Sinai Staff
Rabbi Josh Berkenwald
Rabbi Josh Berkenwald joined Congregation Sinai in San Jose, California, in August 2007. He is proud to be the spiritual leader of a diverse congregation that embraces people of all ages and backgrounds who seek meaningful ways to be Jewish.
Rabbi Berkenwald received his ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City in 2007. He earned his B.A. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia in 1997, which included a year of study in Jerusalem. Rabbi Berkenwald was born in Atlanta, Georgia, grew up in Mercer Island, Washington, and has also lived in Vancouver, Canada.
Rabbi Berkenwald lives in San Jose with his wife, Dana, and children, Noa and Solly. He enjoys playing acoustic and electric guitar, running, hiking, reading, watching movies, and cooking when he can find the time.
You can read some of Rabbi Berkenwald's past sermons at his blog, located at www.rebyehoshua.org or watch recordings here.
Email Rabbi Berkenwald or phone (408) 264-8544
Joelle Pluemer, Executive Director
Joelle Pluemer is the Executive Director at Congregation Sinai. Her responsibilities include the management of all of Sinai’s operations and facilities, including finance, membership, communications, programming, legacy giving and all administrative services. A former accountant and consultant, Joelle came to Sinai in 2008 with years of experience in the South Bay Jewish community, both on a professional and volunteer basis at South Peninsula Hebrew Day School and Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley.
Joelle embraces her community, her family and friends with warmth, dedication and commitment. Joelle has lived in the Bay Area since moving to the U.S with her family at age 14. She and her husband Andy have two sons who also enjoy being a part of our Sinai community.
Email Joelle or phone (408) 264-8543
Ifat Kantorovich, Director of Early Childhood Education
Ifat Kantorovich is the Director of Early Childhood Education at Sinai Nursery School. Ifat holds a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science from Ben Gurion University and Child Development Program Director Permit. Ifat has many years of experience teaching both children and adults. She has been working at Sinai Nursery School since 2007. She is proud to be part of a quality team of professional teachers who recognize and values the importance of Jewish early childhood education.
Ifat is happily married with two daughters and two dogs. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, baking, reading, and watching movies.
Email Ifat or phone (408) 264-8486
Michelle Jenkins, Director of Congregational Learning
Michelle Jenkins is the Director of Congregational Learning, primarily responsible for running the Congregation Sinai Religious School, the Sinai Limmud La’ad (Lifelong Jewish Learning) program, and supporting SJCUSY. Originally from the New York/New Jersey area, she has spent most of her adult life south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Michelle has a B.A. in Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and an M.A. in Jewish Education from Baltimore Hebrew University. Since earning her degree, Michelle has held positions as Education Director of the Martin and Mildred Paver Religious School of Temple Beth Sholom in Sarasota, FL, and Principal of the High School and Midrasha program of Har Zion Temple, Narberth, PA. Most recently, she has served as the Coordinator of the Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University while also teaching for a Conservative religious school and a Reform supplementary high school program.
When she is not working, Michelle enjoys hanging out with her adorable Dalmatian, Rocky. Michelle joined Congregation Sinai in July 2016 and feels lucky every day to be part of the Congregation Sinai community.
Email Michelle or phone (408) 264-1229
Dana Greitzer Gotlieb, Rabbinic Intern
In Spring 2024, Congregation Sinai proudly welcomed Dana Greitzer Gotlieb as our Rabbinic Intern. Dana is a student at the Academy for Jewish Religion (AJR) in Yonkers, NY, where she is pursuing Rabbinic Ordination and a Master of Arts Degree in Jewish Studies. Dana is a poet and an artist. She loves the Hebrew language and Israeli culture and is particularly interested in serving as a bridge between American and Israeli Jews, whose Jewish experiences, practices, and assumptions can often be quite different.
Dana has lived in San Jose with her family since 2008. She served as the West Coast Director at the World Zionist Organization, where she introduced pluralistic Jewish and Israeli cultures through educational content and community-bridging programs. Prior to that, she had a career as a Graphic Designer in Israel, where she was born and raised. Read her blogs at the Times of Israel.