Clergy & Staff
Clergy & Staff
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Rabbi Daniel N. Geffen
Rabbi Geffen was named Rabbi of Temple Adas Israel in the summer of 2014. He was ordained by The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in New York in May, 2014 and holds Masters Degrees in both Hebrew Literature and Jewish Education. During his time at HUC-JIR, Rabbi Geffen earned several awards, including those for Modern Hebrew, Halakhic Literature, Rabbinics and was twice awarded the “Amitz Lev” Prize for Spirit, Character and Strength of Heart. He earned his undergraduate degree in History from The University of Wisconsin, Madison. He was born and raised in New York City, where he attended the Abraham Joshua Heschel School and, later, the Fieldston School.
Prior to assuming his position at Temple Adas Israel, Rabbi Geffen served as the Rabbinic Intern for Woodlands Community Temple in White Plains, NY and Jewish Home Lifecare of Manhattan. He was also the Schusterman Rabbinic Resident at Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York City and the Administrative Education Intern at Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles.
Rabbi Geffen lives in North Haven with his beloved wife Lu (Temple Adas Israel Director of Community Engagement), their daughter Eva, son Emet and dog, Stuart.
Student Cantor: Kevin McKenzie
A proud Colorado native, Kevin is in his 4th year at the Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion.
Kevin has a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Vocal Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder and is constantly seeking out unique opportunities. Kevin prides himself on his ability to adapt to any musical style including barbershop, chazzanut, classical, folk and more.
While living in Jerusalem, he performed in musicals such as The King and I (Lun Tha), Pirates of Penzance (Samuel), and She Loves Me (Kodaly). Prior to traveling the world, Jewish Summer Camp was a huge part of his upbringing having spent 11 summers at four different Jewish summer camps across the US — working as a counselor, a song leader, and high ropes staff.
It is an honor and a privilege for him to be the Cantorial Intern at Temple Adas Israel and he looks forward to carrying on the strong chain of tradition with this wonderful community.
Rabbi Leon Morris: Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Morris was rabbi of Temple Adas Israel in Sag Harbor, NY for 15 years, four of which were as its first resident rabbi. Together with his wife, Dasee Berkowitz, he transformed Temple Adas Israel into a year-round vibrant congregation with more than one hundred new families.
A leading educator in the field of adult Jewish study, Rabbi Morris is the president of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. He was the founding director of Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning (now the Streicker Center) at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan. Ordained from Hebrew Union College in 1997 where he was a Wexner Graduate Fellow, Leon writes frequently and is a contributor to Israeli and American Jewish publications. He was one of four editors of Mishkan HaNefesh, the new American Reform High Holiday prayer book published in 2015.
In June 2014, Rabbi Morris and his family made aliyah to Israel, where he currently resides in Jerusalem.
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Shelley Lichtenstein: Executive Director and Educational Director
Since joining our staff in 2015, Shelley has led our Hebrew School program. She also teaches B’nei Mitzvah preparation and adult Hebrew courses. She has helped implement and coordinate the popular summer program, Shabbat by the Bay. Shelley is also responsible for many creative Temple Holiday programs and adult education courses. Shelley brings decades of experience and expertise in creative learning to our synagogue.
A native South African who immigrated to Israel with her family when she was twelve years old, Shelley served in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) at 18 spending part of her army service on a kibbutz along the Lebanese border.
After the army Shelley began her formal training in education in Tel Aviv. In 1984, she received a B.A. in Education from Southampton College and then earned her M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Memphis.
In 1999 she returned with her family to East Hampton where she was the Director of Education and Programming at the Jewish Center of the Hamptons for seven years.
Shelley continues to actively participate in continuing education. She is currently a member of the Jewish Education Project Virtual Network for Part Time Educators and the proud mother of three adult children.
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