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MEET THE TEAM

 

Temple Beth Tefillah is a vibrant synagogue that blends Jewish values, ethics and traditions into a house of worship and community. Our synagogue is truly an extended family for our members and we are blessed with a community with whom we pray, comfort, rejoice, study and grow. Our membership includes seniors, empty-nesters, families, singles, children, toddlers and infants who each contribute a unique vitality to our community. These are the people who make that a reality. We welcome you to join us!

Ron Becker 

Spiritual Leader

Ron Becker is serving as the JCC's spiritual leader.   Raised on a poultry farm in a Yiddish speaking agricultural community in South Jersey, Ron recently celebrated his 50th Vineland, NJ High School reunion. He has been in our community for the past 15 years and has been our High HolyDay service leader for the past 10 years.  

 

He took on the responsibilities of spiritual leader in 2017 after retiring from Rutgers University as Professor and Head of Special Collections and University Archives at the library over a 45 year career there. 

 

Ron was an active member of Congregation Neve Shalom in Metuchen, New Jersey for over 35 years serving as a board member, Men's Club President, and many other capacities. He still edits the calendar section of the Neve Shalom Bulletin. 

 

At the JCC, Ron leads Shabbat and Festival services; teaches adult education and Bar Mitzvah readiness classes; provides counseling; and conducts baby namings, B'Nai Mitzvot, funerals, unveilings, shiva minyanim, and other life-cycle events. 

 

He can be reached at 727-819-1278 or by cell phone 813-585-2286.

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Eileen Hochstadt

Preseident

 

Eileen Hochstadt is serving as the Jewish Community Center’s President of the Board of Directors. She has held this volunteer position going on 8 years now. The position is usually held for 2 years however Eileen has made it a “welcomed life sentence.”

Eileen was raised in Long Island, New York until the time she married her husband, Jeffrey Hochstadt who also sits on the Board as Treasurer. They have been married for 37 years and have one son, Adam, 26 years old and 4 sweet puppy dogs. They have lived in Florida most of their married life and have been members of the Jewish Community Center since 1984.

Eileen is a very hands-on President, taking on the most trivial tasks such as washing the floors to the most tedious endeavors of creating an entire accounting system along with the Office Manager, Marie Abrams.

In addition to her tasks as President, Eileen is the Principal of the Religious School and although the group of students is small in numbers they are mighty in their eagerness to learn.

Eileen is always looking for “a few hard-working members” to donate their precious time to share in the Mitzvah of caring for the Synagogue.

 

You can reach her on her cell at 727-692-6431 or leave her a message at the Temple office at 727-847-3814.

 

 

Elliot Shapiro

Co-Spiritual Leader

Retired from government, Elliot Shapiro has been a teacher at Beth Tefilah going back 25 years.

 

He had conducted children services and bar/bat mitzvah practice during that time. 

 

Elliot has worked with Rabbi Emeritus Alan Goldberg for 10 years leading the Friday night service and portions of the Saturday morning service. 

 

He is now a co-spiritual leader of Beth Tefilah and assistant to Professor Ron Becker who overseers all religious activities.

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