Professional Staff

~ PROFESSIONAL STAFF ~

$Officers\Trustees$

   Rabbi Morris Zimbalist
   Phone: (845)-357-2430
   E-Mail: Rabbimz@aol.com

Rabbi Morris Zimbalist is the Rabbi of Montebello Jewish Center in Montebello, New York. He was ordained from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 2002 and was the recipient of the Lillian M. Lowenfeld Prize for excellence in the field of practical theology. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Rabbi Zimbalist grew up in the Conservative movement and was very active in his synagogue, participated in USY and attended both Camp Herzl and Camp Ramah. He firmly believes in the importance of living a Jewish life and that there must be continuity in Jewish education from the classroom, to the synagogue and in the home. Rabbi Zimbalist graduated from Boston University where he earned a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Political Science.

Rabbi Zimbalist is currently the President of the Rockland County Board of Rabbis, a member of the Rabbi’s Advisory Council for the Hudson Valley Political Action Committee (HUVPAC), a trustee of Rockland County’s Holocaust Museum and Study Center and a trustee of Hebrew Community Chapel / Free Burial Society of Rockland County. He is also a member of the Mikveh Planning Committee of Orange County. Rabbi Zimbalist maintains a close relationship with the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, where he is a mentor for Rabbinical School students and a member of the Rabbinical School Admissions Committee. Rabbi Zimbalist has also served as the Chaplain for the Jewish War Veterans of the State of New York and as a member of the Editorial Board of the Rockland County Jewish Reporter.

In the summer of 2006, Rabbi Zimbalist began the certification process to become a mesader get – one who is able to facilitate and write Jewish divorce decrees. He has worked closely with members of the Joint Beit Din, the Judicial Court of the Conservative Movement, and will be fully certified in 2008.

Prior to his rabbinic studies, Rabbi Zimbalist worked in the Psychology Research Laboratory at McLean Hospital, a psychiatric research hospital just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. In that position, Rabbi Zimbalist worked with different clinical researchers and co-authored several publications on genetic links to mental illness.

Rabbi Zimbalist is married to his beloved wife Alison and he is the proud father of Zachary.

      Stephen Smith, President
      Phone: (845)-357-2430

     Rabbi Gary Karlin, Principal
   Phone: (845)-357-2430
     E-Mail: Rabbigk@yahoo.com

Rabbi Gary Karlin is the Principal of the Montebello Jewish Center Religious School. He is also a doctoral student at the Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. He has served in a wide variety of settings, from congregational rabbi to Solomon Schechter Day School teacher and Rabbi-in-Residence. Most recently, Rabbi Karlin has served as the interim rabbi and education director at Congregation Ohev Shalom – Marlboro Jewish Center in Monmouth County (NJ), and has taught at community Hebrew High Schools in northern New Jersey and in cyberspace. He was awarded a grant to develop an original Hebrew High School curriculum for the Institute of Informal Jewish Education at Brandeis University.

Rabbi Karlin received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, and rabbinic ordination and an M.A. from JTS. He is married to Carol, and they are the proud parents of Michal and Moshe.

   Karyn Storm, Secretary
   Phone: (845)-357-2430
   E-Mail: Office@Montebellojc.org

Karyn Storm became part of the Montebello Jewish Center in January 2008. She brings with her 25 years of business experience, the last seven of which were spent learning how to support Jewish organizations. “I worked at the UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey in Bergen County, then at the Jewish Federation of Rockland County. Having worked at other companies, it is comforting and so meaningful to be here at Montebello Jewish Center. You really get a sense of being part of a wonderful family.”

   Linda Tanenbaum, Bookkeeper
   Phone: (845)-357-2430
   E-Mail: Bookkeep@Montebellojc.org

Linda Tanenbaum began working as the bookkeeper of Montebello Jewish Center in July 2002. She was Assistant Director of Finance of Good Samaritan Hospital for 12 years before leaving in 1995 for the “easy life” of part time work. In addition to MJC, and for the last 9 years, Linda is also an accountant with a CPA firm in Spring Valley.

“Working at MJC is like working with family. My family moved to Rockland County in 1968 and joined Congregation Sons of Israel, where I became a Bat Mitzvah. Now we’re members of MJC and my own children have become B’nai Mitzvahs. It’s comfortable to work with and for so many people who are such an integral part of my life.”