Clergy
Senior Rabbi Cantor Mariana Gindlin
Rabbi Cantor Mariana Gindlin became the spiritual leader of Temple Or Elohim, A Community Reform Congregation in August 2026. As rabbi and cantor, she brings together Jewish learning, pastoral care, education, and an enduring love of music to create welcoming, participatory worship and community experiences grounded in tradition.
Raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rabbi Mariana grew up immersed in Jewish life, attending Jewish day schools and drawing inspiration from a family defined by synagogue, music, ethics, and a strong devotion to women’s leadership. She studied at the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary and at the National Conservatory of Music in Argentina. She began her career in 2001 as a cantor at Libertad Temple in Buenos Aires, where her father sang for 30 years in the professional choir, fostering in her a deep appreciation for music as a powerful expression of Jewish identity and connection.
After immigrating to the United States, Rabbi Mariana completed the Cantorial Program of Study and Practice for cantors at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. In the U.S. Rabbi Mariana served congregations in Florida, Las Vegas, the Los Angeles area and Munster, Indiana. Rabbi Mariana’s experience includes leading adult and youth choirs, creating congregational musical programs and orchestras, guiding B’nai Mitzvah students, and supporting individuals and families through life’s meaningful milestones and challenges.
In addition to her rabbinic and cantorial skills, Rabbi Mariana is a licensed psychologist with a degree from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) with postgraduate studies in psychoanalysis. Rabbi Mariana speaks four languages: English, Hebrew, Spanish and Yiddish, and she is also a member of both the Rabbinical Assembly and the Cantors Assembly. Rabbi Mariana believes Judaism is “a song that we never sing alone.”
Rabbi Mariana’s approach revolves around building relationships, listening closely to congregants, and creating meaningful opportunities for people of every age and background to participate in Jewish life. She is committed to an inclusive Reform community that welcomes interfaith families, LGBTQ+ individuals and families, and those at every stage of their Jewish journey.
At Temple Or Elohim, Rabbi Mariana looks forward to strengthening musical worship, partnering with the congregation’s choir, engaging children and teens in religious school life, and expanding interfaith conversation and community relationships. She has just relocated to Long Island with her son and is delighted to make Temple Or Elohim, A Community Reform Congregation her spiritual home.
Senior Rabbi David Katz
Rabbi Katz, who is also our Hazzan (Cantor), received an honorary doctorate from Hebrew Union College. Temple Or Elohim, A Community Reform Congregation, is proud to have him as its clergy and as the creator of our annual concerts.
Rabbi is one of the founding members of the American Jewish Advisory Council of Syosset (AJACS). He actively serves on the board of the Interfaith Institute of Long Island. In his fight against antisemitism and all forms of hate, he created our annual Concert Against Hate, the only one of its kind in the local area.
Over the years, the Rabbi has performed along with Broadway stars, the Three Jewish Tenors, and at the annual Holiday Concert at Tilles Center with Dean Karahalis and the Long Island Pops Orchestra. In 1994, he performed at the Jerusalem Great Synagogue in Israel and was invited to be part of the Bulgarian Touring Company. He has played the part of Rodolfo in La Boheme, Alfredo in Traviata, and Nemorino in Elisir D’Amore. In Rabbi’s musical theater career, he sang the roles of Ralph in Pirates of Penzance, Nanki-Poo in The Mikado, Huckleberry Finn in Big River, Woof in Hair, and Riff Raff in a stage version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Rabbi has performed in concerts in different parts of the world as well as in different parts of the United States. He has sung the national anthem at various sports arenas and has been part of cantorial concerts in Florida, Pennsylvania, and California.
Rabbi lives in Lido Beach, NY, with his wife Julia, an art teacher in New York City, and his two daughters, Hanna and Rayna. When not working or studying, you can find him on his bicycle riding the trails of Lido and Long Beach.
We are all quite proud of him and his achievements.
