Who’s Who at Temple Emanuel

Lindsey Sussman grew up in New Jersey and has lived in Woodbridge since 2011. She has been a member of TE with her husband, Scott, and their two girls since 2013.  Since joining, she has been engaged with TE, from the education committee when her daughters were young and more recently as Chair of the Membership Committee.

Rabbi Michael Farbman, Rabbi@TEGNH.org

Born in Vitebsk, Belarus, Rabbi Farbman received his semicha (rabbinic ordination) at the Leo Baeck College, Reform Rabbinical Seminary in London, UK. Rabbi Farbman holds a  B.A. and M.A. in Hebrew and Jewish Studies, as well as a Master of Sacred Theology degree from Yale Divinity School.

Since his Ordination in 2001 Rabbi Farbman served the West London Synagogue of British Jews in London, UK; helped build Sha’arei Shalom Progressive Jewish Community in  St. Petersburg, Russia, and served as Rabbi-in Residence at the Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, DC. In 2009 Rabbi Farbman became the rabbi of Temple Emanuel, succeeding the much beloved Rabbi Gerald Brieger z’l.

Rabbi Farbman is an active member of the Orange Interfaith Clergy group. He had previously served on the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven and on the board of Columbus House,  and was a faculty member at URJ Camp Eisner. In addition, Rabbi Farbman is the immediate past President of the New Haven Board of Rabbis and Cantors and was recently appointed by Governor Lamont to the Connecticut Hate Crimes Advisory Council.

Olga Markus, Religious School Director. School@TEGNH.org

Olga Markus was born and raised in the former Soviet Union and played an active role in the resurgence of Jewish life and practice there in the early 1990s. Olga holds a Master’s Degree in Russian Language and Literature and an MA in Religious Education from the University of London. Olga has over 20 years of experience as a Jewish educator and non-profit professional, with diverse international involvement in Jewish education, project and grant management, and vision-driven program design. In her professional career, Olga worked as Senior Educator at West London Synagogue in London, UK; Regional Director of Education for the World Union of Reform Judaism in Russia; Educator in Residence at the Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington DC, Assistant Executive Director at the Council of Jewish Émigré Community Organizations in New York City, and most recently as Program Director, Jewish Education and Engagement  at the Jewish Federations of North America. She is passionate about Jewish learning, values, practice, Israel, and community life. Olga is proud to be a member of the Temple Emanuel community and is excited to work with dedicated TE lay leaders and professional team to help TE Religious School go from strength to strength.

High Holy Day Cantorial Soloists Laurel Shader and Anna Zonderman

Laurel Shader, a member of Temple Emanuel since 1985, has been a High Holy Day cantorial soloist at TE since 1996. She has also been the music director/arranger for the Temple Emanuel house band since its debut in the fall of 2009. By day, Laurel is the chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Fair Haven Community Health Center. She lives in Orange with her husband, Jon Zonderman, and is the mother of two musical young adults, Anna and Jacob Zonderman.

Anna Zonderman has been a cantorial soloist at Temple Emanuel since 2004. She also leads the children’s High Holy Day services at TE. She was a member of the Elm City Girls’ Choir from 1994-2006 when she graduated and became a member and section leader of the Clark University Choirs as well as a founding member and director of FOURtissimo, a women’s acapella quartet.

Cantorial Soloist at Bnei Mitzvah services – Susan Pinsky Bleeks

Susan Pinsky Bleeks has spent her entire adult life involved in her twin passions of Jewish Education and Music. She & her husband Tom joined Temple Emanuel in 1979 and within a few years she started teaching at the Religious School. Two years later, she became the Education Director of the school – a role she maintained for the next 25 years until June 2009. In 1996, she was asked to be a Cantorial Soloist for the High Holidays, as well as Soloist for the Bnai Mitzvah services. While she retired from singing at the High Holidays in 2005, she continues singing at “her” children’s special days and is honored to have been part of 185 Temple Emanuel simchas.

Other hats that Susan wears at TE are Caring Community Committee chairperson, Sisterhood President, and Sisterhood’s Book Discussion Group founder and Chair.  Susan and her husband Tom reside in Bethany.