Our Clergy

When Rabbi Scott B. Weiner joined Temple Israel as Senior Rabbi in 2009, he brought with him a vision of active engagement with Judaism. “Judaism is not a spectator sport. One must engage Judaism in every way possible: from prayer to learning, from protest to visiting the sick, from visiting Israel regularly to feeding the homeless.” He believes that “Judaism is at its best when spirituality and action are paired.” Through our services, programs, classes, trips, social opportunities and activism, Rabbi Weiner hopes that everyone will find a special connection to our faith and traditions.

Rabbi Weiner also firmly believes that Judaism should fit in with people’s lives – if it isn’t a part of one’s day to day, Judaism is easily pushed to the back burner.  It was this philosophy that Rabbi Weiner brought to Temple Israel, which led us to open The Kehillah School for early learning and camp Pinebrook.  These institutions within Temple Israel, meet real needs in people’s lives, while at the same time give us the opportunity to bring Judaism into those lives.  Similarly, Rabbi Weiner likes to use any opportunity to blend everyday activities with Jewish life: annual camping trips, travel to Jewish heritage locations, whiskey tastings, beach outing and more.

As an avid runner, you can look for Rabbi Weiner most early mornings on the streets of Westchester.  He has completed 18 marathons and hundreds of other races.  Involved in many causes, both Jewish and secular, Rabbi Weiner welcomes others to make strides with him in protecting the environment, Israel, human rights, a woman’s right to choose, and more. Rabbi Weiner recently finished his term of service on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, is a member of both the New York and Westchester Boards of Rabbis; a member of Rabbis for Human Rights, J Street, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and many more organizations.  Currently, Rabbi Weiner is the President of the Interreligious Council of New Rochelle and a vice-president of the Coalition for Mutual Respect.

Prior to his tenure in New Rochelle, Rabbi Weiner served as Rabbi of the Hebrew Tabernacle Congregation in Washington Heights, NYC. Earlier in his career, he served as Assistant Director of both the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) and Reform Judaism’s Kutz Camp, where, for the last five years, he was the Dean of Faculty.

Rabbi Weiner holds a B.A. in Judaic Studies from the State University of New York at Albany. He received his M.A. in Hebrew Literature and rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, having studied on the Jerusalem and New York campuses.

Rabbi Weiner lives in New Rochelle with his wife Limor and their daughters Jordan and Carmel.

Since arriving at Temple Israel, Rabbi Weiner is proud of the congregation’s many accomplishments in its pursuit of excellence and community service such as the foundation of the Kehillah School for Early Learning, our Chavaya program, increased festival observances, Community Shabbat services and dinners, Mitzvah Day among many others.

The rabbi welcomes your feedback, input and suggestions and is available anytime to talk or meet in person.

Contact Email: RabbiWeiner@tinr.org.

Rabbi Beth Nichols enjoys the dual roles of leading from the bimah and engaging in Jewish education with all members of Temple Israel’s congregation. She masterfully develops innovative curriculum, has built strong interpersonal relationships, and creates a welcoming environment for all those who enter our synagogue.

Rabbi Nichols grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts. Throughout her childhood she was active at the local Reform temple where she attended classes, taught in the Religious School, and served as a Youth Group board member. Strong support from her home congregation and its professional staff inspired her to take her passion further and pursue the rabbinate upon entering college. Rabbi Nichols graduated summa cum laude from Amherst College with a B.A. in Religion and Psychology in 2001. She serves as a strong role model for the students in our Religious School, which she oversees.

Ordained at the Los Angeles campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in May 2007, Rabbi Nichols completed two Master of Arts degrees: one in Hebrew Letters and the other in Jewish Education. She was awarded prizes in Liturgy, Jewish Education, and Rabbinic Literature.

Rabbi Nichols prides her rabbinic training on its balance of academics and internships. Her career has been profoundly shaped by her mentors and congregants at Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills, CA, Temple Beth Sholom in Santa Ana, CA, and Congregation Beth Shalom in Yuba City, CA. She completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at UCLA Hospital.

The perspectives that Rabbi Nichols brings to her work benefit our community in significant ways. Her interest in providing a welcome environment for interfaith couples underscores the inclusive policies of Temple Israel. In providing an interesting curriculum for students beyond Bar/Bat Mitzvah training, while demonstrating flexibility and warmth towards religious school students and their families, she has been instrumental in keeping our youth involved in Temple life. She provides the type of inspirational influence that guided her own path.

Contact Email: RabbiNichols@tinr.org.

Cantor Randall Schloss is proud to be joining Temple Israel of New Rochelle as its Cantor this July, 2016. While serving Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, MA from 2007 to 2016, Cantor Schloss created an environment of engaging, participatory worship through a rich blend of musical traditions, including his own compositions. He is equally at ease chanting our most sacred and traditional High Holy Day melodies, conducting choirs at a soulful Gospel Shabbat, inspiring children in fun family worship, and leading diverse volunteer and professional musical ensembles in joyous and uplifting Shabbat worship.

After a varied career in music as a classical singer both on the opera stage and in concert, as a teacher of voice and music theory, and as a choral conductor and music director, Cantor Schloss began his journey into the world of Jewish music in 2000 as a singer and composer. His compositions combine traditional liturgy and modern poetry with musical elements of eastern European nusach and chazzanut, Israeli and Sephardic folk music, classical and twentieth century Reform repertoire and contemporary pop and jazz. He writes, “I hope that through a unique blend of styles, my music will engage the congregation as more than singers or listeners, but completely as a praying community.” Recently, his setting of Elohai N’tsor was published in Transcontinental Music’s Shabbat Anthology VIII.

He received his ordination and a Masters Degree in Sacred Music from the School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Cornell University and a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. He has served on the faculty of the Hebrew College School of Jewish Music in Boston and currently serves on the Executive Board of the American Conference of Cantors. In his spare time, he has been known to run the Boston and New York Marathons. Most of all, Cantor Schloss enjoys sharing his love of Judaism and music with his wife, soprano Leah Schloss, and their two daughters, Maya and Sonya (also sopranos!).

Contact Email: CantorSchloss@tinr.org.

Known as the “Cantor’s Cantor,” Helene Shifrin Reps serves as our Cantor Emerita.

Cantor Reps’ musical training began in Oakdale, Pennsylvania, where she pursued lessons in piano, theory, elocution, dance, and clarinet during her childhood. Her musical studies continued at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie Mellon. As a college junior, Cantor Reps made her performance debut with William Steinberg and the Pittsburgh Symphony, as soloist in the Mozart Requiem. After college, Cantor Reps taught music in Harlem, while studying with Jennie Tourel and performing in Manhattan. Again she sang with the Pittsburgh Symphony, as well as opera companies and ensembles. She toured both nationally and internationally with the Antiqua Players of the University of Pittsburgh.

Along with her husband, David, and their young family, Cantor Reps relocated to White Plains. She attended Hebrew Union College, and, in 1979 became one of the world’s first female cantors to graduate. The following year, she joined Temple Israel of New Rochelle, first as Cantorial assistant and then as Cantor and music director. She served Temple Israel actively for 17 years, bringing her beautiful voice and musicality, warmth and charm to our community.

While Cantor Reps retired in 1997, she remains active at Temple Israel. Cantor has four children and eight grandchildren.