Temple Staff

 

 

 

 


 


Senior Rabbi Ted Riter                    Click for High Holy Day Sermons - "Keeping the Faith" | "Oil Paintings"

 

Rabbi Ted Riter joined the Temple Adat Elohim community as Senior Rabbi in the summer of 2005. He brings with him an excitement and dedication to progressive Judaism, spiritual growth and social justice.
 

Rabbi Riter is involved in every aspect of synagogue life. He is a great advocate for life-long learning and treasures time spent with students from preschool through senior adults.

 Rabbi Riter views the synagogue as a living laboratory in which individuals continually explore ways to celebrate Judaism. He believes that community should be nurturing, embracing and inspiring. He understands Reform Judaism as ever-evolving; constantly redefining a balance between tradition and the modern world.
 

Rabbi Riter is a native of Texas and grew up in the Reform Movement summer camp, youth group and Israel programs. It is through these experiences that he developed his interest in and passion for tikkun olam (repairing/healing the world).  Rabbi Riter’s commitment to tikkun olam continued through his Rabbinical training at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio. During this time, his focus on repairing the world broadened with his participation in a Clinical Pastoral Education program. In CPE, he served as a chaplain on the oncology and the rehabilitation floors of a local hospital. Rabbi Riter often notes: “It was here, sitting with patients, holding their hands, listening, praying, being silent, that I realized that tikkun olam, can have a different face. I learned that tikkun olam can also be practiced on a small scale, on an individual level, changing one person’s world at a time.”

Rabbi Riter earned his undergraduate degree in Political Economics from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Following this, he served as a Legislative Assistant for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and later worked for Americans for Peace Now, both in Washington, D.C. Rabbi Riter earned his Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters and later his smicha (ordination) from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1997. 
 

Prior to joining TAE, Rabbi Riter served the Jewish community of San Diego's North County at Temple Solel in Encinitas for eight years. During this time he was instrumental in forming Project SARAH (Stop Abusive Relationships At Home) – a domestic violence awareness and support program – and a local chapter of JACS (Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically dependent persons and Significant others). He was a Board Member of Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties and an executive Board Member of the San Diego Rabbinical Association.
 

Rabbi Riter currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis, is a Trustee on the Pacific Southwest Boards of the Association of Reform Zionists of America and the World Union for Progressive Judaism. He is active in many Jewish and interfaith efforts to pursue tikkun olam on the local, national, and international levels.  Rabbi Riter and his wife, Corey Rubin, live in Thousand Oaks.

 

Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe
 

Rabbi Rebecca L. Dubowe joined Temple Adat Elohim in 1997, following her tenure at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, N.J.,  where she served as Associate Rabbi for four years. A native of Los Angeles, Rabbi Dubowe was ordained by Hebrew Union College – Cincinnati, Ohio.  She holds a B.A. in Jewish Studies from the University of Judaism and an M.A. in Hebrew Letters from HUC.  Currently, Rabbi Dubowe serves on the board of the Women’s Rabbinic Network, the national Reform women rabbis’ organization.  Previously, she served on the board of the RAIN Project, the transitional shelter for homeless families, in Camarillo.  Rabbi Dubowe is deeply committed to serving the spiritual and educational needs of this congregation.  In addition to her rabbinic responsibilities and dedication to the entire Temple family, Rabbi Dubowe focuses her attention on overseeing the Temple’s youth programs, coordinating its adult education programs, and teaching B’Nai Mitzvah students.  Rabbi Dubowe is married to Michael Dubowe and they have two lovely daughters, Rachel and Arielle.












 

 

 

 

Cantor David Shukiar
 

David Shukiar is thrilled to serve as the cantor of Temple Adat Elohim.  He brings his love for music, Judaism, and children to bear on his Cantorial responsibilities.  He is a magna cum laude graduate of UCLA, where he developed both his vocal and musical composition skills.  The Guild of Temple Musicians has twice selected him as the best young composer--only three other composers have been so honored during the three decades the international award has been granted.  His music is published by Transcontinental Music Publications, the largest publisher of Jewish music, and can be heard in concert halls and synagogues around the country.  He often visits communities as a Composer-in Residence and has enjoyed compositional commissions from synagogues all over the world.  He also writes for the stage.  One of his many musicals is “Benjamin and Judah,” a musical based on the Chanukah story.  “Benjamin and Judah” has enjoyed productions in New York, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
 

At Adat Elohim, Cantor Shukiar is proud to interact with congregants of every age.  He serves the needs of our community through bikur cholim, counseling and being there for the highs and lows of the cycle of life.
 

Cantor Shukiar’s involvement in the Early Childhood Center helps to connect the children to Temple Adat Elohim and give them a pride in their newly forming Jewish identity.  He teaches in our religious school.  He also oversees the B’nai Mitzvah Program, working with each candidate to not only master the Torah, Haftarah, and liturgy, but to also gain a deeper, personal understanding of our traditions and writings.
 

Cantor Shukiar also supports the activities of our Youth Groups, especially those activities dealing with Tikkun Olam, the perfection of our world.  He loves to see our newest young adults organize and carry out Tikkun Olam projects, working to build a stronger world for future generations, and thereby reinforcing our teens’ Jewish identities.
 

