Meet Our Spiritual Leadership

Ira & Julia Levin

The Levins serve both as our spiritual leaders and cantorial duo for the High Holidays and most Shabbat services. They are also an award-winning folk music duo, well known for the blending of their voices, acoustic guitar, and piano. They have released numerous albums and perform regularly though out the New York Metropolitan Area. However, they are also well known in the Jewish music world. They have earned many awards for both their secular and spiritual music. They have performed for URJ gatherings, the International Jewish Music Festival and are the winners of the prestigious Shaleshale Award. In addition to becoming our cantorial duo, they work regularly for Cong. Beth-El of South Orange, NJ and East End Temple in Manhattan. This year they will lead High Holiday service at Agudas Achim. Our congregation is blessed to have musical leadership of this quality. Their music has enlivened and enriched our Shabbat services. Attendance has increased significantly since they have been with us. They will bring their joy for Judaism to us for the Holidays. To find out more about them and to hear their music go to http://www.thelevinsmusic.com

thelevins@yahoo.com

Rabbi Rebecca Shinder

Rabbi Shinder, daughter of Rabbi Fred Pomerantz, has joined the spiritual leadership team at Agudas Achim, servimg as our rabbinic consultant.  More about Rabbi Rebecca coming soon.  Her tenure extends the rabbinic presence of the Pomerantz family at Agudas Achim for another generation.

In Memory: Rabbi Fredric Pomerantz

Rabbi Fredric Stanley Pomerantz, beloved husband, father, saba, brother, uncle, spiritual leader, teacher, and community pillar passed away on Monday, July 8, 2024 at the age of 84. Fred was born on November 29, 1939 in Pittsburgh, PA to the late Harold and Marcia (Levy) Pomerantz. He was preceded in death by his son Jeremy Daniel and brother Richard. Fred’s family circle includes his wife Sandra; children: Joshua (Marta) Pomerantz and Rabbi Rebecca (Larry) Shinder; grandchildren: Jeremy Todd, Jacob, and Hannah; siblings: Deborah (Ken) and Sylvan (Honni); as well as a multitude of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Throughout his esteemed career, Rabbi Pomerantz served the congregants of Congregation Rodef Shalom in Pittsburgh, PA (1968-1973), Temple Beth El of Northern Valley, NJ (1973-2004), and Congregation Agudas Achim in Sullivan County, NY from 2004 until his death. Over the years, he touched countless lives with his inspiring sermons, compassionate counsel, friendship, and music.

Among his many innovations was the radical experimental jazz service, Sim Shalom. Combined with a multimedia sermon, a teen choir, and a professional band, Pomerantz utilized folk, rock, and jazz to reconnect Jews with their ancient liturgy. Recognized for his innovative contribution to the American Jewish experience, the Central Conference of American Rabbis invited him to join its Liturgy Committee which was tasked with editing and updating Reform High Holiday worship with the 1978 Gates of Repentance.

He lived a fascinating life surrounded by so many loved ones, and his legacy will remain in all of our hearts.

Donations in Rabbi Pomerantz’s memory may be made to Temple Beth Shalom, “Pomerantz Memorial Garden,” at the following link:

https://tbsny.org.

Meet Out Board and Leadership Staff

Officers 

• Judy Siegel- President 
• Michele Hemmer- Vice President 
• Gary Siegel- Treasurer 
• Lynn Skolnick- Secretary 

Board Members 

• Alan Blocker 
• Karen Blocker 
• Warren Blumenthal 
• Bob Freedman 
• Lynne Freedman 
• Don Simkin 

Staff 

• Ira and Julia Levin- Cantorial Team 
• Mary Inghrim- Executive Secretary / Newsletter Editor 
• Rabbi Tobi Innerfield- Director of Education
• Richard Chiger- Educator 
• Mindy Knaster- Educator

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Thank you for visiting our website. As the president of Congregation Agudas Achim

it is an honor to lead this historic congregation. I grew up in Livingston Manor when

the synagogue was Orthodox. I spent services either upstairs with the women or

outside playing, and collecting the glass chips that had fallen from the stucco walls

where they had been embedded. The shift in population and some progressive

leadership led to drastic changes in the early 80’s and today we are a thriving

congregation committed to the principles of Reform Judaism with a strong respect

for tradition. We are committed to an open door policy that allows any one to join us

for any service regardless of whether or not they are members because we believe

that everyone should feel welcome in our congregational home.

Livingston Manor is much different than it was when I was a little girl. At that time

there were Jewish merchants on Main Street and in the surrounding area. They

sustained the synagogue. They attended services, had fellowship dinners, sent their

kids to Hebrew school, supported fundraisers and they were a community. Now,

many of our members do not live locally and we have to work harder to create a

connection. But the spirit of Agudas Achim is strong and we are proud that we

have been able to maintain and even grow despite the challenges that we face.

Perhaps you would like Agudas Achim to be your synagogue-the place where you

come and feel welcome, the place where you come and make friends, the place

where you come and connect spiritually or personally and where you enjoy the

friendships that develop because you are part of a community. We would love that!

Please reach out if you would like more information about who we are and how to

become involved.

I hope you will take some time to look through the website. You will find

information about our activities and the history of our synagogue. We are very

proud of our community and of the commitment that we have kept to preserve and

grow the historic synagogue building and its heritage. We look forward to passing

that on to future generations and hope that you and all others that find our small

congregation will join us and be a part of its heritage and its future.

Shalom,

Judy Siegel