Our Clergy

Rabbi Charles A. Klein

Rabbi's Message

Let me welcome you to The Merrick Jewish Centre's home on the worldwide web. The founders of the Merrick Jewish Centre, Congregation Ohr Torah, joined together almost 75 years ago to create a Jewish presence on this part of the South Shore of Long Island.Now, many years later, we continue to do the work they began. Here at the Merrick Jewish Centre we look to the future, aware of the challenges we face, and alive to the possibilities of what we can achieve.

In my view the Merrick Jewish Centre is not only the oldest synagogue in our area, it is also the most vibrant. I have had the pleasure and privilege of being the rabbi of the Merrick Jewish Centre for over one-quarter of a century. During these 25 years I have worked hard to create a center of Jewish life where the members of our congregation and their children can find the excitement, beauty and warmth of the Jewish tradition. We are a synagogue center which today represents the very best of the Conservative Movement. Our synagogue is a home for Jews seeking to be rooted in our tradition, in the Jewish experience and within a caring Jewish community.

We are a congregation whose accomplishments have been many.Still, we continue to search together to better understand the ever-evolving role of the synagogue in American Jewish life. Appreciating, as we do, that what we do here will influence the next generation of Jews, we strive to expand the range of programs we offer to our congregation in the hope that everyone will find a gateway into synagogue life.

While our website offers a wonderful tour of the Merrick Jewish Centre, I warmly invite you to visit our synagogue home on Fox Boulevard in Merrick.Our congregational family is always open to those who are looking to find a place to share Judaism and the Jewish tradition with friends and neighbors. We would be delighted to welcome you into our family.

Faithfully yours,

Rabbi Charles A. Klein

Cantor Ethan Leifer

Merrick Jewish Centre is pleased to welcome Cantor Ethan Leifer and his family to our Congregation. Cantor Leifer joins Merrick Jewish Centre after serving as the Cantor at Temple Beth El of Cedarhurst for the past five years. His rich voice, energy and charisma are sure to bring added joy to our sanctuary as his renditions are both inspiring and uplifting.

Cantor Leifer's singing career began in 1996 when he was picked from the audience at a concert at Colden Center at Queens College by Jewish Music Superstar "Dedi" to sing a duet. The rest as they say is history.

As our ful-time Cantor, Cantor Leifer will serve in many roles at Merrick Jewish Centre. In addition to his participation in our Shabbat and Yom Tov services, Cantor Leifer teaches our B'Nai Mitzvah Students. He will teach in our Adult Education Program, and will engage our children as the Music Teacher in our Hebrew School. Cantor Leifer will assist Rabbi Klein with pastoral duties from time to time and will become involved with a Young Couples group at the synagogue.

As one of his first Adult Ed projects Cantor Leifer will begin teaching a "Synagogue Skills Fantasy Camp" that will teach members of our congregation how to lead services and chant haftorahs like the pros. The program is a Three-semester program (each semester is 4 weeks). Those completing "Fantasy Camp" will be able to lead weekday Mincha/Maariv services, Shabbat morning Psukei D'zimrah service and have the ability to chant a Haftorah.

In addition to his role as our Cantor, Cantor Leifer is a professional singer and performer. His debut album, Ranenu, which is produced by world-renowned pianist and musical director of the jazz group "The Manhattan Transfer" Yaron Gershovsky, contains a wide variety of musical styles including Latin, Middle Eastern and Jewish Rock. The music introduces the listener to a unique assortment of melodies and styles never before heard together on the same album. Ranenu, which was released in 1999, sold over 10,000 copies in its first year, which in the Jewish market is the equivalent of a platinum album.