Rabbi Ari Berman has served as Rabbi of The Jewish Center since 2000.

Rabbi Berman received his BA from Yeshiva University in 1991 and graduated with honors in both Philosophy and Talmud. He received his MA in Jewish Philosophy from the Bernard Revel Graduate School in 1993. During that time, he spent a number of years studying under Rabbi Michael Rosensweig, and was a fellow in the Adina and Marcos Katz Kollel. During his tenure in the Kollel, Rabbi Berman was selected as the Rabbi Aaron Burack Fellow, and delivered an annual memorial lecture. Rabbi Berman spent four years studying in Israel under Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, from 1987-1989 at Yeshivat Har Etzion and from 1993-1995 in Yeshiva University's Gruss Kollel in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Berman was ordained by the Rabbi Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University in 1995 and was subsequently selected as a fellow of the Gruss Kollel Elyon of Yeshiva University. At the quadrennial Chag Hasemichah of RIETS, Rabbi Berman was chosen as the speaker to represent his rabbinic peers.

Following his years at the Kollel Elyon, Rabbi Berman served as a Rosh Mesivta (Professor of Talmud) at the Stone Beit Medrash Program at Yeshiva University. During these years, he also served as Rabbinic Intern, Assistant Rabbi, and Associate Rabbi at The Jewish Center where he received practical rabbinic training and mentoring from Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter.

Rabbi Berman has published articles in academic, popular, and Torah journals and has been recognized by RIETS for his written scholarship. He also lectures widely as a Scholar-in-Residence at synagogues and organizations throughout the country. Rabbi Berman is active in a number of organizations, including Religious Zionists of America, Manhattan Day School, West Side COJO, AIPAC and Manhattan Jewish Experience. In 2004, Rabbi Berman was recognized by the West Side community as Clergyman of the Year for his work at The Jewish Center and in the broader Upper West Side neighborhood.

Rabbi Berman and his wife Anita have five children: Shlomo, Yehuda, Binyamin, Tamar and Yonatan.

Yosie Levine
Rabbi

Benny Rogosnitzky
Cantor

Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky was born in Liverpool, England, but spent his early schooling in the Netherlands and Johannesburg. At the age of nine his liturgical talents were discovered by world-renowned Cantor Johnny Gluck, and he subsequently joined his choir as a child soloist. At age sixteen he returned to England, where he was invited to lead High Holiday Services at prestigious Brighton and Hove Synagogue. At the same time, he furthered his Jewish Studies in the Manchester Yeshiva. Cantor Rogosnitzky pursued his higher education at the Royal Manchester School of Music and Art, where he earned his Masters Degree in Music Theory. He has since lectured widely on music and its application to prayer and served as a guest lecturer at the Yale Conservatory of Music in the USA. Affectionately known to all as "Cantor Benny," he also gives classes and maintains a rigorous regime of study and practice of traditional and modern liturgy and music. He has produced several concerts, performing worldwide in New York, London, Tel Aviv, South Africa and Warsaw. Cantor Rogosnitzky's interests and talents are not limited to the sphere of music. He worked closely with late international financier, Edmund Saffa, and has been instrumental in the organization of a myriad of successful charitable functions. He is also actively involved in Jewish outreach, both in the USA and Israel. He is passionately committed to making a meaningful difference in people's lives.

Ariel Rackovsky
Assistant Rabbi

Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky graduated Yeshiva College in 2002 with a Bachelors degree in Biology. A native of Rochester, New York, he studied for two years in Yeshivat Kerem BeYavneh prior to attending Yeshiva College. In March 2006, he received his Rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary while serving as Rabbinic Intern at the Riverdale Jewish Center and on the Chaplaincy staff of the UJA/Zicklin Residence of the Metropolitan Jewish Hospice of New York. In the fall of 2006, he became Senior Rabbinic Intern at the RJC, and joined the Rabbinical staff of the Beth Din of America. Rabbi Rackovsky has participated in a number of Yeshiva University programs in cities across the US and Canada, and served as the director of the 2006 YU Atlanta Summer Kollel.

Mrs. Elana Stein Hain
Resident Scholar

Mrs. Elana Stein Hain joined The Jewish Center family in 2006 as the William Fischman Resident Scholar. Pursuing a doctorate in Religion at Columbia University, with a specialization in Jewish Law, Mrs. Stein Hain has enjoyed sharing some of her findings in the form of classes and shiurim here at The Center - e.g., Legal Theory and Halachah, as well as a series on Judaism and Islam.

Ari Schwarzberg
William Fischman Rabbinic Intern

Ari Schwarzberg is a third year student at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. In conjunction with his Rabbinical studies, Ari is pursuing a graduate degree in Administrative Education at the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education as well as a degree in Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School. Last year, Ari served as an inaugural Sanford Lurie Fellow, contributing to the Jewish Center's Shabbat programming while also participating in the Jewish Center's afternoon kollel. Upon graduation from Yeshiva College in May 2006, Ari received the Max and Sophie Manicoff Memorial Award for Excellence in Talmud and the Chaya and Hershel Schneider Memorial Award for Excellence in Hebrew.

Shira Rose
Director of Programming and Communications

Shira Rose joined our staff this past summer as the Director of Programming and Communications. A native of Long Island, she received her BA in Psychology from Queens College and her master’s degree from Hunter College School of Social Work with a specialization in cognitive behavioral therapy. Shira comes to us after three years as a coordinator and facilitator for various Jewish social networking organizations. Outside of her professional career, Shira devotes a significant amount of time to her passion for community volunteer work, including work with Chai Lifeline, Livnot U’Lehibanot, and the Jewish Outdoors Club.

Dalia Gefen
Youth Director

Dalia Gefen returns to us for a third year with her creativity, dedication and enthusiasm for working with children. She has taught various ages in Hebrew schools and Jewish day schools in both general and special education classrooms. She is also currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Psychology at the City University of New York.

Rivi Katz
Community Social Worker

Rivi Katz holds a BA in History from Barnard College, a JD from Cardozo Law School and an MSW from Columbia University’s School of Social Work. She has numerous years of experience working as a counselor, leading support groups and using her social work background to provide programming to members of the Jewish community. Rivi is also fluent in both French and Hebrew. Currently, she resides with her family in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Polina Berdich
Controller

Polina Berdich has been working as the Controller of The Jewish Center since August of 2005. Polina received her master’s degree from Odessa University and her bachelor’s degree from Touro College in New York. Born in Ukraine, Polina immigrated to America eleven years ago. She and her son, Boris, currently reside in Brooklyn.

Jessica Soria
Rabbi's Assistant

Jessica Soria joined our staff this past summer as Rabbi's Assistant. A New Jersey native, Jessica holds a B.A. in Communications from Rutgers University with a specialization in leadership development and intercultural communication, and minors in both Art History and Jewish Studies. Jessica recently interned as a program assistant at the elder day care program of Jewish Family Services and continues her involvement with the elderly through nursing homes in New Jersey.