Spiritual Leadership

Rabbi Chaim Poupko became Senior Rabbi in 2017 following 14 years at Congregation Ahavath Torah holding positions of Rabbinic Intern, Assistant Rabbi, and Associate Rabbi. Over the years, Rabbi Poupko has been involved in all segments of the community, speaking and teaching on a wide array of interests in Jewish thought and practice, coordinating shul programming, and caring for members of the community. Rabbi Poupko is a member of the National Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America and served as Treasurer and President of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County. Rabbi Poupko is married to Shoshana (née Klein) and they are the proud parents of Ayelet, Elana, Chana ob"m, and Rachel. 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.

Office: (201) 568-5860

Dr. Shoshana Poupko 

Dr. Shoshana Poupko, LCSW, is a beloved teacher and counselor in our community. As the Rebbetzin, Dr. Poupko is an invaluable spiritual resource to women and families. She prepares many brides for their wedding, and young women for their Bat Mitzvah. Dr. Poupko currently works as a therapist at Achieve Behavioral Health in Monsey, NY. Prior to her working as a social worker, 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 her MSW at Rutgers University School of Social Work. 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 joined our rabbinic team in 2017 as Assistant Rabbi and now serves as our Associate Rabbi. 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 has participated in graduate fellowships from the Wexner Foundation, AIPAC, the UJA-Federation, and the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought. He is also the recipient of the RIETS Emerging Leadership Award. 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 three children, Moshe, Shaya, and Esther.

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

Rabbi Mordy Kuessous serves as the Associate 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 Gemara and Halacha classes at TABC. 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, David and Naomi.

Email: rkuessous@ahavathtorah.org