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Clergy & Staff

Contact us: Phone: 718-796-4730 | Fax: 718-884-3206 | Email: office@thebayit.org

Get to know the talented, dedicated people who make our Bayit thrive!

STEVEN EXLER
SENIOR RABBI

Cell: 917-494-3380
 
Rabbi Steven Exler is from Baltimore.  His ordination is from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. He feels blessed to be part of the Bayit family.  He is married to Shira Billet and is Abba to Ilan Shmuel, Talya Adira, Yair Lev and Aviv Raanan.
 

BRACHA JAFFE
ASSOCIATE RABBA

Cell: 443-983-5083
 
Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe is a proud graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, following her soul after a career in hi-tech. Equally at home in Israel and in the US, she feels honored to be a member of the clergy team at the Bayit. 

SARA HURWITZ
RABBA (PART TIME)

Cell: 646-337-4047
 
Rabba Sara is thrilled to be serving as clergy at the Bayit. She was ordained by Rabbi Weiss and Rabbi Daniel Sperber in 2009. She also serves as Dean of Yeshivat Maharat and lives in Riverdale with her husband, Josh Abraham and their 4 boys.

RICHARD LANGER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Cell: 732-626-5902
 
Richard joined the Bayit in Sept, 2011 after a 20+ year career in small business management.

AVI WEISS
FOUNDING RABBI

Cell: 929-269-2892
 
Rabbi Avraham (Avi) Weiss is the Rabbi in Residence at the Bayit, founding president of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School (YCT) and founder of Yeshivat Maharat.

YALI SZULANSKI
YOUTH DIRECTOR

 
 
Yali Szulanski is a teacher, spiritual educator, writer and life-long learner. She is thrilled to be part of HIR's Youth Department, and help it evolve. She lives in Riverdale with Ben, Zoey, and Eliezer

BRYAN CORDOVA
FACILITIES MANAGER

Cell:  914-809-0203
 
Bryan has been with the Bayit since 2009. He enjoys getting to know all the Bayit members and making sure the day to day needs of the building are taken care of and that all events run as smoothly as possible. 

SHULI BOXER RIESER
ASSISTANT TO RABBIS WEISS & EXLER

Cell:  929-269-2892
 
Originally from Vancouver, Shuli worked as an elementary school teacher before joining the Bayit in 2003.

PHYLLIS NEWSOME
BOOKKEEPER

Cell:  201-503-4923
 
Phyllis joined the Bayit in 2004. She has two amazing daughters and was very involved in leadership roles at the local Public Schools for many years.

YAEL MANOR-OSHINSKY
PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Cell:  201-503-5562
 
Yael joined the Bayit in 2006 and has an M.A. in Journalism and Communications from Bar-Ilan University.

SUSANNA KOCHAN
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE
& COMMITTEE LIAISON

Ext 101 susanna@thebayit.org

Susanna has a B.Ed. Hons in Theology and Education from the University of Cambridge and a M.Ed. in Humanities and Education from the University of London. Her world has revolved around schools and shuls on either side of the pond. 

ADAM HUTTEL
SOCIAL WORKER (Tue/Thu only)

Cell: 917-601-1783
 
Adam Huttel graduated from Queens College, with a Bachelor's degree in psychology. After graduation, he received his Master's in Social Work from Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School of Social  Work, and is currently a licensed social worker in the state of New York. He received his ordination at Yeshiva University's RIETS Rabbinical Program.  Adam is excited to be joining the staff.

LEAH FINE
RABBINIC INTERN

Leah is a fourth year student in Maharat's Core Semikha program. Leah is committed to Jewish education for all, with a special love for Israel education. Having come to Riverdale 18 years ago, Leah innovated the first inclusion Shabbat programs for Bayit youth.

AARON WILDAVSKY
RABBINIC INTERN

Aaron Wildavsky is a third year Semikha student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. As a longtime admirer of the Bayit's culture of chesed, he is honored to be a part of the rabbinic team. Aaron grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and lives on the Upper West Side with his wife, Denna Nerwen.

SUSAN HORNSTEIN
RABBINIC INTERN

Susan Hornstein is a third year student in Maharat's Core Semikha program. She comes to the rabbinic world after a long career in User Experience Design and Jewish Eduction. Susan lives with her husband, Justin in Highland Park, NJ, and misses her grown-up and launched children (and grandchildren).
Thu, December 7 2023 24 Kislev 5784