Rabbi Eytan Hammerman joins Time To Talk with Jen

Eytan Hammerman assumed the rabbinate at Temple Gates of Prayer in the Summer of 2022. He previously served the Jewish Community Center of Harrison, NY and Temple Beth Shalom in Mahopac NY, where he substantially grew both congregations and brought innovative programming along with his trademark energy and enthusiasm. He is committed to doing the same at the Temple Gates, especially, finding ways of making Conservative Judaism both relevant and meaningful to our 21st Century lives while caring for the wider world. Rabbi Hammerman looks forward to bringing our time- honored traditions and strong values to community members of all ages.

Rabbi Hammerman is a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York City where he held the prestigious “Gladstein Fellowship in Entrepreneurial Rabbinic Leadership”. He also holds a Master’s Degree from JTS in Jewish Studies with a concentration in Jewish History. A native of Toms River, NJ, and a graduate of the Solomon Schechter Day School, Rabbi Hammerman was an active USY and Ramah participant and Youth Leader. He is a graduate of Columbia University (’99) with a degree in Political Science and holds a B.A with “Honors and Distinction” from List College of the Jewish Theological Seminary. He has been a visiting student at Union Theological Seminary, New York, and the Hebrew University and the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Israel.

While studying at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Rabbi Hammerman developed religious and educational programs in various, diverse communities. For two years, he served as a Rabbinic Intern at the prestigious Temple Israel Center of White Plains and was also a Student Rabbi of Kehillat Shalom in Skokie, IL. Eytan also served as Director of the Jewish Youth Philanthropy Institute in Washington D.C., an innovative community service and tzedakah (charity) organization for teenagers.

With his wife Rebecca, Rabbi Hammerman founded a Masorti (Conservative) synagogue in Madrid, Spain – Congregation Bet El – and continues to serve on the Board of the international Masorti Movement among numerous, other Jewish and wider-community organizations. Together with his family, which includes daughters Ary, Rena, and Lani, he loves international travel, creative cooking, and the great outdoors.

Rabbi Hammerman can be reached at:

rabbihammerman@templegates.org or (718) 359 - 1160 (Office) and (914) 320 - 4244 (Cell)