Rabbi Felipe Goodman

Before joining Temple Beth Sholom in 1998, Rabbi Goodman served as assistant Rabbi in Comunidad Bet-El de Mexico in Mexico City , one of the largest conservative synagogues in Latin America . Rabbi Goodman’s charisma has made a profound impact on the Jewish community of Las Vegas. Attendance at Shabbat services has climbed from handfuls to hundreds, with eager, joyful numbers rising by the week; with out of the box programing and by creating a true sense of being a Kehila Kedoshah, vibrant Temple Beth Sholom is anything but a synagogue of once-a-year congregants.

Keeping with his tradition of extracurricular leadership, Rabbi Goodman remains active outside the synagogue. He was handpicked to be a member of The Chancellor’s Rabbinic Cabinet at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, one of only 13 American Rabbis so honored. In June 2002 Rabbi Goodman, along with seven others, was invited to serve on a special task force to discuss the results of the 2000 National Jewish Population Census. Rabbi Goodman was appointed by the Rabbinical Assembly to serve in the Joint Placement Commission of the Conservative Movement and was also recently appointed by the Jewish Theological Seminary as one of its representatives on The Joint Reitrement Board of the Conservative Movement. In the past he has served as part of the Executive Committee of The Rabbinical Assembly and currently he also serves as President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern Nevada. In May 2010 Rabbi Goodman was selected along with fourteen other Rabbis from all corners of our country to attend a series of meetings in The Whitehouse to discuss the dynamics and relationship between the Obama administration and The Jewish Community. Rabbi Goodman is also part of The AIPAC National Leadership Council. The most widely distributed Pesach Haggadah of the Conservative Movement in Latin America was co-authored by Rabbi Goodman. Rabbi Goodman is currently working on his new book: “Torah from Sin City.”

The most impressive quality about indefatigable Rabbi Felipe Goodman? A chat with him is merely a phone call away, a heart-to-heart discussion a knock on his office door. Even if one chooses simply to sit and enjoy one of Rabbi Goodman’s sermons, it’s a pleasure encountering the man with the smile that just won’t quit.

You can access Rabbi Goodman’s Blog; Torah From Sin City by clicking here!

Rabbi Goodman also has a podcast page where you can listen to audio of his sermons and teachings. Click here to access Pulpit Soundbites by Rabbi Felipe Goodman.

What is the Rabbi Reading? Click here to find out!

Assistant Rabbi Adam Watstein

Rabbi Adam Watstein, originally from Sharon, Massachusetts, gravitated towards the study of Judaism at an early age. Even as a teenager, Rabbi Watstein balanced his academic and extra-curricular interests, such as athletics and music, with an intense study of Jewish history and Zionism. While earning a degree in Middle Eastern Studies at Emory University, Rabbi Watstein headed several Jewish groups on campus, including Emory Students for Israel. After graduation, Rabbi Watstein participated on Project Otzma, a service fellowship in Israel sponsored by the Jewish Agency, where he worked extensively with the Ethiopian Jewish community.

Rabbi Watstein earned his Rabbinical Ordination and Masters in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. During his years as a student, he served as the spiritual leader of the Fitzgerald Hebrew Congregation in Fitzgerald, Georgia, the rabbinic intern of the Shelter Rock Jewish Center in Roslyn, New York, and also worked for the Department of Institutional Advancement at JTS. Before being ordained, Rabbi Watstein also worked as a chaplain at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

Rabbi Watstein is currently the first assistant rabbi employed by Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas, Nevada. He brings a seemingly endless supply of passion and energy to the pulpit, and has succeeded in creating learning opportunities for all ages. Lastly, Rabbi Watstein’s commitment to community service has resulted in the development of a Social Action Committee at Temple Beth Sholom, which has organized numerous programs dedicated to helping the greater Las Vegas community.

Cantor Avraham Alpert

Originally from Chandler, Arizona, Cantor Avraham Alpert has held the position of hazzan at Temple Beth Sholom, in Las Vegas, Nevada since 2009. For eight years, he served in harmony, beginning in 2001, as the hazzan for Mosaic Law Congregation of Sacramento, California. Previously, Avraham served as hazzan sheini, and ba’al koreh, at Congregation Anshei Israel of Tucson, Arizona.

After rigorous testing, Avraham Alpert was officially recognized as a hazzan in 2007, by the Cantors Assembly, who subsequently commissioned him.  In 2005, our cantor was blessed with the opportunity to polish his skills in hazzanut and vocal technique with world renowned cantor and piano virtuoso, Hazzan Daniel Gildar of Philadelphia. In Seattle, Hazzan Alpert expanded his understanding of Jewish music through Sephardic Hazzanim Isaac Azose and Aryeh Greenberg. In Sacramento, Avraham trained with voice coach Sharon Erman, for eight years. Beginning in 1996, Avraham studied intensively, in Tucson, for five years, with Hazzan Ivor Lichterman of Congregation Anshei Israel, son of the late Hazzan Jakub Lichterman – the last cantor of the Great Nozyk Shul, in Warsaw. In Israel, Hazzan Alpert was a student of Maestro Elli Jaffe, the director and conductor of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir. In Tucson, Professor Grayson Hirst of the University of Arizona coached him in voice. Avraham holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the Herberger College of Arizona State University and taught instrumental and vocal music in Phoenix’s Osborn School District.

In addition to representing the congregation through leading weekday, Shabbat and holiday services, Hazzan Alpert can be found training b’nai mitzvah students, compiling and editing contemporary siddurim, developing services and programs and recording with Musical Director Daniel Sinai, training lay-leaders, teaching sacred music, instructing religious school, day school, and high school students, participating in adult education, sharing pastoral duties, and officiating at all life cycle events.

Cantor Alpert is known equally for his fervor and commitment to Judaism, traditional prayer, and for his rich voice ranging from deep baritone to bright tenor and seamless falsettos. Avraham published a Friday night and festival prayerbook, Siddur Leiv Moshe. He is currently collaborating with mystical linguist and long-time friend, David Schafer, to create a complete siddur.

Hazzan Alpert studies Torah with a variety of rabbis and scholars, continuing the learning he began with Rabbi Barton Lee at ASU Hillel and cultivated at the Yeshiva of Conservative Judaism in Jerusalem. Avraham Alpert uses his voice along with his resources to support the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.  In addition, Avraham is actively involved in building bridges with the Christian community.  He is a dear friend of Pastor Victor Styrsky who wrote about his relationship with Cantor Alpert in his book, Honest to God. Our cantor even sings as a guest vocalist in Victor’s band, Wild Branches, including appearances in Las Vegas, Sacramento, Reno, San Diego, and Phoenix’s Symphony Hall. He currently coaches weekly, in voice, with tenor Thom Culcasi.

When our cantor has time away from the synagogue, he is with his dear wife Kamala and their adorable children. You can visit his website at  www.avrahamalpert.com