Spiritual Leadership

Rabbi Chaim Poupko assumed the position of Rabbi following 14 years at Congregation Ahavath Torah holding positions of Rabbinic Intern, Assistant Rabbi, and Associate Rabbi. During this time, Rabbi Poupko has worked with both youth and adults, coordinating shul programming, assisting the senior Rabbi in all facets of the Rabbinic responsibilities, and teaching dynamic lessons. Rabbi Poupko serves as President of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County. He previously taught Tanach at the Torah Academy of Bergen County and served as a member of the National Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America. Rabbi Poupko is married to Shoshana (née Klein) and they are the proud parents of Ayelet and Elana, and Chana ob"m. Rabbi Poupko is a musmach of Yeshiva University where he studied with Rabbi Yonasan Sacks and Rabbi Yosef Weiss. He grew up in Skokie, IL and attended the Skokie Yeshiva, Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and Yeshiva University.

Email: rpoupko@ahavathtorah.org       Office: (201) 568-5860

Dr. Shoshana Poupko is a beloved teacher and counselor in our community. As the Rebbetzin, Dr. Poupko is an invaluable spiritual resource to women and families, and prepares many Kalot for their weddings. Dr. Poupko has served as the Dean of Students at Ma'ayanot High School and prior to that she worked at the North Shore Hebrew Academy High School for 16 years. In her capacity at the NSHAHS, Dr. Poupko was the Chairperson of the Chumash Department, Director of Israel Guidance, and the Assistant Principal of Judaic Studies. Dr. Poupko began her career at the HAFTR High School where she taught Judaic Studies and coached the softball team. 

Dr. Poupko earned her BA, MS, and Ed.D from Yeshiva University and has taught in its Stern College for Women. She is currently finishing her MSW at Rutgers University School of Social Work and working as a therapist at Family Service League in Montclair, NJ. In her spare time, Dr. Poupko can be found gardening, playing tennis, kayaking, or reading books on positive psychology and mindfulness. 

Email: shoshanakp@gmail.com

Rabbi Daniel Goldberg joins the Rabbinic team as Assistant Rabbi after serving as the Rabbinic Intern at Congregation Beth Aaron in Teaneck for two years. A graduate of Yeshiva College, Magna Cum Laude, Rabbi Goldberg has received his Rabbinic Ordination from RIETS. He holds an MA in Bible from YU's Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies and has completed his coursework towards a PhD in Bible, focusing on medieval Biblical interpretation. He is currently a Wexner Graduate Fellow, and has participated in graduate fellowships from AIPAC, the UJA-Federation, and the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought. His wife, Dina (Muskin) Goldberg, serves as the Senior Development Associate at Sharsheret. She is a graduate of Yeshiva University and was named one of the Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36.” Daniel and Dina are blessed with two sons, Moshe and Shaya.

Email: rgoldberg@ahavathtorah.org           Office: (201) 568-5780

Rabbi Mordy Kuessous serves as the Assistant Rabbi for the Benaroya Sephardic Center. Rabbi Kuessous, originally from the Syrian community of Deal, NJ, has received his semicha from Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ and has studied previously at the Talmudic Research Center in Passaic, NJ under the mentorship of Rabbi Meir Stern and at the Sephardic Kollel Ahavat Shalom with Rabbi Yaakov Hillel. The BSC under the dynamic leadership and warmth of Rabbi Kuessous has seen  tremendous growth of sephardic families from all backgrounds. Rabbi Kuessous also teaches Talmud and Tanach classes at Moriah and is the Director of the Moriah School Sephardic Cultural Program. Rabbi Kuessous comes from a rich background in education having held positions in schools and summer camps in both Israel and the United states. He is the son of Rabbi Moshe Kuessous Z”L who was a well-known leader and educator in the Brooklyn and Deal communities. Rabbi Kuessous and his wife Myriam are the proud parents of Dina, Moshe, Avi, and David.

Email: rkuessous@ahavathtorah.org

Presently serving as Youth Rabbi, and formerly as Youth Director, Rabbi Shlomo Hyman has been the backbone of Youth programming in our shul for Kindergarten through 6th Grade for more than 25 years. Beloved by children and parents alike, Rabbi Hyman adds enthusiasm and warmth to the shul experience of our youngsters.  Rabbi Hyman is famous for inspiring our youth in his minyanim on shabbos and the chagim, his well attended class luncheons and innovative programming.   He also spearheaded the “Englewood Kids who Care” program, which promotes “Tikun Olam”. The Sunday evening minyan are the recipients of Rabbi Hyman’s inspiring shiurim.  He has also been a beloved Rebbe at the Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey since 1988.  Rabbi Hyman received his BA from Yeshiva College and his masters in Jewish education from the Azrieli Graduate Institute.  He received his Rabbinic Ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary where he was also a member of the Marcos and Adina Katz Kollel and served as the Rabbinic Intern at the Young Israel of Wavecrest and Bayswater.    He is married to Freidi, who is running our new and dynamic “Bat Mitzvah Plus” program.  Freidi has experience teaching 6th grade at RYNJ and has learned with Englewood girls in preparation for their bat mitzvah.  Freidi is currently employed at the Frisch school, where she has been teaching for the past ten years.   Rabbi Hyman, Freidi, and their children are proud members of the Englewood community.

Email: rabbihyman@gmail.com

Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig, our Resident Scholar, received his Semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, where he was a fellow of the Wexner Kollel Elyon and Editor-in-Chief of the Beit Yitzchak Journal of Talmudic and Halakhic Studies. He received his BA, with honors, in physics and philosophy from Yeshiva University and an MA in Philosophy from Columbia University. He also holds an MA in medieval Jewish history from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies of Yeshiva University. Rabbi Rosensweig studied Talmud closely with Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein at Yeshivat Har Etzion and the history of halakhah with Professor Haym Soloveitchik at Yeshiva University. He is a close disciple and studied for over a decade with his father, Rabbi Michael Rosensweig. Previously, he taught an advanced Talmud shiur at Columbia University's Kraft Center and was a fellow of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University. 

Email: rosensweig.itamar@gmail.com