Alan B. Lucas
Rabbi Emeritus
Click Here to View the Rabbi Alan B. Lucas Tribute Journal
Rabbi Alan B. Lucas was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and is a graduate Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa of the University of Cincinnati. He attended the Jewish Theological Seminary receiving his Master of Arts in Judaica in 1976 and Rabbinic Ordination in 1978. For three years Rabbi Lucas served as the Assistant Rabbi to Rabbi Irwin Groner of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Michigan. From 1981- 1994, he served as the Rabbi of Congregation Beth Judah in Ventnor, New Jersey guiding its development and growth. Rabbi Lucas became the Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom of Roslyn Heights, New York in August of 1994.
Temple Beth Sholom is a synagogue that is known for its warmth, active membership, extensive educational offerings, creative programming and family orientation.
Over the years, Rabbi Lucas has been extensively involved in the community including serving as President of the South Jersey Board of Rabbis, Interfaith Area Clergy and sitting on the Board of Directors of numerous agencies including UJC Rabbinic Cabinet and the Chancellor’s Rabbinic Cabinet of the Jewish Theological Seminary. He is a member of the Board of MERCAZ, the Zionist arm of the Conservative movement and was recently reappointed to the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Conservative Movement where in 1997 he published a paper on “Tattooing and Body Piercing” for the Movement.
Rabbi Lucas has also maintained special involvement in the United Synagogue Youth programs and Camp Ramah. Temple Beth Sholom is a model Conservative synagogue with 800+ families.
David Bockman
Interim Rabbi
Originally from California, David Bockman spent fourteen summers at Camp Ramah in Ojai, California, as a camper, counselor, Rosh Edah and specialist. Camp led to rabbinical school, first at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, then to Israel, and finally – ordination in 1986 from JTS in New York City. Since then, he has served as rabbi in congregations in Kansas City, Maryland, New Orleans, Raleigh (North Carolina) and northern New Jersey. Many of the more recent pulpits have been small, part-time rabbinical positions while he also taught Bible, rabbinics and t’filah in the Upper School at Golda Och Academy (formerly the Solomon Schechter school of Union and Essex) located in West Orange, New Jersey. This past year, he enjoyed serving his first interim pulpit in Norfolk, Virginia.
Throughout his college career at UC San Diego, he refused to pin himself down to a major, preferring instead to take classes in a broad swath of disciplines including music, physics, linguistics, neurobiology, geology and more. Finally graduating with a major in Judaic Studies and a triple minor, Rabbi Bockman continues to learn extensively in various fields. He finds that being a rabbi provides an excellent canvas on which to explore many areas of learning and living, leading him to PhD studies in post-modern Jewish philosophy, focusing on the thought of 20th century French intellectual Emmanuel Levinas, about whom he is always happy to share profusely!
He is married to Vicki Hyman, a former journalist who currently works for Master Card in Purchase, NY and splits her time between their home in Teaneck, New Jersey and Roslyn. Their son, Theo just completed his masters degree from American University in Washington, DC and is looking to join the ranks of the gainfully employed. Rabbi Bockman is also an accomplished trumpet player who favors jazz, blues, rock, R&B, klezmer and other types of music, instrumental and vocal. In his spare time, he enjoys jazzercise, comedy, and baking chocolate chip challah, and he is really excited to finally learn more about Long Island and the many people at Temple Beth Sholom. With only one year to be here, Rabbi Bockman is counting on TBS members to forego formality and introduce themselves to him so that he can integrate into the community with gusto making for a fun and productive year for all.
Ofer Barnoy
Cantor
Cantor Ofer Barnoy was born in Tel-Aviv, Israel and emigrated to the USA in 1977. As a child, Cantor Barnoy appeared in cantorial programs with his father on stages and television stations across America, Canada and Israel. After formal musical training and intense study with vocal masters at both the McGill Conservatory of Music in Montreal, Canada and Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio, Cantor Barnoy has served at several prestigious congregations including Yorktown Jewish Center, Monsey Jewish Center, Park Synagogue in Cleveland, Ohio and Shelter Rock Jewish Center on Long Island, New York. He currently serves at Temple Beth Sholom in Roslyn Heights, New York.