Cantor Shukiar oversees and facilitates all aspects of Temple Adat Elohim’s music program.  He works directly with TAE’s Junior Choir, giving our children an outlet to explore Jewish music on a personal level.  The choir is not only a fixture at our monthly Family Shabbat Celebrations, but they also enhance the celebrations of Chanukah and Pesach at local retirement communities.  He also works directly with TAE’s Adult Choir and the Band of Milk and Honey to help enhance our spiritual experiences through music.
 

Cantor Shukiar and his lovely wife, Leasa, have two beautiful daughters, Carly and Hayley.








 

Rabbi Emeritus Alan Greenbaum
 

Rabbi Emeritus Alan H. Greenbaum has been with Temple Adat Elohim since 1984.  Prior to that, he served as spiritual leader at Temple Israel in Memphis for four years and Temple B’nai Israel in Galveston for three years.  As a rabbinic student, he served congregations in San Luis Obispo (California), New Iberia (Louisiana), and Columbus (Indiana).  During his tenure in Thousand Oaks, Rabbi Greenbaum was instrumental in starting the Conejo Valley Winter Shelter Program and was devoted to interfaith relations in this community, which included serving as president of the Conejo Valley Ecumenical Council.  He and his wife, Dori, currently reside in Grass Valley, California.










 


 Aliza Goland - Temple Executive Director
 

Aliza Goland has been an active in the Jewish community of Los Angeles for over 25 years, both as a volunteer and as a professional.  While she was raising her three children, she became an active volunteer at school and at her synagogue.  She was a founding member of Dor L’Dor, an auxiliary support group for the Jewish Homes for the Aging of Greater Los Angeles and has served in numerous capacities on the boards of several organizations, including President of the Sisterhood and later Synagogue President at Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills.  She is active in Women’s League for Conservative Judaism where she has served in many capacities including Newsletter Editor, Conference Chairman, Administrative Vice President and Torah Fund Vice President, managing the annual Torah Fund campaign and raising over $250,000 annually towards scholarships for the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, the Schechter Institute, and the Seminario Rabbinico in Buenos Aires.  She is currently serving as Regional Training Services Coordinator and is an International Trainer.

Aliza attended UCLA where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology as well as a teaching certificate.  After taking time off to raise a family, she went back to study at the University of Judaism in 2000.  She has completed her studies towards an M.B.A. in Non-Profit management.  Prior to joining Temple Adat Elohim in 2006, she was the Director of Regional Services for The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, where her responsibilities included Regional Programming, Development, Marketing, Administration, Scholarships, and the development of cost-savings programs for affiliated congregations.
 

In her free time, Aliza enjoys singing with the Ruach Revelers of Women’s League’s Pacific Southwest Branch.  She also loves to read, crochet, and needlepoint. She is extremely proud of her three children, Danielle, Matthew, and Nicole.




 

Marcy Goldberg - Director of Religious School Education
 

Marcy began her career in Jewish Education as Assistant Principal of Temple Beth Hillel in 1982; and she was an administrator there for seven years.  In 1989, Marcy became the Director of Education at Temple Beth Israel in Pomona and nine years later at Temple Aliyah in Woodland Hills.  She joined the Senior Staff of Temple Adat Elohim in 2000.  Marcy has also been involved with the Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps as Resident Director of Gindling Hilltop Camp for five years and Education Director for two years.  Marcy has been very active in the Bureau of Jewish Education.  She served as the Chair of the Los Angeles Principal’s Council for three years, has headed many Accreditation Teams, and is a frequent presenter at the Educators Conferences.  In 2004, Marcy was the recipient of the Lainer Distinguished Religious School Educator Award.  She shares her love of music weekly with the students of Adat Elohim as she leads them with her guitar in prayer and song.  Marcy, along with her husband Neil, takes great pride in their four children: Tami, an Elementary School Teacher; Lauren, an Interior Designer; Rebecca, a college student; and Aaron, who is still in high school and an active participant at TAE.









 

Batsheva Spector - Director of Early Childhood Education
 

Batsheva was born in Israel and lived there on and off for a few years.  Her parents are Holocaust survivors and lived in Israel during its very formative years.  They moved to America when she was young and lived in the Northeast for most of her childhood.  Batsheva’s father is a Rabbi and a Hebrew scholar.  She was raised by very wonderful, dedicated, loving, and religious parents who taught her about Judaism and its fine character and moral teachings, which she truly values.  Batsheva believes these to be the firm foundation upon which Jewish early childhood education is based.
 

Prior to her working at Adat Elohim, Batsheva was the Director of the Temple Akiba Nursery School in Culver City for three years and worked as the Director of Seven Arrows Elementary School in Pacific Palisades.  Before that, she worked as the Director of Eretz Alliance School, a Jewish Preschool and Day School in Reseda, California, and the S.U.N.Y Daycare Center in Albany, New York.  Batsheva has a Master's degree and teaching credentials in elementary education.  She has taught all grades with an emphasis on Kindergarten and emergent reading.
 

Batsheva is the mother of three wonderful children: Joshua, 26, Ariella, 23, and Michael, 17.  Her last true "baby" is her dog Samson.  She also has a cat, Milo, and a fish.  She loves to hike, run, play paddle tennis and be in nature.






 

Support Staff
 

Lavana O’Riley  Administrative Assistant
Cary Turner  Receptionist
Teri Rosen  Clergy Assistant
Jessi Fainsztein Religious School Assistant Director of Education
Andrea Leonard  Early Childhood Assistant Director
Carrie Garcia Bookkeeper
Arlene Bloom Accounting
Erica Feinman Youth Group Advisor

 

 

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