Rabbi Dovid Zirkind
Senior Rabbi
Email: dzirkind@rjconline.org
(O) 718.548.1850 x118
Rabbi Dovid Zirkind became the Senior Rabbi of The Riverdale Jewish Center in the summer of 2019. A native of Baltimore, Rabbi Zirkind spent two formative years of study at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh in Israel. From there Rabbi Zirkind continued his education at Yeshiva University. He holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and received Semicha/Rabbinic Ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.
From 2010-2012, Rabbi Zirkind served as an Avrech of the Yeshiva University Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash of Toronto, studying full time in the Beit Midrash and served as Rabbinic Assistant at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation. In those roles, Rabbi Zirkind taught classes throughout the Greater Toronto Area and was privileged to train under a number of its leading Rabbis and educators.
Following his time in Toronto, Rabbi Zirkind became Assistant then Associate Rabbi of The Jewish Center in Manhattan. In that capacity, Rabbi Zirkind, taught throughout the Upper West Side, helped grow The Jewish Center’s Young Leadership division to two hundred strong and organized the Center’s Adult Education program and year-long Centennial Celebration. Together with his wife, Ariella, the Zirkinds conducted highly sought-after personalized marriage workshops, including Chattan and Kallah classes and ongoing Taharat HaMishpacha and fertility counseling for young families.
Rabbi Zirkind is married to Ariella Zirkind, a Chicago native and graduate of Stern College for Women. Ariella holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College in Manhattan. She is a certified Kallah Teacher through the National Council of Young Israel and plays
an active role in our community. The Zirkinds are the proud parents of four young daughters - Amira, Gali, Kayla and Temima.
Rabbi Tzvi Benoff, originally from Bergenfield, New Jersey, is a member of the Wexner Kollel Elyon at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), simultaneously pursuing Yadin Yadin Semicha in the Rabbi Norman Lamm Kollel L’horaa. He graduated from Yeshiva College with a Bachelor’s degree in Quantitative Economics and History, before which he studied for two years in Israel at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh. He holds an MA in International Political Economy from Fordham University. Rabbi Benoff is a Wexner Graduate Fellow and was awarded the UJA Graduate Fellowship as well. Rabbi Benoff previously served as Rabbinic Intern in Beth Shalom of Lawrence and Lincoln Square Synagogue, as a Kollel Fellow at the Frisch High School and is currently serving as Rabbinic Associate at Congregation Etz Chaim in Kew Gardens Hills.
Yoni Broth
Rabbinic Intern
Yoni Broth is currently in his final year of Smicha at Yeshiva University. He graduated from YU with a major in business analytics and a minor in management. He has worked at many Jewish camps, including being a division head in Camp Stone, Moshava Ennismore, and most recently Moshava Bair New Jersey! He loves taking on hobbies to keep himself and others entertained, such as playing Frisbee and doing magic tricks. He is looking forward to getting to know the Riverdale community ,and simultaneously sharing what he had learned while also learning from the vast amount of knowledge that the RJC community has to offer!
Chazzan Shimon Craimer
Chazzan
Email: shimcraimer@gmail.com
Chazzan Shim comes to us from London, England where he studied classical cantorial style with the Chief Rabbi. He first came to the attention of the Riverdale Jewish Center as a Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur guest cantor. Now, as the cantor of the RJC, Shim travels the country performing at various shuls, chagigahs, simchas, concerts and events. He has released 2 albums, the most recent of which earned him plaudits from the Jewish music world. Shim is married and has 4 kids, all of whom have 3 letter names.
Rivka Alter
Yoetzet Halacha
Email: nishmatriverdaleyoetzet@gmail.com
(C) 201.503.6597
Rivka Alter is a Tanach teacher from Bergenfield, NJ. She taught middle and high school students for fifteen years at the Denver Academy of Torah where she developed the high school Tanach curriculum. She is a Yoetzet Halacha and is currently completing her dissertation at YU’s Azrieli Graduate School in the area of problem based learning and Tanach. She has been involved in adult education in a variety of forums and formats. Her husband, Daniel, is head of school at the Moriah School in Englewood, New Jersey. They are parents to seven children, ranging in age from 19 to 4.
