Sam Sterling serves as our Director of Membership & Engagement, and also plays an integral role in the coordination of our High Holy Days. Prior to CBE, she spent several years at the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue and then at Central Synagogue, where she was the Melton Director and Manager of Adult Education.
For the past several years, CBE has been experimenting with how Friday nights feel, look, taste, and sound. We have assembled a core community of dedicated regulars, a world-class jazz quartet in partnership with the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and a unique collection of melodies that together transport us out of the workweek and into Shabbat: a sacred time of rest, refreshment, reflection, and utter joy.
Julie Markes has been a member of CBE for over 20 years. A professional photographer, Julie has also graciously photographed many CBE happenings, including B’nei Mitzvahs, Rabbi Green and Rabbi Epstein’s Installations, camp, and Chazakah.
We are thrilled to welcome Paul Taylor to CBE as our new Aquatics Director.
Paul was born and was raised here in New York City, and has been teaching swimming for over 30 years as an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and American Red Cross Lifeguard/CPR/First Aid Instructor. Paul served as an Aquatics Manager at Asphalt Green from 1996 to 2007. He then went on to serve as the Aquatics Director at the Riverdale YM-YWHA from 2007 to 2012. Most recently, Paul was at the JCC Manhattan.
Paul has a deep passion for teaching swimming, water safety, and stroke development structure to those seeking guidance. We are very excited to have Paul on the team as we work to reimagine and enhance our aquatics, basketball, and sports programs.
Please join us in giving Paul a warm CBE welcome and feel free to reach out to him at ptaylor@cbebk.org with any questions.
Tehilah Eisenstadt recently joined the CBE team as Director of Yachad & Family Engagement. Tehilah has an extensive career in Jewish education, having received Master degrees in Jewish Education and in Midrash/Biblical Exegesis from the Jewish Theological Seminar and certification in Early Childhood Administration. She is a graduate of HUC-JTS’s Leadership Institute, and a proud alumna of Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. She also has a deep commitment to social justice. Notably, she was instrumental in forming the New York coalition of Bring Back Our Girls, which strives to raise awareness about the 276 school girls from Chibok, Nigeria who were kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram in 2014.
Rob Raich has been a Trustee at CBE since 2010 and currently serves as our President, beginning his term in 2018. Rob works closely with our Board of Trustees, clergy team, and staff to ensure that CBE continues to be a welcoming and vibrant hub for Jewish life.
Alan Herman recently joined CBE as our Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer. Alan previously served as the Executive Director of Sutton Place Synagogue, and was an active lay leader at Central Synagogue and member of their Board of Trustees.
Bobbie Finkelstein is our Director of Youth Services. Bobbie oversees our five-day-a-week after school program during the school year, as well as all of our summer camp programs!
Jonathan Fried has been an active member of the CBE community in many different capacities since his childhood. Notably, Jonathan served as CBE president from 2014 to 2017.
Marrion W. is a member of our incredible maintenance staff. He can often be seen helping set up at events, fixing anything that needs to be fixed, and working to ensure that CBE is safe and clean for everyone. Be sure to say hi the next time you see him!
Hannah Grossman is the Assistant Director of Yachad, our signature K-12 Jewish and Hebrew Education program. Hannah is a passionate Jewish educator, and brings a wealth of experience to Yachad.
A CBE member for 30 years, Carol Shuchman organizes our annual Respite Bed Shelter, which she helped to launch eight years ago. The five-week shelter – operated in conjunction with CAMBA – is hosted in the Rotunda; it provides 12 homeless men with a warm, safe place to sleep, and a hot, protein-based meal prepared and served by CBE families and volunteers.
Brian Shuman has been a member of CBE since 2010 and has been an invaluable volunteer leader for our previous and upcoming CBE Fun(d) Run on May 19.
Meet Stephen McBurnie! Stephen is one of our security guards who is often the first person to greet you when you visit CBE.
Meet Tom O’Connor! Tom is our Facilities Manager, overseeing and managing our maintenance staff.
