History & Team
Rabbi Zeev and Esther Kushnirsky moved to Staten Island with the help of Rabbi Eli Kogan in December of 2011 to fill a much needed gap. Staten Island has 28,000 Jews and the closest synagogue to the South Beach area was a 2-hours walk. We opened the Jewish Russian Learning Center of South Beach to provide a Jewish community for the Jews in this area. We are inspired by the Lubavitcher Rebbe to continue his work on spreading Judaism to all four corners of the world.
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Zeev Kushnirsky
Rabbi and Director
Rabbi Zeev Kushnirsky was born in Ukraine during the Soviet regime. He moved to Israel with his parents and siblings where a spark started for his renewed connection with Judaism. As a teen he came to the USA for high school where he started his journey to a more observant life. He went back to Israel to pursue rabbinical studies.
- More than 15 years experience working with the Russian Speaking Jewish Community;
- Graduated from Yeshiva Migdal haEmek in Israel;
- Got his rabbinical certificate from the Yeshiva Central Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in USA;
- Completed a special course to be able to officiate Jewish weddings in 2015.
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Esther Kushnirsky
Rebetzin and Co-director
Rebetzin Esther Kushnirsky was born in Brazil and grew up following some Jewish traditions, When she was a teen she met the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s emissary to SP, Rabbi Belinow, and started her journey towards a more observant Judaism. After college Esther went to Israel for seminary and then came to USA to finish her Jewish studies.
- Went to Midrasha Shaarei Bina and Machon Alte Seminary in Israel;
- Graduated from Machon Chana Seminary in the USA;
- More than 14 years experience serving the Russian-speaking Jewish Community.
JRLC of Souch Beach also counts on all the help, support and dedication of Rabbi and Rebetzin Vogel.