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Home > About Us > Clergy & Staff

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 HIR's Youth Director, and help it evolve. She lives in Riverdale with her family.

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 (SHULAMIT) BOXER RIESER

EXECUTIVE 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.

SOFIA FREUDENSTEIN
RABBINIC INTERN

Sofia is a fourth-year student at Yeshivat Maharat and a Jewish Philosophy MA student at Yeshiva University. She has learned as a senior fellow at Rabbi Aryeh Klapper's Summer Beit Midrash, Yeshivat Drisha, and has been Rosh Beit Midrash at Camp Stone. Sofia is excited to learn with and from HIR's dynamic community.

JOSH SWATEZ
RABBINIC INTERN

Josh Swatez is a second year student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Josh grew up in Skokie, Illinois where he was taught by a number of YCT musmachim. He hopes to follow in his rabbis' footsteps and inspire the next generation of passionate young Jews. Josh lives with his wife Natalie in Riverdale.

Fri, May 16 2025 18 Iyyar 5785