Rabbi Daniel REISER
Rabbi Daniel Reiser (he/him) believes in the power of stories, rituals, ideas, and community.
Daniel was born and raised in the small-but-mighty Jewish community of Tallahassee, FL -- where, as one of only four Jewish students in his grade, he developed a strong sense of his Jewish identity. He spent 17 summers at URJ Camp Coleman, a Reform Jewish sleepaway in the rolling hills of north Georgia; he continues to be a strong believer in and advocate for the power of Jewish overnight camp. He earned a B.A. in English from the University of Florida (with a focus in creative writing and American literature) and a minor in Jewish studies. Daniel was ordained a rabbi by the New York campus of Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in 2016 -- where he developed focuses in Hebrew Bible (his favorite book of the Bible is Jonah) and Modern Jewish History and Thought (he wrote his rabbinical thesis on the contemporary American Jewish thinker Rabbi Art Green).
Daniel joined the team at Temple Beth Shalom in the summer of 2022. Before that, he served for six years as one of the Assistant/Associate Rabbis of Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, NY. He enjoys in the basics of synagogue life: teaching, preaching, praying, and pastoring. As a congregational rabbi, he sees one of his main roles as being a convener – someone who brings people together for meaningful experiences and conversations. Daniel serves on the editorial board of the CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly; as a CCAR Rabbinic Mentor for soon-to-be- and newly-ordained rabbis; on the Leadership Council of the Tisch Fellowship Alumni Network; and as a Faculty Member at URJ Crane Lake Camp.
Daniel is married to Leah, and they are the proud parents of two daughters. In his leisure time, Daniel enjoys the New York Times Crossword puzzle, hiking, listening to new music, and reading.
You can learn more about him, and find samples of his writing, at RabbiDanielReiser.com.
CANTOR Robin Joseph
A Westchester County native, Cantor Robin (she/her) grew up mere miles from Temple Beth Shalom and has been on the staff at TBS for 42 years now.
Beginning her time at Temple Beth Shalom as a song leader, Robin’s voice can be heard in all aspects of TBS life! She is the sh’liach tzibbur for all synagogue services and life cycle events, teaches religious school, adult education, manages the B’nei Mitzvah program, runs the High School Youth Program, directs the TBS Choir, facilitates the TBS Social Action Committee, and most recently has helped to form the Westchester Resettlement Coalition, a faith-based organization of local congregations committed to supporting and resettling immigrants and refugees securely in their new homes.
A product of the Reform Movement (URJ), Robin has long been immersed in modern Jewish music. At the age of 16, Robin composed three songs from liturgical text for her confirmation project and has been songwriting ever since.
She has developed a unique style of storytelling through song, called MidraShir. As a soloist, and as one-half of the duo B’shert, Robin has performed and recorded her original Jewish folk-rock compositions, internationally. In 1994 she won the American Zionist Movement’s First Annual Song Competition with her song, Im Eshkacheich. Her music has been published by OySongs.com and Transcontinental Music Publications.
A graduate of SUNY Purchase with a B.A. in Dramatic Literature, Robin received cantorial ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion and is a member of the American Conference of Cantors, a past president of the Women Cantors’ Network and the current president of Kol Hazzanim—Westchester Community of Cantors.
When not on the bimah, Robin can be found on the secular stage—acting, directing, stage-managing and playwriting for community and professional theatre. She currently runs the theatrical production company GoJo Clan Productions with her husband Albi Gorn with whom she shares their greatest “production”—their children Kobe and Jennie.
You can learn more about Robin at robinannejoseph.com
