Rabbi Shmuel Goldin.

1973 B.S. Psychology, Yeshiva University, Magna Cum Laude

1976 Rabbinic Ordination, Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva University
 
Master of Arts in Jewish Education, Ferkauf Graduate School, Yeshiva University

 

Rabbi Goldin has served as spiritual leader of Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, New Jersey, for the past 17 years. He is an instructor of Bible and Philosophy at the Isaac Breuer College and the James Striar School of Yeshiva University; the founding director and lecturer at The Eve Flechner Torah Institute - an institute of Torah study serving the Bergen County community; has lectured in the adult education department at the Jewish Community Center on the Palisades and has served on the faculty of numerous other institutes. Rabbi Goldin is the current President of Rabbinic Alumni of Yeshiva University; past president of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County and former Chairman of its Kashruth Committee; former Rabbinic advisor to the Jewish Youth Encounter Program, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Sinai Learning Disabilities Program of New Jersey. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America; is a member of the U.J.A. Rabbinic Cabinet; a member of the Rabbinic Cabinet of Israel Bonds, and a charter member of the Rabbinic Alumni Cabinet of Yeshiva University. Additionally, Rabbi Goldin is a member of the advisory board of EDAH; a past member of the Executive Committee of the United Jewish Appeal of Bergen County and current member of the board; a member of the board of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Bergen County, and a member of the board of the Orthodox Caucus.

 

He is also a founder and acting chairman of Shvil Hazahav - a national membership organization of Orthodox Jews representing a moderate voice within the American Orthodox religious Zionist community. In this aegis, Rabbi Goldin has played a major role in fostering dialogue between the Israeli government and the American Orthodox community concerning the ongoing Israeli-Arab peace process. Most recently, Shvil Hazahav has also been involved in forging high level dialogue in the United States with Conservative and Reform Jewry.

 

Rabbi Goldin has received numerous awards including the following: Bnei Akiva - Rabbinic Leadership Award (1997); ECHO; Yeshiva University - Rabbinic Alumni Award (1991); Sinai Learning Disabilities Program of Bergen County (1987); Orthodox Union - Rabbinic Leadership Award (1986); NCSY; Yachad; Hebrew Free Burial Society; Shvut Ami, and many others. He was selected as “1994 Newsmaker of the Year” by The Jewish Standard, a weekly Jewish news publication of Bergen and Hudson Counties. He has been featured every year since in the Jewish Standard’s list of prominent Bergen County newsmakers. Additionally, Rabbi Goldin was recently chosen as a “young Jewish leader in the New York area”, honored as one of a group of 45 leaders by the Jewish Week of New York.

 

Noted as one of the most articulate spokesmen in the Orthodox community today, Rabbi Goldin has developed an innovative educational approach to Torah study, Jewish law and Jewish identity, which is enthusiastically received by traditional and non-traditional Jews alike. In April 2000, Rabbi Goldin delivered a ground-breaking lecture at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America concerning interdenominational relations titled ‘Why Can’t We All Just Get Along: An Orthodox Rabbi’s View on Pluralism”. He has lectured extensively throughout the world in a wide variety of synagogue and communal settings. He regularly leads congregational missions to Israel, particularly during critical times (11 missions in total, including 2 this year); under his guidance, Congregation Ahavath Torah was the first American synagogue to visit Israel during the Iraqi scud attacks. In 1999, Rabbi Goldin participated in a volunteer humanitarian mission to Kosovar refugee camps in Macedonia. Rabbi Goldin joined with 5 other Rabbis in sponsoring a large interdenominational grassroots rally in solidarity with Israel on June 3, 2001. This Rabbinic committee is presently planning additional events.

 

More recently Rabbi Goldin has authored several articles on the peace process, Israel-Diaspora relations, interdenominational dialogue, and other current issues which have appeared in prominent publications in America and abroad.

 

Rabbi Goldin and his wife, Barbara, are the proud parents of Avi and his wife Rena, Yossie, Yehuda, Donny and Rivka.