top of page

Our Clergy and Staff

download.jpg

Rabbi Carie Carter

PSJC Rabbi

rabbicarie@psjc.org | 718-768-1453 x101

Rabbi Carter joined PSJC in 2000. She received her ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1997, having studied both in Jerusalem and at the University of Judaism. Prior to beginning her position at PSJC, Rabbi Carter served for three years as Director of Cleveland Metro Hillel and Assistant Executive Director of Cleveland Hillel. She was also Auxiliary Rabbi at Park Synagogue, a Conservative congregation in Cleveland. Rabbi Carter has extensive experience with informal Jewish education, having spent many years as an educator at Jewish summer camps and youth programs.

Rabbi Carter is dedicated to promoting the inclusion of women within the public story of the Jewish people. She has lectured often on this subject and has facilitated numerous creative rituals around women’s lifecycle and holiday observances. Rabbi Carter has also been involved in inter-religious dialogue, social justice work, and ethical questions regarding the implications of technology.

Inspired by her extensive experience, Rabbi Carter is committed to finding ways to engage and excite those who are searching for meaning in Judaism. With an understanding that no single path is right for everyone, she strives to provide “many roads to the palace” of Jewish living. She is committed to building an inclusive Jewish community in which exploration and creativity are encouraged and where the dignity of every human being is honored and celebrated. A native Midwesterner, Rabbi Carter is thrilled to call Brooklyn home and can often be found wandering through Prospect Park with her partner Eden, their daughter Noa, and dog, Rocky Road.  

Rabbi Carter is happy to meet with people seeking rabbinic guidance or counsel or questions about PSJC.

Haley.jpeg

Rabbi Hayley Goldstein

PSJC Associate Rabbi

rabbihayley@psjc.org | 718-768-1453 x105

Rabbi Hayley Goldstein received smicha from the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Newton, MA. She is fiercely dedicated to creating Jewish spiritual and educational environments that are empowering, inclusive, and allow room for play. She holds a wide variety of Jewish leadership experience and is Associate Rabbi at Park Slope Jewish Center in Brooklyn, NY.

 

She was a member of the PSJC Hebrew School faculty before beginning Rabbinical School and we are thrilled to welcome her back to our community.

Judy Ribnick crop.jpg

Judy Ribnick, C.S.W., M.A.

Cantor

Judy’s love of music was cultivated west of the Hudson in Minneapolis, where she studied voice. PSJC Cantor Ribnick has served as High Holiday cantor for 34 consecutive years, including 24 years at the piano, and was deeply immersed in clarinet, synagogue, and Jewish communal life. Her interest in the Jewish community led her to the Jewish Theological Seminary and to Columbia University, where she obtained Masters degrees in Jewish Studies and Social Work. She worked full-time at DOROT, Inc., a New York City-based agency serving the elderly, for more than 32 years, as the Director of Community Services. She is currently the Director of Aging Together. After hours, Judy cantors monthly at PSJC and lends her voice and clarinet to other Shabbat, holiday, and lifecycle events. Judy is a member of Romemu and Congregation Beth Simchat Torah and is delighted to be part of the PSJC community. Judy and her spouse, Diane, live in Manhattan.

IMG_7408.jpeg

Talia Kaplan

PSJC Rabbinic Fellow

rabbinicfellow@psjc.org

Talia Kaplan is delighted to return to Park Slope Jewish Center for a second year, in tandem with completing her rabbinic training at the Jewish Theological Seminary (expected ordination May 2024). Talia has developed her empathetic approach to spiritual leadership through teaching in synagogues and Hillels across the country, providing care as a hospital chaplain at Bellevue and New York Presbyterian, building relationships in interfaith settings, and volunteering as a mikveh guide with ImmerseNYC. In partnership with organizations such as UN Women, NCJW, and the Conservative Movement’s law committee, Talia has written, spoken, and created educational resources on a number of topics – her favorites being the intersection of Judaism and justice and the interplay between gender and ritual. 

A resident of Washington Heights, Talia came to New York from D.C., where she advocated for immigration justice with colleagues of diverse faiths for the Religious Action Center. Talia moved to D.C. after living in New England, Haifa, Jerusalem, and her home state of Pennsylvania. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with high honors from Wesleyan University, where she studied government, Jewish studies, and Middle Eastern studies. Talia is a trained community organizer through JOIN for Justice as well as a student of movement chaplaincy.  

Talia is passionate about helping Jews of all ages and stages explore their own unique relationship to Judaism.


She can be reached via email at rabbinicfellow@psjc.org.

ALPhotoAileen(2).jpg

Director of Education and Engagement

aileen@psjc.org | 718-768-1453 x102

Aileen Heiman

Aileen has been working in the field of Jewish education since shortly after her own Bat Mitzvah. She holds a BA in Psychology from Goucher College, as well as an MA in Jewish Education from Hebrew College and an MA in Jewish Studies from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Aileen came to PSJC with a broad background in progressive Jewish education, including serving as a houseparent at a Jewish boarding school, curriculum development for supplementary programs, implementing an informal Jewish learning programming on a college campus, and directing the children’s program for the National Havurah Committee Summer Institute. Aileen lives in Park Slope with her family, including two young kiddos.

 

Aileen loves helping PSJC students and families find new ways to connect with tradition and our community and to create meaningful Jewish experiences and memories. Send her an email to set up a time to meet to talk about PSJC or the Brooklyn Jewish community in general!

Stephanie profile.jpg

Synagogue Administrator

stephanie@psjc.org | 718-768-1453 x103

Stephanie Cooke

Stephanie is a senior-level administrative assistant and project manager with over ten years of broad experience in corporate and academic settings including real estate and marketing. She has also worked in foreign language education, and holds a Master of Arts in teaching world languages. Stephanie comes to PSJC with a rich background in event coordination, social media, document management, and a myriad of technology and software skills. Stephanie, her husband Aaron, their children Liam and Asher, and their menagerie of pets, come to us from upstate New York; they arrived in Brooklyn in July 2020. In their spare time, they have been getting to know Prospect Park, visiting city sights and sampling much of the great food and drink the city has to offer. 

antonia2023_headshot.jpg

Office Coordinator

antonia@psjc.org | 718-768-1453 x104

Antonia Tsangaris

Antonia is originally from Sleepy Hollow, NY, and has a BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. She has worked as a performance artist since 2009, in nonprofit administration since 2017, and in the Jewish world since 2018, as the Office Manager at Congregation Beth Sholom, a Modern Orthodox synagogue in Providence, Rhode Island. At CBS, Antonia was responsible for bookkeeping and finances, assisting members with non-rabbinical matters, basic facilities management, and providing clerical support for local mensch and rabble-rouser Rabbi Barry Dolinger, Esq. She is excited to continue a similar role and further assist the PSJC community. Antonia lives in Flatbush with her partner Gayge, and their cat that likes to attend Zoom meetings.

49348657_2046202588782619_91273566599732

Facilities Manager

patrick.francis@psjc.org

Patrick Francis

Patrick Francis joined the PSJC staff as the Facilities Manager in April of 2013 after completing a degree in HVAC and Facilities Management at the Technical Career Institute in New York. Originally from Jamaica, West Indies, he moved to the US and later joined the Navy. Patrick served our country proudly for 25 years. He has truly enjoyed becoming “a part of the family.” He is the father of 3 and a grandfather of 2. You will see him on Shabbat and all other major events, so please take a moment to introduce yourself. 

bottom of page