Our Team
Our congregation’s spiritual leader is Rabbi Steven Moskowitz. Rabbi Moskowitz is at the center of our congregation and celebrated his twenty-fifth anniversary serving this community. After his ordination from Hebrew Union College in 1991 he taught and led the outreach programs at Manhattan’s 92nd Street Y. Every summer he travels to Jerusalem to study at the Shalom Hartman Institute where he serves as a senior rabbinic fellow. He values teaching and writing and standing by our congregants’ sides at their most painful moments and their joyous celebrations.
We are led in song and prayer by our gifted cantorial soloist Talya Smilowitz. Cantor Smilowitz began her years here in June 2009. She was trained at The Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music. She regularly performs in multiple venues, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and the Broadway stage. Our congregants find her voice magical and transcendent, as she provides them with emotional support and spiritual connection.
Our Religious School is led by Jen Armus who lives by the rabbinic adage “Only learning that is enjoyed is learned well.” She is a constant and nurturing presence in our school and helps to lead all programs involving our children.
Our synagogue is blessed by the devotion of many lay leaders including our president, Marty Neidell, vice president Bruce Rebold, secretary Edra Tepper and treasurer Bryan Drew and board of trustees Ben Braunstein, Michael Falkove, Lynda Gerber, Marcia Glick, Nancy Krosser, Michael Reisman, Nancy Rosenberg, Susanne Seperson, Jonathan Siskind, Lisa Weiner, Kathy Weiss, Brenda Wilensky and past president Brian Land.
When you call the office you will be greeted by the warm and welcoming voice of our long time office administrator Li Josenhans.
We invite you to join our community. Become part of something meaningful and inspiring.
Rabbi Steven Heneson Moskowitz
Rabbi Moskowitz is at the center of Congregation L’Dor V’Dor and began his tenure here in the Fall of 1999. After his ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (the Reform movement's seminary) in 1991, he served as the Assistant Director of the 92nd Street Y's Bronfman Center for Jewish Life, where he directed the Center's renowned outreach programs. Under his leadership the introduction to Judaism class, "Derekh Torah," gained national recognition. He is a devoted Jewish teacher, sharing with us his love of the Bible and Jewish philosophy.
In addition the Jewish children's and family programs grew four fold, impacting hundreds of families on Manhattan's Upper East Side. He has taught in the internationally acclaimed Florence Melton Adult Mini School, UJA Connections, and the Institute for Adult Jewish Studies. He is active in the education of the children in our congregation, offering a Rabbi's class for each grade, studying the Torah portion with each bar/bat mitzvah and helping to oversee the religious school program. In addition to the multitude of adult education programs being offered for synagogue members, Rabbi Moskowitz is deeply committed to Israel and travels there every year to study at the Shalom Hartman Institute. He was one of only two Long Island rabbis selected to participate in the Institute's prestigious Rabbinic Leadership Initiative.
In July 2010 he was named Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute. A number of his sermons and articles have been published, most recently in Hadassah magazine and of course his writings and thoughts can be found on his blog: rabbimoskowitz.com as well as on Times of Israel. He is also an avid cyclist, swimmer and triathlete. He is married to Rabbi Susie Moskowitz of Temple Beth Torah of Melville and is the father of two adult children, Shira and Ari.
Talya Smilowitz, Cantorial Soloist
Talya Smilowitz began her tenure at our congregation in June of 2009.
It is her love and passion for singing and music, Yiddishkeit, building community, embracing her Jewish heritage and teaching that has drawn her to a career as a cantor.
She was born and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut where her parents instilled in her a love and passion for Jewish life. Talya’s vocal talent was evident in the many shows she participated in during her formative years culminating in the Tanglewood Summer Institute after her junior year in High School, and her bachelors and masters degrees in vocal performance from The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, respectively.
Talya has appeared in prestigious venues all over the world, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, The Broadway Stage, Opera and Symphony Halls all over China, Cabaret venues, nightclubs and sang the National Anthem at Citifield for the New York Mets. Versatile in various musical styles and genres, Talya has toured France performing with a Klezmer ensemble.
Talya has found teaching and working with children to be very rewarding. Her current work teaching Hebrew, as well as interacting with children, watching them grow and achieve their goals has been extremely fulfilling. Talya is also a certified yoga instructor, and is interested in exploring the interplay between Judaism and yoga.
Talya Smilowitz is the mother of two beautiful children, Eliana and Ilan.
Congregation L'Dor V'Dor Board of Trustees
Executive Board
Martin H. Neidell, President
Bruce Rebold, Vice President
Bryan Drew, Treasurer
Edra Tepper, Secretary
Board of Trustees
Ben Braunstein
Michael Falkove
Lynda Gerber
Marcia Glick
Nancy Krosser
Brian Land
Michael Reisman
Nancy Rosenberg
Jon Siskind
Susanne Sepererson
Lisa Weiner
Kathy Weiss
Brenda Wilensky