Meet Our Team
Discover the heart and soul of Congregation Habonim through our dedicated team of clergy, educators, staff, and board members. Our synagogue is known for its warm, welcoming community and passionate leadership. Whether supporting our renowned Religious School, nurturing lifelong learners from nursery to b’nai mitzvah, or leading our spirited Shabbat and holiday services, each member of the Habonim team is committed to building a joyful, inclusive Jewish experience.
Clergy
Rabbi Joshua Ben-Gideon
rjbg@habonim.net │ 212-787-5313
Rabbi Ben-Gideon is our spiritual leader, educator, and guide for Jewish law and tradition. He has served as Habonim’s Rabbi since July 2025. The Rabbi looks forward to deepening his relationship with our shul and building Jewish community together. He loves hiking and biking, and is thrilled to return to the Upper West Side.
Rabbi Ben-Gideon graduated from SUNY Albany, was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2003, and is a member of the Rabbinical Assembly. For over 20 years, he has worked with mission-driven Jewish communities to navigate change, deepen connection, and create spaces that feel spiritually alive and welcoming.
Cantor Jessica Futran Scheinman
cantorjessica@habonim.net │ 212-787-5347 x107
Cantor Jessica Futran Scheinman officially became the Cantor for Habonim May 2025. She has been a member of Habonim since 2013 and quickly fell in love with the warmth of the community. She has been leading the High Holidays and Preparing all our B’nai Mitzvah students (hyperlink for B’nai Mitzvah link) for over a decade. Cantor Jessica is the co-director of our Post B’nai Mitzvah Teen Lomdim Program (hyperlink to Lomdim landing page) leads many other synagogue programs and concerts.
Cantor Jessica is a graduate of the Cantorial Interns of the Cantors Assembly Program (CICA) through the Academy of Jewish Religion of California and received her Bachelor’s of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She has had a professional career in musical theater and opera, including a member of the original cast of Fidler Afn Dakh, the critically acclaimed off-Broadway production of “Fiddler on the Roof” in Yiddish.
She resides in the Upper West Side with her husband and daughter.
Cantor Emeritus Bruce Halev
cantorhalev@habonim.net
Cantor Halev served for 38 rich and resonant years at Habonim, and became Cantor Emeritus in July 2021. He is always willing to share stories from shul history, lead our classical organ service on High Holy Days, and lend a hand whenever called upon.
Cantor Halev graduated from the School of Sacred Music of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) and received an MA in Jewish Education and Near Eastern Studies from New York University and an MSW from Yeshiva University. He completed a two-year program in Spiritual Direction, and received a Doctorate of Music, Honoris Causa, from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion for 25 years of service to his synagogue and to the Jewish community.
Educators
Nursery School Director Tina Lobel
tlobel@habonim.net │ 212-787-5347
Tina runs our educational programs for Habonim’s youngest students with nurturing and plenty of hugs. She meets new families as they explore admissions, and supports them during exmissions as they consider ongoing schools. Tina hopes that each of our students will develop a true love of learning and Jewish community.
Tina has more than 20 years of experience in her field. She holds a BA in Early Childhood Education and an MA in Special Education, and previously served as Early Childhood Coordinator and Learning Specialist at Leman Manhattan Preparatory School.
Religious School Director Karen Sacks
religiousschool@habonim.net │ 212-787-5347 x105
Karen runs our Religious School, providing age-appropriate Jewish education as students transition from Nursery School all the way through b’nai mitzvah and beyond. She has served in the Religious School previously as a youth service leader, teacher, and administrative coordinator.
Staff
Administrative Director Michelle Szpilzinger
office@habonim.net │ 212-787-5348 x102
Executive Director Josh Hanft
jhanft@habonim.net │ 212-787-5347 x101
Communications Manager Gabby Cohen
communications@habonim.net
Maintenance Staff
Matvey Khazanov and Jesus Gutierrez mkhazanov@habonim.net │ 212-787-5347 x122
Bookkeeper Grace Rosas
grosas@habonim.net │ 212-787-5347 x102
Board
Susan I. Grant, President
Lindsey Gal, Vice President
Lewis Krulwich, Vice President
Michael Malbin, Treasurer
Mindy Sickle, Secretary
Amy Cook
Alan Danzig
Noah Halperin
Daniel Hamermesh
Blair Kaminsky
Joshua Mendelsohn
Jennifer North
Melissa Paretsky
Gary Sokolow
Stefanie Tuder
Deborah Winokur
Jamie Zaretsky