Cantor Barnoy is involved in a broad spectrum of activities in the music field including composing, arranging, recording, choir leading and teaching. In 1992 he was a proud recipient of the “Lion of Judah” award for his charitable work on behalf of Israel Bonds. In 1996 Cantor Barnoy published a recording of High Holiday selections called “Soulful Chants” and, in 1998, a recording of Shabbat melodies called “Soulful Sabbath” which includes his award winning “LeDor VaDor.” He is currently recording a compilation of his original compositions to be titled “Pray for a Brighter Day”. The title song of this recording begins with the words “Give me a minute to make this world, a better place for young and old, where every person can just be free and live in peace with you and me.” It is dedicated to the heroism of those who helped to save lives in the disaster at the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001, to the plight of the Israeli society which encounters terrorism daily and to all efforts around the world on behalf of peace.
Mindy Kremer
Executive Director
Mindy is excited to have joined TBS as Executive Director. Originally from a tight-knit Jewish community in the Baltimore suburbs, she graduated from Brandeis University and earned her JD at Cornell Law School. After a successful 15-year career as a litigator, Mindy left to follow her passion and begin a career in Jewish education and communal leadership. Mindy has served as Children’s Center Director at The Hampton Synagogue as well as at the Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation, where, during her 8-year tenure, she also served as the Director of Youth Education & Family Engagement and Interim Executive Director.
Lauren Resnikoff
Religious School Director
Lauren previously served as the Educational Director at Temple Judea of Manhasset from 2013 to 2025, where, among other educational innovations, she envisioned and implemented an innovative, STEM-based educational program. Lauren also served as the Educational Director of Temple Sinai of Roslyn for 7 years, where she developed and implemented alternative school models, programs for students with special needs, and integrated technology into the educational program.
Lauren’s other roles in Jewish education include Religious School Director and Director of Lifelong Learning at Temple Beth David in Commack, Assistant to the Director at Beth-El of Great Neck, as well as positions in Jewish youth group leadership and Jewish camp. Lauren also served as a mentor to other congregational school directors as part of the Leadership Institute, a joint project of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion and The Jewish Theological Seminary.
Lauren received her M.A. in Religious Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She earned a second Master’s Degree in Jewish Educational Technology through a special program sponsored by the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York and New York Institute of Technology. Mrs. Resnikoff was awarded an honorary doctorate from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2016. She holds a B.A., cum laude, in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University. While at Brandeis, Mrs. Resnikoff received teacher certification and participated in the overseas exchange program at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Lauren currently resides in Commack, where she and her husband, Michael, raised their 3 children. She recently became a “Nana” and looks forward to someday teaching Hebrew to her grandson!
Stephanie Whalen
Early Childhood Center Director
Stephanie graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education from C.W. Post with a concentration in Special Education. Additionally, Stephanie is certified in the evidence-based Barbara Wilson Language Program, which is widely used and well-regarded by special educators for developing literacy among children of all ages.
Stephanie spent eight years in NYC as a Special Education Teacher. Since then, she has devoted the last seven years to The Ostrow Early Childhood Center as a Head Three’s Teacher and most recently, as Assistant Director.
Outside of the classroom, Stephanie loves spending time with her 14-year-old daughter, going on walks, playing Scrabble, taking a barre or spin class, and connecting with friends and family. Of course, she also finds joy in tending to her “farm” of two guinea pigs, a revolving door of cats and one dog.
Becky Firestone
Beth Sholom Day Camp Director
Rebecca holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Hofstra University. Rebecca has been teaching grades 3 – 7 for fifteen years for the Department of Education. She has been part of the Beth Sholom family for over twenty years and has worn many hats at her time at BSDC. Rebecca is loving her new role as Director and is excited to provide campers an opportunity to become passionate about new activities, to explore new paths and build lifelong friendships.
Dee Dee Horowitz
Beth Sholom Day Camp Assistant Director
Dee Dee is excited to be stepping into her new role as Assistant Director. A longtime member of the BSDC family, she began as the drama specialist and within a few years rose to the position of Program Director, where she was responsible for the scheduling and programming. In her new role, during the off season, you will find Dee Dee in the office handling all logistics and actively engaging with current and prospective parents. During the summer, Dee Dee will be embracing all of the theme days and supporting our staff to give your kids the summer of their lives. Prior to taking on her new role, Dee Dee was an Early Childhood teacher at the Forest Hills Jewish Center. She holds her Master’s Degree in Educational Theatre from NYU and her Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts from Stephens College. Dee Dee lives in Queens with her husband, her two kids, and her cat. In addition to being Assistant Director, Dee Dee is also a proud BSDC parent.
