For Jordan Feldman, becoming Temple Beth Shalom’s new education director is more than a job — it’s a homecoming.
After eight years as an educator in New York public schools, Feldman felt called to return to the Mahopac congregation where he had his bar mitzvah and to the community that helped shape him.
The Somers High School graduate attended Syracuse University, earning degrees in selected studies in education and inclusive secondary education before receiving a master’s degree in educational leadership from Hunter College.
But for Feldman, being a teacher is only part of his identity.
“I’m a proud Jew,” said Feldman, whose tenure officially began July 1. “My mom — unfortunately, she passed away a couple of years ago — was from Haifa; my dad is from America.”
After spending a year traveling around the U.S. with his wife, Jackie, a physical therapist, Feldman learned the position was opening and knew he needed to apply.
“I told the committee when I was interviewing: There are very few things I value more than being a teacher,” he said. “Being Jewish is one of those things.”
Feldman’s local roots run deep.
“I was born in Peekskill at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, and I was raised in Somers,” he said. “I attended First Hebrew Congregation in Peekskill growing up. My last year of Hebrew school, my family and I joined Temple Beth Shalom in Mahopac, in part because of Marilyn Arsham. She was my bar mitzvah tutor.
“We heard wonderful, amazing things about her as a tutor, and I definitely needed as much support as possible to prepare for my bar mitzvah,” he added. “She was an incredible tutor, and she’s still involved with the congregation.
“She was the only one who believed in me—even when I didn’t believe in me."
Feldman said Temple Beth Shalom’s sense of community and his deep personal connections to the “tremendous people” there made him want to return to teach.
“Rabbi Sarah (Freidson) married Jackie and me,” said Feldman, adding that the couple’s second anniversary was approaching in late August.
“Rabbi Sarah was very close to my mom, especially when she was diagnosed with cancer,” Feldman said. “She lived for almost four years after her diagnosis. She went through something like 52 chemotherapy treatments and was just a very strong, resilient person. She had a lot of pride and very much valued the relationship she had with Rabbi Sarah from a spiritual perspective.”
Freidson said Feldman was the right fit for Temple Beth Shalom because "he brings together so many of the qualities we want in an education director."
"Jordan is warm, personable, responsible, a great communicator, and genuinely wonderful with both kids and adults," Freidson said. "He really understands how kids learn and how to reach different kinds of learners.
"He is also passionate about Judaism and deeply connected to our community. Jordan grew up at Temple Beth Shalom and became a bar mitzvah here," she added. "I’ve known him and his family for years, and Jordan and I just click. I’m incredibly excited to welcome him back to TBS in this new role and to see what we will build together."
Feldman said he has big shoes to fill in replacing Bria Gunzburg.
“I’m looking forward to continuing the great work that she did,” he said. “She did incredible work as the former education director, really helping the congregation, families and students during COVID and righting the ship to get the school in a really good place.”
He will also continue the work of Teen Program Lead Evan Weissman, who is returning as the sixth- and seventh-grade teacher.
“He’s been doing great work for years,” Feldman said. “I’m going to be teaching kindergarten through second grade in addition to being the director.”
Susan Mozeson is also joining the staff to teach grades three through five, while Denise Clescere serves as religious school head volunteer.
Does Feldman have an overarching goal?
“I think for me, the biggest thing is instilling pride in the students,” he said. “I think it’s very important that they are proud to be Jewish. Everyone, no matter who you are, where you come from, or what your background or identity is, should be proud of who they are and where they come from.
“I look forward to teaching the culture, the ethnicity, the history and the religion — all the facets and components of Judaism — to the children, meeting them where they’re at and making it enjoyable, interactive and fun. That way, they can have more pride in being Jewish and develop friendships and relationships with their classmates — friendships based on who they are as individuals, but also on the connection they share as Jews, which I think is really cool.”
When he’s not teaching, Feldman can usually be found playing or watching sports or grabbing a bite at local favorites King Kone and Mary’s Countryside Kitchen.
“I just love being outside and being active,” he said. “I love to play golf, play tennis, go bike riding, hiking and running.
“I love watching the Giants,” he added. “I’ve been fortunate enough that our family has had season tickets for 58 years. My dad, my brothers and I have always bonded over the Giants and going to Giants games.”
Classes begin Sept. 27.
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