Associate Rabbi/Director of Lifelong Learning
Rabbi Deborah E. Tract, Director of Lifelong Learning, joined the Temple Or Elohim A Community Reform Congregation in July 2013. She has over 30 years’ experience in Jewish Education, as well as Jewish not-for-profit work. Prior to joining TOEACRC, Deborah completed a decade of service as Director of Education at Temple Beth Elohim, Old Bethpage, NY.
Rabbi Deborah has created innovative programming and provides children with a Jewish educational plan that fits their needs. In addition to overseeing the Religious School, Rabbi Deborah has also led informal Jewish Education via Youth Groups; bringing them together, strengthening friendships and building community. Not only does Deborah ensure that children and teens receive a proper Jewish Education, she also creates community-wide programs.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Deborah never had to close the school, as she recreated her programs to make sure students had the option of receiving their Jewish education, whether it was in-person or virtually.
Rabbi Deborah is a graduate of Adelphi University School of Social Work and has worked in various not-for-profit agencies. She was the Assistant Director for Nassau County Supervised Visitation and a fundraiser for United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York, Long Island Women’s Campaign and Long Island Business and Professional Women.
Rabbi Deborah is a “graduate” of the Leadership Institute for Congregational School Principals, a joint program of Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute for Religion and the Jewish Theological Seminary, a professional development program for Jewish Educators. Deborah also completed the Jewish Leadership in Congregational Schools (TLC’s).
As a daughter of a Reform Rabbi, who served over 40 years at a Long Island Congregation, and a mother who was a Reform Jewish Educator, they paved the way for Rabbi Deborah’s career path. She is committed to creating an educational journey that is based on hands-on experiences that will give children a foundation for lifelong learning and community.
Rabbi Deborah is a Zionist and spent two years studying at Haifa University. She has traveled to Israel many times and is fluent in Hebrew. She considers Israel her second home.
Rabbi Deborah has been the President of the Long Island Temple Educators (LITE) since 2016. She is a member of The Association of Reform Jewish Educators. Rabbi Deborah has held numerous positions on Parent-Teacher Association School Boards and PTA Council. Rabbi Deborah resides with her husband and children in Huntington, NY.
Rabbi Emeritus Judith Cohen Rosenberg
Rabbi Judy, as she prefers to be called, is a native of Brooklyn, and previously served congregations in Rochester and Olean in upstate New York and as Rabbi of Community Reform Temple in Westbury. .
A well-known fixture throughout the community and beyond, Rabbi Judy has chaired UJA’s Long Island Rabbinic Advisory Council as well as the current president of the East Meadow Interfaith Clergy Association. Rabbi Judy also serves on the board of Planned Parenthood of Nassau County and works closely with the East Meadow School District administration to assure that sensitivity to the Jewish community is considered in scheduling and programming.
“My love of Judaism and the Jewish people prompted me to become a rabbi,” she says. “I share that appreciation and a deep understanding of Jewish life with our temple family.”
Of Blessed Memory
Rabbi Emeritus Harvey Abramowitz
Rabbi Abramowitz served as Rabbi at Temple Or Elohim for 14 years and was named Rabbi Emeritus following his retirement in 2016. Our congregation is mourning his passing on February 9, 2026. Rabbi Harvey was beloved by all who knew him, and we offer our deepest condolences to his wife of 58 years, Cantor Joanie Abramowitz, and his daughter J’aime.
He grew up in Brooklyn and was ordained in 1966. He lived in Israel for more than three years and attended the Hebrew University in Jerusalem from 1961 to 1963. The university is ranked as one of the world’s best—four of Israel’s prime ministers over the past decade are among its graduates.
For 14 years, Abramowitz served as Associate Rabbi with Kehillath Shalom Synagogue in Cold Spring Harbor and serves as Chaplain to the Police Surgeons Benevolent Association of Long Island and to the Fraternal Order of Police on Long Island.
