Rabbi Avi GoldsteinSenior Rabbi
Rabbi Avi Goldstein has been the senior rabbi at Beth Jacob congregation since 2012. During this time, Rabbi Goldstein has established Beth Jacob as a hub of major Jewish programming in Columbus and as a destination synagogue for young families. Focusing on dynamic and diverse programming, Rabbi Goldstein and Beth Jacob have retained or recruited dozens of families in Columbus and has grown the membership by 45%. In addition to his synagogue responsibilities, Rabbi Goldstein is very active in the broader community, serving on the boards of the following organizations: Governor Mike DeWine's Board of Faith Based and Community Relations, the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America, Columbus Torah Academy, Buckeye Kosher, the Columbus Jewish Historical Society, the Columbus Eruv Society, Columbus Community Mikvah, Columbus Community Kollel, Agudath Israel of Ohio, JewishColumbus, JCRC and is the current president of the Columbus Board of Rabbis. In recognition of these efforts, Rabbi Goldstein was recently named one of the "18 Difference Makers" by the Columbus Jewish News.
Ordained at the Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, Maryland Rabbi Goldstein holds a Masters degree in Clinical Community Counseling from the Johns Hopkins University. He has clinical experience at the Women’s Correctional Facility of Jessup, MD and with orthodox adolescents at the Maryland Counseling Network in Baltimore, Maryland. Rabbi Goldstein is married to his wife Miriam and has seven children: Elana, Rachel, Aryeh, Yaakov, Zev, Yerucham and Eli.
Rabbi Goldstein can be contacted at Rabbi@bjcolumbus.org
Rabbi Shlomo Eisenberg Assistant Rabbi
Rabbi Shlomo Eisenberg hails from the frigid city of Rochester NY, but makes up for it with his warmth and excitement for Judiasim and the community. Besides for learning at the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim for a year and a half, Shlomo learned for twelve years in Ner Yisroel and ultimately received Semicha (Rabbinic ordination) from the yeshiva. Additionally, Shlomo has completed a StarK Kashrus program and has a certificate for completion of the rabbinical training program of the Vaad of Baltimore. His passion is for teaching Torah and inspiring others. Shlomo is married to Liba, originally from Philadelphia, who is teaching and running the special education at CTA. Shlomo and Liba recently moved from St Louis where Shlomo was in the Kollel and Liba taught and was an administrator in the girls high school. Together with their three children, they are excited to enjoy all that this wonderful out of town community has to offer.
Rabbi Eisenberg can be contacted at Seisenberg@bjcolumbus.org
Rabbi David Stavsky zT"l
Rabbi David Stavsky zt"l (1930-2004) was born in New York City in 1930. The Rabbi's credentials include B.A., Psychology, Yeshiva University; ordained at Rabbi Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary (studied with master scholar Rabbi Soloveitchik); M.A., Psychology, Ohio State University.
After ordination, the Rabbi served in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital and he was the Post-Chaplain at Fort Carson, Colorado. He served on the pulpit at Beth Jacob Congregation from 1957 until his death in 2004. Rabbi Stavsky founded the Columbus Torah Academy in 1958, and is a former National VP of the Rabbinical Council of America.
To read more about Rabbi Stavsky's extraordinary legacy click here.
Hilary GriffithSynagogue Administrator
Hilary Griffith is a Columbus Native. She also went to Columbus Torah Academy for elementary school and finished out her schooling through Columbus City Schools. She graduated from The University of Hartford on a tennis scholarship and a degree in Journalism. Before coming to Beth Jacob, Hilary worked for The Chiller Ice Rinks as the Marketing Director and as a reporter for the Wapakoneta Daily News. Hilary resides in Columbus with her husband Brian and twin children.
Hilary can be contacted at Hilary@bjcolumbus.org
Lisa Sukienik Mini-MInyan
Lisa Sukienik began working at Beth Jacob in 2008 when the Gan Ephraim Preschool first opened. As different needs presented themselves, Lisa stepped up to cover them. She coordinates the Morah Lisa Mini Minyan on Shabbat, holidays and with the monthly brotherhood breakfasts. Lisa also helps throughout the year with various special programs and projects. Lisa resides here in Berwick with her husband Harvey Sukienik, one of the shul's gabbonim, and her children.