Shoshana Leis

Co-Rabbi

Our rabbi, Shoshana Leis, recently served as Director of Youth and Family Education at Romemu, a start-up synagogue in New York City. Prior to this, she served for seven years as rabbi (with her husband, Rabbi Ben Newman) at Har Shalom Center for Jewish Living in Ft. Collins, CO.

A graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and Dartmouth College, she also studied at St. Petersburg University, the Conservative Yeshiva, and the Drisha Institute for Jewish Studies.

Rabbi Leis lives in Dobbs Ferry with her husband and two children, Ari and Isaiah. She loves to be in nature (always up for a nature walk!) and returning to her second homeland- Colorado.

Listen to the Rabbi’s podcast, Four Worlds Torah on Apple Podcasts.

Email Rabbi Leis at rabbi@hebrewcongregationofsomers.org

Ben Newman

Co-Rabbi

Rabbi Newman believes in the power of Joyful Judaism, true community and contemplative practice to nourish our capacity for love, hope, joy, wisdom, and peace.

Rabbi Ben is a singer-songwriter, storyteller and innovative service leader, who delights in chanting, playing guitar and ukulele.

Rabbi Ben has been an ordained rabbi since 2006, and most recently served on the clergy team at Temple Beth Shalom in Hastings- on-Hudson. Previously, Rabbi Ben served as co-rabbi for seven years of Har Shalom in Ft. Collins, CO. He also served as Director of Spiritual Life at the Shames JCC in Tarrytown, where his work included leadership training to local community leaders.

In 2016, Rabbi Ben founded Shtiebel in the Rivertowns, a low-barrier, high-engagement Saturday evening Havdalah experience, enjoyed by people of all ages, denominations, and religious/spiritual practices. This offering is now integrated into the life of Pleasantville Community Synagogue, and is open to all.

Rabbi Ben received his rabbinic ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion and also studied at Nanzan University in Japan, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and the Jewish Theological Seminary.

For over 20 years, Rabbi Ben has embraced and shared Jewish and Buddhist wisdom teachings and practices. He is the author of several books on Jewish spirituality including “The Ten Precepts: a Jewish-Buddhist translation of the Ten Commandments,” and “Ten Pathways: a Mystical Guide to Transformation.”

He is beloved by children of all ages, and enjoys sharing his children’s books “Thinking about G!d” and “The Enchanted Sukkah” as well as helping children write their own books based on ancient tales.

He lives in Dobbs Ferry, NY with his wife Rabbi Shoshana, their two children and their two dogs.