About B'nai Israel
B’nai Israel of Southbury is a warm, welcoming and diverse congregation that is among the most prominent, yet intimate Jewish houses of worship in the region. The congregation has a rich history of tradition dating back more than a century while enthusiastically embracing the future. B’nai Israel takes pride in its inspiring music, educational excellence and sense of community. Setting B’nai Israel apart, too, is its spiritual leadership, commitment to advocacy, and inclusiveness with a welcoming of traditional, single parent, interfaith and other modern families among the greater B’nai Israel family that is a home for all generations. B’nai Israel is located in northwestern New Haven County on a sprawling 17-acre campus — one of the region’s largest community, cultural, spiritual and educational centers of its kind — at 444 Main Street North in Southbury, CT. B’nai Israel shares its gorgeous campus with its partner organization, The Federation: Jewish Communities of Northwestern CT, and is home to families and their loved ones from a wide radius of Connecticut towns, including Bethany, Bethlehem, Brookfield, Litchfield, Middlebury, New Hartford, Newtown, Oxford, Roxbury, Sandy Hook, Southbury, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, Woodbury, and other surrounding communities. Affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism, B'nai Israel is also active in the area Jewish and interfaith communities.
Our Leadership
Rabbi Eric Polokoff
Rabbi Eric is our founding rabbi, serving the congregation since 1997. He gives great attention to his roles here as a teacher, pastor, speaker, and community leader. His interests and activities begin locally and extend beyond our community. He is Moderator of the Southbury Clergy Association and has been active in the Connecticut Community Foundation and CT ADL. He is an ADL Associate National Commissioner and a Board Member of “Amplify Israel." Rabbi Eric is also known locally as one of The Three Amigos, working with a Monsignor and Imam to extend interfaith understanding.
Rabbi Eric received a BA from Johns Hopkins University, Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and a Doctor of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, STM.
Linda Goodman, Director of Sacred Music
Linda co-leads services and participates in lifecycle events, directs our choir and oversees a talented group of singers and musicians, teaches students Jewish music, and is a pastoral presence within our congregational family. In her current position for a dozen years, her music and vision is grounded in inclusiveness and celebrates community and spiritual connection. Linda also coordinates our highly successful Mitzvah Garden. Linda’s husband Dan is likewise dedicated to our congregation and promoting Jewish life.
Leona Schwartz, Music Director
My parents were both in the arts, which gave me great exposure to theatre and music. I studied music (piano and guitar), voice and dance for many years. In 2009, I received my certification in choral conducting, from Sweet Adelines International, the worldwide women's barbershop harmony organization. Allen and I moved to Connecticut in 2016 and joined B'nai Israel that year. I have sung with Mahkela since then, learning the music under Linda's leadership and bonding with the choir members. In the past six months, I have served as one of the music leaders, alongside Rabbi Polokoff, at Shabbat services. The older I get, the more I realize how big a role music plays in my life. I look forward to working with the choir and the congregation, as we lift our voices together in song.
Jacqui Schulefand, Director Education
Jacqui Schulefand, Director of the B’nai Israel Religious School, first joined our staff in 2022 as a Hebrew teacher and B’nai Mitzvah Tutor. Previously, Morah Jacqui was the Director of Programs and Engagement at UConn Hillel; a teacher at Ezra Academy in Woobridge, leading 2nd and 3rd Grade Judaics; and a teacher and B'nai Mitzvah tutor at the Hebrew Schools of B’nai Jacob of Woodbridge and Temple Beth Sholom of Hamden, her home congregation. A strong Zionist with great Hebrew knowledge, she was educated at The Jewish Theological Seminary, Baltimore Hebrew University, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and SUNY Brockport. Her training and skills highlight the essential elements for nurturing proud Jewish identity.
Janessa Jameson, Religious School Music Director
Abby Peklo, Temple Administrator
Abby has a long and distinguished record of service to our congregation, the Jewish community and wider region and knows us all quite well. The former Director of the B’nai Israel Religious School, where she was most impactful in redesigning our curriculum and fostering inclusion, over the years she has
likewise served on our Board, committees and faculty. We know her to be a skilled manager, supervisor and writer. Earlier in her career Abby was the Director of Program and Outreach at the Jewish Federation. Abby will also continue her position as Director of Grants and Special Programs at EdAdvance. Abby’s dedication to our congregation, community, the Jewish people and Reform Judaism has been ongoing and steadfast, and we welcome her into her new role. While we are currently testing and refining schedules, Abby will be in the building on Wednesday mornings and Friday afternoons, on Sundays when religious school or other programming is in session, and at worship services.
Lindsey Noble, Temple Coordinator
Lindsey Noble began engaging with our congregation and community far more recently, albeit also with great enthusiasm and commitment. Lindsey’s the current President of the LLC, which manages our shared campus with the Federation, as well as an active Choir member, Ritual Committee member,
Adult Education student, and participant in our Kulanu Initiative to Fight Antisemitism. It was Lindsey who first proposed and then helped to create our “Back to Brooklyn” Klezmer concert. Recently elected a Trustee, she is stepping down to take the Coordinator position. Lindsey’s background as a tour and booking manager helped her to develop strong organizational and technological skills. We plan for her to be in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-1:30 PM. Do call or stop in and say hello.
more about us
MEMBERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP
We're the place you've been looking for!
We pride ourselves on being a warm, sensitive and welcoming community with a diverse population. Our membership includes Jews by birth, Jews by choice and their loved ones. We are LGBTQ friendly. We invite you to be an active part of our community as we join together to continue our rich heritage rooted in Torah, God and the People of Israel.
Become part of our family.
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KULANU
MEMBERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP
We encourage other members of the congregation to participate in our efforts to educate themselves and others on our mission to fight antisemitism. Please reach out to Rabbi Polokoff if you would like to join us or simply to learn more or sit in on one of our upcoming meetings.
OUR BOARD
MEMBERSHIP
OUR BOARD
2024-2025
Officers
Patti Berkowitz, President
Sheri Kipperman, 1st V.P.
Alexis Zimmerman, 2nd V.P.
Eric Linnetz , Secretary
Greg Estra , Treasurer
Trustees
Marci Durnell, Lisa Segal, Peggy Klein, Iurie Schwartz, Kathryn Albee, Dana Packer, Sylvia Pena, and Brittany Weiss