
Samuel H. Weintraub
rabbi@kanestreet.org 718-875-1550 x 103
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
office@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 123
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
Joyce Heller
kids@kanestreet.org 718-875-1550 x 101
Joyce Heller has been Kane Street Kids’ Director since it started in 2005. She has overseen the program as it has expanded from one class of two-year-olds to a full preschool program.
Joyce came to Kane Street with a solid background in early childhood education and almost eighteen years of experience in teaching. She taught for eight years at the Sephardic Community Center Early Childhood Program and served as education director at Annie G. Newsome Head Start in Manhattan. Prior to that she taught and tutored for eight years at the Writing Center of LaGuardia Community College in Queens. She has her Masters in Education from Hunter College and 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
Head Custodian - Pedro Sanchez
Custodian - Daniel Baidoo
Officers
President - Jay Brodsky - president@kanestreet.org
Executive VP - Vicky Vossen
Vice President - Howard Schneider
Vice President - Rena Schklowsky
Vice President - Tracy Makow
Treasurer - Harry Chevan
Financial Secretary - Ellen Phillips
Recording Secretary - Sharon Neuman
KSS Contacts
Adult Learning - Tim Rucinski
Building - Ellen Bowin, Susan Rifkin
Cemetery - Ellen Phillips
Chesed Network - Linda Kane, Lisa Kleinman
Development - Howard Schneider
Hebrew School Board - Andrea Glick
Historians - Judith R. Greenwald, Carol Levin
Israel Film Festival - Hedda Kafka, Sara Porath
Kane Street Kids - Tracy Makow
Kane Yirbu Newsletter - Barbara Speregen
Lobby Displays - Tamar Laks
Personnel - Vicky Vossen
Ritual - Rena Schklowsky
Security - Sharon Neuman
Social Justice - Laureve Blackstone
Technical Support: Jack Hogan, Michael Speregen
The Scroll Bulletin: Judith R. Greenwald
USY/Kadima: Naomi Berger
Website: Carol Levin, Joanne Robinson
Trustees
Elise Bernhardt - Robert Davidson - Andrea Glick - Michelle Green - Jonathan Katz -
Gillian Kahtan - Zev Kindler - Carol Levin - Laurie Lieberman - Noah Millman -
Penny Owen - Ann Powell - Albert Romano - Tim Rucinski - Anne-Maureen Sarfati-Magill -
Adina Solomon - Eliot Solomon - Leslie Wilsher
Past Presidents / Life Trustees*
Arnold Badner* - Ellen Bowin - Isaac Druker - Nancy Fink - Stanley Friedman -
Judith R. Greenwald - A. Seth Greenwald - Ralph Kleinman - Daniel Magill -
Donald Olenick - Susan Rifkin - Allen Rubenstein* - Evelyn Rubenstein* -
Ronald Stein - Benjamin Zalman*