+1.614.855.4882
5089 Johnstown Rd New Albany OH 43054 US
Rabbi Howard Apothaker, Ph.D
Associate Rabbi & Dir. of Education
Rabbi Emeritus • drabbia@tbsohio.org
Senior Rabbi
Rabbi Lenette Goldman
Cantorial Soloist & Music Director
Gail Rose
Rabbi Benjy Bar-Lev joined he clergy team at Temple Beth Shalom in 2008 and has served as Senior Rabbi since 2017. Known affectionately throughout the congregation as “Rabbi B,” he is passionate about building a Jewish community that is warm, inclusive, spiritually meaningful, and deeply connected.
Rabbi B is dedicated to helping Temple Beth Shalom continue to grow as a dynamic center for Jewish life, where people of all ages and backgrounds find belonging, purpose, learning, and inspiration. A central part of his rabbinate is creating joyful Jewish experiences and helping people connect to Judaism in ways that feel personal, uplifting, relevant, and filled with meaning.
He loves to create engaging worship experiences, teaching Torah in accessible and thoughtful ways, and helping individuals and families celebrate Jewish tradition through every stage of life. He especially treasures the opportunity to guide congregants through meaningful lifecycle moments, helping each experience feel warm, personal, sacred, and filled with compassion.
A lifelong Jewish camper & song leader, Rabbi Benjy brings his love of music, community, and joyful Judaism into all aspects of congregational life. He also serves on faculty each summer at Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI), the URJ camp serving the Midwest.
Originally from Milwaukee, Rabbi Benjy lives in New Albany with his wife, Dr. Lauren Bar-Lev, their children, Sammie, Jake, Asher, and Noah, and of course, their mini Goldendoodle, Bagel.
Rabbi Howard L. Apothaker, Ph.D. has served as Rabbi for Temple Beth Shalom of Columbus/New Albany, Ohio since 1980. As a student rabbi, he served congregations in New York City. He has also served a start-up congregation in Beer Sheva, Israel.
A native Philadelphian and honors graduate of Brown University (1974), Rabbi Apothaker was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (NY, 1980). He holds an M.A. from HUC-JIR in New York (1977), and a Ph.D. in Rabbinic Literature (HUC-JIR, Cincinnati, 1996). He has been a Visiting Graduate Student at New York University, The Jewish Theological Seminary in Jerusalem and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Rabbi Lenette Goldman has served Temple Beth Shalom as Associate Rabbi and Director of Education since July 2017.
Rabbi Lenette grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, participating in Jewish youth group, NFTY, summer camp, and a Jewish high school. Her experiences in college at ASU Hillel sparked a passion for Jewish education, setting her on the path to becoming a rabbi. Rabbi L was ordained through HUC-JIR in 2017, with an additional Master's Degree in Jewish Education.
Rabbi Lenette is passionate about running the TBS Religious School and teaching learners of all ages in addition to leading services, holidays, lifecycle events, and providing pastoral care.
Rabbi L lives in Gahanna with her husband, Michael Goldman, Executive Director of the Ohio Energy Project, which brings STEM education to Ohio schools. They welcomed their son Elijah in Fall 2025. The Goldman family enjoys hiking, gardening, and exploring the Columbus food scene.
He has won numerous academic fellowships, including the Daniel Jeremy Silver Fellowship at Harvard University (1999-2000). He has served as an adjunct instructor at Capital University and The Ohio State University and has lectured, inter alia, at Franklin University, Otterbein College, Ohio Dominican University, and Mt. Vernon Nazarene University. He has written a book on classical rabbinic midrash —Sifra, Dibbura de Sinai: Rhetorical Formulae, Literary Structures, and Legal Traditions (Hebrew Union College Press, 2003), published numerous scholarly articles, and has lectured at a variety of academic conferences.
Rabbi Apothaker serves on the board of the Community Kitchen and also served as co-president of B.R.E.A.D., a faith-based justice coalition. He has served as president of the Columbus Board of Rabbis and on numerous local boards, including Columbus Torah Academy, Columbus Jewish Federation, JCC of Greater Columbus, Jewish Family Services, Wexner Heritage Village, Jewish Scouting of Central Ohio, Columbus Jewish Historical Society, Jewish National Fund, Ohio Holocaust Education Council, and Central Ohio State of Israel Bonds.
Rabbi Apothaker has also served on the Board of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, for which he has also served on a number of national committees, including the Committee on Reform Jewish Principles (1999). He has served as president of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley Association of Reform Rabbis.
In addition to congregational and Jewish community activities, Rabbi Apothaker was the founding president of the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio and the local chapter of Children in Grief. He is a founder of the Congregational Alliance of New Albany (where he has served as president). Rabbi Apothaker has served on the faculty of the URJ regional camp, the Goldman Union Camp Institute. Among other honors, Rabbi Apothaker has received the Buckeye Boys Ranch Award in recognition of Community Accomplishments and Continuing Influence in Religion with in the Community.
Rabbi Apothaker was a college wrestler, rowed on the crew team, and still participates in a variety of athletic activities. He has composed liturgical music and enjoys singing. He is married to Marcie Golden and has two daughters, Elianna and Leah.
In addition to her role as TBS Cantorial Soloist & Music Director, Gail wears many other hats: TBS Religious School 6th Grade Hebrew and 3rd & 4th Grade Music Teacher, B'nai Mitzvah tutor, Klezmer Band organizer, director & producer of themed Shabbats such as Veterans’ Day and Broadway Shabbat.
Gail holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Education from The Ohio State University.
Gail's background in music education led her to teaching vocal and general music in Lancaster, Southwestern and Worthington City Schools and Music Education for Elementary Education Majors at Ohio Dominican College and The Ohio State University. She has supervised student teachers for Otterbein College. She also received two awards from The Ohio State University for her work with student teachers.
Gail is the 2013 Jeff and Lori Lasday Jewish Educator of the Year — the first TBS educator to receive this prestigious community award. Gail was named as one of Columbus Jewish News' "18 Difference Makers" in 2022. Most recently, Mrs. Rose was honored at the 2026 "GAIL-A," Temple Beth Shalom’s annual fundraiser, for her 18 years of service at TBS.
Gail’s spiritual practice is enhanced by her formal study of Kabbalah, yoga and is a Reiki practitioner.
Rabbi Benjy Bar-Lev
Temple Beth Shalom © 2015