Our Clergy

 Eytan Hammerman, Rabbi

 Eytan Hammerman assumed the rabbinate at Temple Gates of Prayer   in the Summer of 2022.  He previously served the Jewish Community   Center of Harrison, NY and Temple Beth Shalom in Mahopac NY,   where he substantially grew both congregations and brought   innovative programming along with his trademark energy and   enthusiasm. He is committed to doing the same at the Temple Gates,   especially, finding ways of making Conservative Judaism both   relevant and meaningful to our 21st Century lives while caring for the   wider world. Rabbi Hammerman looks forward to bringing our time-   honored traditions and strong values to community members of all   ages. 

Rabbi Hammerman is a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York City where he held the prestigious “Gladstein Fellowship in Entrepreneurial Rabbinic Leadership”. He also holds a Master’s Degree from JTS in Jewish Studies with a concentration in Jewish History. A native of Toms River, NJ, and a graduate of the Solomon Schechter Day School, Rabbi Hammerman was an active USY and Ramah participant and Youth Leader. He is a graduate of Columbia University (’99) with a degree in Political Science and holds a B.A with “Honors and Distinction” from List College of the Jewish Theological Seminary. He has been a visiting student at Union Theological Seminary, New York, and the Hebrew University and the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Israel.

While studying at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Rabbi Hammerman developed religious and educational programs in various, diverse communities. For two years, he served as Rabbinic Intern at the prestigious Temple Israel Center of White Plains and was also Student Rabbi of Kehillat Shalom in Skokie, IL.  Eytan also served as Director of the Jewish Youth Philanthropy Institute in Washington D.C., an innovative community service and tzedakah (charity) organization for teenagers.

With his wife Rebecca, Rabbi Hammerman founded a Masorti (Conservative) synagogue in Madrid, Spain – Congregacion Bet El – and continues to serve on the Board of the international Masorti Movement among numerous, other Jewish and wider-community organizations.  Together with his family, which includes daughters Ary, Rena and Lani, he loves international travel, creative cooking and the great outdoors.

Rabbi Hammerman can be reached at:

rabbihammerman@templegatesofprayer.org

or (718) 359 - 1160 (Office) and (914) 320 - 4244 (Cell)

 Moshe Bear, Hazzan

 Hazzan Moshe Bear received his cantorial ordination from         the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York City. He has served as   Cantor at Temple Gates of Prayer (Flushing, NY) for over 13   years. Cantor Bear is a Jewish educator for all age groups. Regarded   a master teacher, his B’nai Mitzvah program has won a top award   from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. He considers   this aspect of his career to be perhaps the most satisfying of his work   in the Jewish world; he believes that “building” Jews, to be both   ritually self-sufficient and spiritually grounded (from the inside out), is the most effective approach to creating and retaining congregants who lead Jewishly fulfilled lives. Cantor Bear believes that pastoral work - in cooperation with his rabbinic partners - is an essential part of being a hazzan. He loves being part of his congregants’ lives on happy and sad occasions, and treasures walking with them on their life-journeys.

Additionally, Cantor Bear is an accomplished performer, director, and producer. He is the former conductor of the Long Island Chapter of HaZamir, the International Jewish Teen Choir, performing at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Metropolitan Opera House. He himself has concertized in North America, Europe and Israel. A specialist in the performance of Yiddish song, he was the first singer to offer a concert of Yiddish music at Ellis Island.

For 24 years he has also served as the Passover “Chazzn” of the Yiddish Artists and Friends-Actors Club in Manhattan. In addition to television appearances as a singer of Jewish music, Cantor Bear has performed often at Cantors Assembly gatherings and on its missions to Poland and Israel and is featured in the film 100 Voices. He is renowned as a producer of Jewish music concerts of the highest caliber for over thirty years. A long-term chairman of its Metropolitan Region, he continues to be active in the Cantors Assembly also as a member of its Executive Council. Cantor Bear believes his very best work to be his two wonderful children Mia and Nathaniel.

Hazzan Moshe Bear can be reached at:

m2bea7@yahoo.com or (718) 359 - 1160 (Office) and (631) 889 - 1635 (Cell)

 Steven Barr, Ritual Director

 Since 1974, Cantor Steven Barr has been working as Cantor, Ritual   Director, and Educator in sixteen different Conservative and Reform   congregations. He studied Literature, Music, and Education at The   University of Maryland and at The Cantors' Institute of The Jewish   Theological Seminary. His hobbies include martial arts, hiking, and   playing musical instruments.

Cantor Steven Barr can be reached at:

silveryad@gmail.com or (718) 359 - 1160 (Office) and (917) 563 - 1701 (Cell)

 Albert Thaler, Rabbi Emeritus z"l

 July 5, 1932 - April 18, 2024

 Rabbi Thaler served Temple Gates of Prayer for 37 years, from 1980   to  2017.  He was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary where   he received a Masters degree in Hebrew Literature and was awarded   the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa.

 Rabbi Thaler was director of the Ramah Day Camp in Nyack for 27   years.  While director, he educated and inspired a generation of   children, teens, and young adults.

He served Temple Gates of Prayer with singular devotion, energy and enthusiasm.  He engendered a strong sense of community within our congregation. He encouraged us to become a child-friendly, family-oriented congregation.  He taught us how to celebrate and enjoy Jewish life.  Throughout his career, he strongly advocated for Conservative Judaism.