Meet our professional staff

Howard Greenstein

Executive Director


Howard Greenstein joined us from the Educational Alliance on New York’s Lower East Side, where he had been the Associate Executive Director of Operations and Business Strategy at Manny Cantor Center for 5 years. In that role, he led strategic operations and oversaw the budget, infrastructure and teams that support the programmatic mission of the 132-year-old flagship building of this historic Jewish agency. He also managed multiple business units including fitness, art school, facilities rental, kosher kitchen, security and facilities. 

He previously served as CEO and President of Harbrooke Group, which helped companies and nonprofits communicate with their customers and operate their organizations using the latest technologies and operations methods. At Harbrooke Group, Greenstein worked with a variety of groups from small nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies, cable networks, and Wall Street firms, as well as major advocacy groups, helping them create online presences and execute strategy. Prior to starting his own firm, Greenstein’s career spanned organizations such as Microsoft, J.P.Morgan, and New York University, as well as several start-ups. At the Twin Towers Fund, he managed the distribution of $168MM in funds to families of rescue workers who perished on 9/11, and worked on the creation of America's Camp for the children of those who died on 9/11 and in the line of duty. Howard volunteered as program staff for 10 years, and led the organization's operations and reunion programming for 7 additional years.  

Greenstein has been an Adjunct Lecturer in the M.S. in Nonprofit Management at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies, and in the MS in Nonprofit at NYU SPS. He has co-founded and sat on the boards of the World Wide Web Artist’s Consortium and Social Media Club, and was a board member of the New York Software Industry Association, New York New Media Association, Temple Beth El of Spring Valley, The Cornell Club of Rockland County, Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations Alumni Association, and Cornell Media Guild - WVBR. He holds a B.S. from Cornell University, and an M.P.S. from NYU Tisch School of the Arts’ Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP). Howard and his wife live in Rockland and they are proud parents of two young adults.

 

Patty Goldstick

Director of Early Childhood Center

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Patty Goldstick has a Master's Degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from the Bank Street College of Education. Before coming to ST, she was Director of the Temple Israel Center Nursery School in White Plains. She also ran Kulanu, a supplemental Hebrew High School in Stamford, CT and has worked as a Special Educator in dozens of Nursery schools throughout Westchester and the Bronx, helping children with special needs reach their goals. She is a founding member and former Executive Director of Congregation Tehillah in Riverdale, NY. She was also instrumental in the revitalization of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in Manhattan where she served as the Director of Family & Youth Activities and then as Director of Programming & Volunteers. Patty has three children, Caleb, Isabela, and Max, and a sweet labradoodle named Ziggy.

Stephanie Ben Simon

Interim Director of Lifelong Learning

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Stephanie comes to the Temple Shaaray Tefila community harboring a passion for high-quality Jewish education for all ages and stages of our lives. She believes that Judaism is magical and can enhance our lives as we infuse each day with the rich wisdom of middot and mitzvot – values and good deeds – from our Jewish tradition.

Stephanie's desire for others to understand how Judaism comes alive was ignited during her second semester of high school where she lived in Israel on a program called EIE (now called URJ Heller High) This ultimately drove her to earn her Bachelor's degree in Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford. She has lived in various communities in the Midwest, South, Northeast, and California before settling here with her family. During her travels throughout Israel and the United States, she deeply valued the power of how organized Jewish communities solidify and enhance nurturing, reliable relationships.

While working in the field of Jewish Education, Stephanie obtained her MA in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Davidson School of Education and was awarded her Reform Judaism Educator credential. Stephanie is married to Shay Ben Simon – a native Israeli – and they, along with their son Asher, are excited to be here with all of you. Stephanie is especially ready to get to know you and what makes Judaism magical for you.

Beth Cohen

Program and Event Manager

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Beth comes to us from Temple Beth El in Chappaqua where she worked as an Administrative Assistant in the Early Childhood Center for the past eight years. Prior to that she was a Buyer for many years for Saks Fifth Avenue and Loehmanns. She and her husband joined Shaaray Tefila many years ago because they were captivated by the beauty of the sanctuary and the grounds. They vowed to have their children's Bar Mitzvah here which they ultimately did. Two successful celebrations later, Beth is poised and passionate to help facilitate upcoming celebrations for you!

Lauren Hollander

Teen Program Director

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Lauren Hollander is a recent graduate of Binghamton University where she majored in Psychology and minored in Judaic Studies. She was very involved in campus life, especially in Hillel-JSU where she was President in her senior year. She also taught Hebrew School at Temple Israel in Binghamton. 

 

Lauren grew up going to Temple Shaaray Tefila and was deeply involved in Temple life. She had her Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation at Shaaray, joined the youth group board and became a Madricha. She was also involved with NFTY, attended URJ Eisner Camp and traveled to Israel on 3 separate occasions. A fun fact about Lauren is that she’s also a twin!

 

Jeremy Joseph

Assistant Teen Program Director

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Jeremy comes to us from Temple Beth-El in Monroe where he worked as a Torah school teacher and youth advisor. With a BA in History specializing in Judaic Studies from the University at Albany, he also studied at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. Jeremy sees his job as laying the foundation stones of Judaism by getting every young person excited about learning and being Jewish in the modern world. Jeremy has worked with various grade levels and has worked as a special needs teacher substitute, giving him the skills to address each future student's individual needs. Throughout his life, his passion for Jewish education and leadership only continues to grow. As a teacher and youth coordinator, Jeremy believes that the youth are not just the future of our community, but an integral part of its present vitality.