West End Temple Sinai Congregation
  • (718) 634-0301

Meet Our Clergy

Rabbi Rebecca Epstein

Rabbi Rebecca Epstein is passionate about creating a compelling Jewish community that is deeply engaged in Torah, Jewish tradition, caring for one another, and promoting justice in the world. An avid yogi, dancer, storyteller, and cook, Rabbi Epstein believes in creating an embodied and holistic Jewish practice that nourishes our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls.

She has been proudly serving West End Temple since 2021. Previously, she served as Associate Rabbi and Educator at Congregation Beth Elohim of Brooklyn, Congregation Beth Israel of Austin, Texas, and Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple of New Brunswick, New Jersey.  She was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2009, where she received awards in Jewish philosophy, ecology, and general excellence. During her time at HUC-JIR, she served as the Student Rabbi of Chavurat Tikvah.  She earned her B.A. from Vassar College, where she studied Cognitive Science and Art History.

Rabbi Epstein is a past Vice President of the Women’s Rabbinic Network, and currently serves on the Worship and Practice Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

Rabbi Epstein resides in Brooklyn with her dear husband Barak, and their three girls.

Student Cantor Gabriel Lehrman

Gabriel Lehrman is incredibly happy to be on the team at West End Temple as the Student Cantor, and has been with us since 2021. Gabriel is in his third year at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion’s cantorial program, where he is developing his voice as a musical and spiritual leader. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and after graduating from the University of Puget Sound with Bachelors’ in Music and Religion, Gabriel moved to New York City to work in the Jewish non-profit world. He eventually found fulfilling work as a Jewish outdoor educator in northwest Connecticut, which led him to study towards becoming a cantor. Gabriel has served as a cantor at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos, CA, and Temple Micah in Washington, D.C. When not studying or singing at West End, he is often found on a hiking trail, making challah, or making music with friends.

Rabbi Emerita Marjorie Slome

Rabbi Marjorie Slome retired from West End Temple in June 2020, after serving the synagogue for 15 1/2 years.

She was ordained in 1987 at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in New York City. In the 29 years since her ordination, Rabbi Slome has served as interim Rabbi at Pittsburgh’s Temple Sinai, Rabbi/Educator at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, and has directed numerous programs for the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services in New York City. In addition, she has worked for the Union for Reform Judaism and the Jewish Campus Activities Board in Philadelphia.

Rabbi Slome has also served as co-chairperson of the Women’s Rabbinic Network, President of the Brooklyn Association of Reform Rabbis, and Chairperson of the Women’s Rabbinic Alliance while at HUC-JIR.

She holds a Master in Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and Community Planning, and a BA from the University of Cincinnati.

Rabbi Slome is married to Kenneth S. Stern, an attorney, author, and directs a small family foundation. They live in Brooklyn and have two adult children, Emily and Daniel.

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147-02 Newport Avenue
Rockaway Park, NY 11694
(718) 634-0301

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