Shalom from Rabbi Gordon Yaffe
Thanks for coming to visit our Website. I look forward to having the opportunity to get to know you. Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I began my Rabbinic career upon my ordination as a Conservative Rabbi from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1990. My first congregation was Temple Beth Shalom in Stratford, Connecticut where I served as both Rabbi and Cantor for 5 years. In addition to serving as the spiritual leader of Beth Shalom, I also served as a leader in the greater community as the president of the Stratford Clergy Association and the president of the Bridgeport Board of Rabbis. It was during these years that my wife Carrie and I were blessed with our two sons, Robert and Neal. Robert is now 31 years old and is working for Google in Palo Alto California. Neal is now 29 years old. He is living in Long Island City and is working for Body Armor Super Drink. Carrie is a Geriatric Social Worker and is currently a working as a Contact Tracer for the City of New York.
In August of 1995, Carrie, Robert, Neal and I relocated to Ocean Township, New Jersey when I became the spiritual leader of Temple Beth El of Oakhurst where I served for 15 years. In August of 2010, I began my current position as the Rabbi at the Little Neck Jewish Center which is now, Congregation L’Dor V’Dor – Oakland Little Neck Jewish Center. I am currently the president of RANSAQ (The Rabbinical Assembly of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens).
Jewish life here in North East Queens and Great Neck Long Island is alive and well. At OLNJC there is a love for our tradition and a great sense of energy within the membership of our congregation.
My rabbinate is guided by my belief in the relevancy of Jewish tradition as a vibrant force in contemporary life. One of my primary goals is to help to make life cycle events, holiday and Shabbat celebrations, daily prayer and the study of Torah transforming experiences. I welcome the opportunity to share the beauty and the depth of Jewish tradition in informal dialogues and conversations as well as in formal classes and sermons. My door and email box are always open and my phone line is always available.
I am guided by the words of the prophet Micah who said, “God has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Do justice, love goodness and walk humbly with your God.” I invite you to walk together with me as we can discover and re-discover the blessings of our world and of our lives.
If you would like to read more about my work as a rabbi, I invite you to click here.
