Our professional staff includes:

Rabbi Cantor Director of Education Early Childhood Director Administrator Office Bookkeeper

Ari Goldstein Student Cantor Joshua Breitzer Ellyn Becker Kaufman Adrienne Roth Karen Brachman Doreen Noel Rose Hoskins

Rabbi Ari Goldstein

I was born in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. I studied at the University of Pittsburgh and The Hebrew Union College for Rabbinical School.

Prior to joining Temple Beth Shalom, I served as an assistant rabbi at North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe, Illinois, and then as an associate rabbi at M’kor Shalom in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Currently, I serve as the President of the Anne Arundel County Board of Rabbis, as well as a member of Rabbinic Cabinet for Israel bonds.

My wife, Hanna, is also a rabbi, and we are the proud parents of two daughters, Sela and Nava, and two sons, Samuel and Juda.

I would love to hear from you, so please email me at tbsrabbi@comcast.net to contact me or to set up an appointment.

Karen Brachman, Administrator

I grew up in the Midwest – Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. Eventually my family ended up in Texas. I graduated from the University of Texas with a Business degree. I converted to Judaism while in Austin and married a nice Jewish Texan from Fort Worth. (My three children are fourth generation Fort Worth, Texas Jews. Their great great grandfather made the minyan and their great grandfather got a ticket for leaving too large a herd of cattle in the street.)

I am passionate about Judaism and have been active in a variety of organizations in varied positions. Like many, I started in preschool - I was chair of the Early Childhood Committee. I worked my way to serving as President of the Jewish Community Center. I helped establish a Jewish Day School in the early 80’s and became a Jewish professional and activist. I became skilled at fundraising, an essential part running any not for profit organization. I solicited first as a volunteer and then as professional for the Jewish Federation in Fort Worth and then in Dallas. I travelled many times to Israel, and to remnant Jewish communities throughout the world. As I traveled and learned more I began to teach more. My love of programming and education led me to the job of Director of Community Programs in Dallas where I coordinated large Jewish cultural events such as the Book & Author Series, the Jewish Film Festival and the Israeli Independence Day Celebration.

I relocated to Maryland to be closer to my family. My daughter, son and daughter-in-law, and sister all live in the area. I am fortunate to have a position at Temple Beth Shalom where I my varied skills and experiences are needed.

Ellyn Becker Kaufman, Director of Education

I am originally from Portsmouth/Norfolk, Virginia where I was an active member of USY and an ardent Zionist. I attended the Virginia Commonwealth University, but soon found myself in Israel where I attended the David Yellin Teachers College in Jerusalem. After completing my certification at the teachers college, I started a degree at Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

My Israeli husband and I returned to Norfolk and became the parents of 2, now grown adults with children of their own. My son, Avi and his wife Kathie and my oldest grandson Benjamin live in Nashville, Tennessee and my daughter Mindy and her son Aidan live in the area.

Before coming to Temple Beth Shalom in 2002, I taught in Virginia Beach at the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater. I served as the Principal and Director of Education of Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk. I became the Director of Education at Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria when my Norfolk congregation downsized. I accepted a position at Washington Hebrew Congregation in DC as Program Director for the congregation. It turned out that I was the first and the only program director they have had. My love for Jewish education brought me back to being Director of Education where I then decided Annapolis was the right place for me.

I accepted the position as Director of Education at Temple Beth Shalom in 2002. Moving to the Annapolis area was a thoroughly satisfying change. I ultimately met and married Martin Kaufman. Additionally, I bring 34 years of successful Jewish educational experiences to Temple Beth Shalom and am delighted to call Annapolis my home.