Clergy

Rabbi Bernstein, the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Ohr, came to the rabbinate with a sense of purpose that was instilled from a young age. Her family’s deep commitment to Jewish education and Yiddishkeit led her to pursue a serious course of Judaic studies in the Joint Program between the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University, earning two bachelor’s degrees in Talmud/Rabbinics and Anthropology.  Rabbi Bernstein completed Rabbinic ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she also pursued a Masters degree in Jewish education.   During Rabbinical school, Rabbi Bernstein earned the Schusterman Fellowship and participated in interdenominational dialogue with her Reform colleagues on pressing topics in the Jewish community, such as social media in the synagogue, intermarriage, and creating meaningful and spiritually engaging prayer services.

Her vision for Jewish is to build a community that reaches far beyond the borders of our building. Our teaching and prayer should transform our everyday lives and therefore transform the world, leading to personal fulfillment, greater understanding, and urging us to action. She believes that we must bring Judaism to the streets and share communal life in our homes. A community with healthy boundaries can be a vessel for holiness, but when our walls make us into a fortress, we are keeping people out. 

You can reach her directly at rabbi.bernstein@cbohr.org. She is excited to meet you and see what we can build together.

Cantor Joshua Kowitz, baritone, is the cantor at Congregation Beth Ohr in Bellmore, New York, a position he has held since August 2018. He received a Master of Sacred Music degree and cantorial investiture from JTS in May of 2018 As a student he focused on Pastoral care, spending one summer as the chaplain intern at DOROT on the upper west side in Manhattan. He also worked at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin for a summer as a member of drama and music staff. Cantor Konitz is also the proud alum of Lawrence University in Appleton Wisconsin, where he graduated in 2012.

Cantor Kowitz enjoys bringing Torah, music, and spirituality into people's lives through many pathways -- leading prayer, teaching classes, building singing community, and pastoral outreach to our members. He is a seasoned performer in Jewish and secular ensemble alike,

Previously, Cantor Kowitz served as the cantorial intern at Congregation Beth El in Bethesda, Maryland, and student cantor at White Meadow Temple, in White Meadow Lake, New Jersey, from 2014-2016 and at Temple Sinai in Middletown, New York from 2016-2018. Prior to coming to JTS, Cantor Kowitz sang in the chorus of the Minnesota Opera and performed in amateur and professional musical theater productions in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. He enjoys playing saxophone and piano, hiking and swimming.

You can reach him directly at cantor.kowitz@cbohr.org

Cantor Yavneh comes from a long and distinguished line of professional chazzanim.  His father, Cantor Ephraim Yavneh, Z’l served his Queens congregation for sixty years, the longest any chazzan has served one congregation in the history of the American Cantorate.  His uncle Zalmon Zt’l, was known as the ‘neshomah chazzan’ and served his congregation for over 50 years.  The Cantor’s mother, Gloria, A’H, served as the President of the Women’s Division of Jewish Ministers and Cantors Association of America and Canada for over a decade.  At the age of three, Cantor Yavneh stood at his father’s side on the Bimah joining in t’filot and shira.  At the age of four, he made his professional debut on a concert stage.  Cantor Yavneh first officiated as a professional chazzan at the age of 17.  He graduated from Baruch College in 1973 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and received a post-graduate degree as a Cantor from the Herzliah Teachers Seminary where he studied with the world famous Cantor David Kusevitsky Zt’l.  Studying under the late Cantor Zvee Aroni, Cantor Yavneh began many years of professional voice instruction in the Bel Canto tradition.  Through his years of training, Cantor Yavneh has become an expert and a master of correct traditional nusach hatfilah.  Cantor Yavneh was one of the first to introduce Carlebach-style davening, beautiful “user friendly” Niggunim, and today’s popular Israeli/Chassidic music to lead the Congregation in prayer.  Cantor Yavneh’s greatest accomplishment is his work and close relationships with the children of the BJC.  He has trained over 350 b’nai and b’not mitzvah during his tenure.  He strives to teach and bond with all of our children as if they were his own!  During the High Holidays, temple members, both kids and adults join Cantor Yavneh on the Bimah to sing duets, solos and complicated musical pieces.  Cantor Yavneh resides in Bellmore with his lovely wife, Andrea.  They have two children, Joshua and Samara, who is married to Eric Feiler.  The Yavnehs are blessed with three grandchildren.