Temple Beth-El is fortunate to have an extremely talented group of individuals serving the congregation as clergy, senior staff, and educators. Many of the programs they have created have been nationally recognized by the Union for Reform Judaism as models for congregations throughout North America. Our clergy and staff bring unique strengths to our community, and each stands ready to respond to your questions and help make your Temple Beth-El experience a positive one.
Rabbi Noah Diamondstein
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Rabbi Noah Diamondstein brings a wide range of talents and passions to TBE. He has an engaging personality, an intentional focus on relationship building, a scholarly love of worship and Torah, a life-long commitment to Tikkun Olam, and an enthusiasm for sharing his passion for Judaism. Rabbi Diamondstein is also highly regarded in the Reform Jewish movement for his contemporary Jewish musical talents.
Rabbi Diamondstein served as the Associate Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Washington, D.C. (a congregation of nearly 1200 families) from 2020 to 2025. He was ordained in 2020 from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion with an additional certificate in Jewish Organizational Leadership. He has had wide ranging experiences as a scholar of Judaism—from handling primary source documents from early 20th Century rabbis who wrote about the Mourners’ Kaddish, to teaching the leadership of Jerusalem’s Women of the Wall movement to blow shofar, to serving as a rabbinic intern at a Jewish Social Justice non-profit organization. His rabbinic thesis, “A Tale of Two Liturgies: Placing Liturgical Development in the Reform and Conservative Movements in Conversation,” focuses on the differences and similarities between the ways these two liberal Jewish movements approach the work of creating new prayer books. Rabbi Diamondstein holds a Bachelor of Religious Studies degree with certificates in Jewish Studies and Global Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.
Rabbi Diamondstein grew up in Allentown, PA where he and his family belonged to a nearby Conservative synagogue. He attended URJ Camp Harlam, eventually serving on the staff and leading the Jewish Life department as Head Songleader. His camp experience in great measure helped shape his Reform Jewish identity. As a result of these dual, and occasionally dueling, identities, Rabbi Diamondstein focuses much of his intellectual energy on navigating what it means to be a Reform Jew using the model of “Choice Through Knowledge.” He is a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan, for which we will forgive him, or embrace him, depending on your preferences!
Rabbi Diamondstein is eager to meet our congregants. You can reach Rabbi Diamondstein at 908-722-0674, ext. 313 or via email.
Cantor Risa Wallach
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Cantor Risa Wallach (she/her) brings to Temple Beth-El a deep commitment to using the power of music to share spiritual meaning and build community. She is passionate about issues of social justice and infuses inclusion and equality into her cantorate. She’s dedicated to caring for her congregants’ pastoral needs, facilitating their life transitions, and celebrating with them the restorative rhythm of Shabbat.
Cantor Wallach was ordained at Hebrew College in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. Prior to joining TBE, she has served as cantor at Temple Beth-El of Jersey City, NJ and at Congregation B’nai Shalom in Walnut Creek, California.
Cantor Wallach is a recipient of the Cantor Rick Boyar Award for excellence in Hazzanut. Her recording project, For the People, a collection of Yiddish songs, liturgical music, and New England folk songs was recently released.
Cantor Wallach enjoys spending time in nature, meditating, using delicious foods for health and healing, and watching independent movies. She lives with her spouse, Rhette, in Somerville.
You can reach Cantor Wallach at 908-722-0674, ext. 315 or via email.
Here’s a clip from the December 2022 Cantorial Concert. Cantor Wallach sings Dremlen Fagyl, accompanied by Dr. Larry Wallach (her father) on piano, Cantor Jeff Warschauer on mandolin, and Debra Strauss on violin.
When Cantor Wallach joined the TBE team, congregants Lou and Myrna Binder sat down with her to learn a bit more about her. Click here to watch their interview.
Amy Rubin
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Amy Rubin (she/her) came on board as Executive Director in 2014, but her relationship with Temple Beth-El dates to 1989, when she and her husband joined the synagogue. A long-time lay leader, Amy has served as president, treasurer, trustee, and chair of several committees. Amy draws on her long experience as a congregant to inform her role on staff. She believes there is sacred work in even the mundane details of the facility, the finances, and ensuring things run smoothly. A Jew-by-choice, Amy particularly enjoys fostering the welcoming environment that captured her heart and led her to Judaism three decades ago.
Prior to joining Temple Beth-El’s staff, Amy spent five years as the Director of Administration at The Jewish Center, a Conservative congregation in Princeton, where she merged her commitment to congregational life with well-honed business skills developed over two decades in the private sector.
Amy resides in Hillsborough with her husband, Ken. They have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and two new grandbabies. She enjoys cooking, hiking, and escaping into novels.
Amy believes there are no traif questions, so no matter the question, ask Amy. If she doesn’t know the answer, she’ll find it. Amy is also happy to help you wherever you may be on your Jewish journey. You can reach her at 908-968-1070 or via e-mail.
Lisa Friedman
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Lisa Friedman (she/her) is Temple Beth-El’s Director of Education, responsible for a wide range of learning programs from the littlest learners through the adult learners. Lisa is passionate about ensuring that all students inherit their birthright of learning Torah and connecting with their Jewish heritage. She has led Temple Beth-El’s award-winning efforts to fully include students with disabilities and learning challenges.
Lisa also serves on the faculties of URJ Camp Harlam and URJ 6 Points Sci Tech Academy-East, as she believes deeply in the value of Jewish overnight experiences to build strong Jewish identities.
Lisa is proud to have worked with Behrman House to produce educational materials with an eye toward meeting diverse student needs. She received the Behrman House Educator Award in 2009.
Lisa lives in Hillsborough with her husband, Gary, and their children, Mitchell and Shayna. The Friedmans are long-time members of Temple Beth-El, having joined in 2002. In her free time, Lisa loves to cook, read, travel, and assemble jigsaw puzzles.
Lisa is always happy to discuss the importance of Jewish education and Temple Beth-El’s stellar religious school program. You can reach her at 908-722-0674, ext. 327 or via email.
Michael Einiger
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Michael Einiger (he/him) grew up just down the road(s) at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, and was an extremely active youth leader and songleader within his congregation and with NFTY-GER. Michael strongly believes in the power of youth leadership and the importance of engaging and immersing teens in Jewish life.
Michael has taught for various religious school programs over the past five years, including Temple Emanu-El of Westfield, Temple Ner Tamid of Bloomfield, Temple B’nai Torah of Wantagh, and his home congregation of Anshe Emeth. Michael has also spent multiple summers as a camper, songleader, staff member, and Leadership Team member at URJ Camp Harlam. Michael holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Media Studies from Rutgers University, where he also studied Creative Writing and Jewish Studies.
Outside of the Jewish sphere, Michael is a musician and writer, and a huge supporter and lover of theatre and live performance. Michael believes that utilizing our secular passions to strengthen our connection with Judaism is integral to discovering and shaping our Jewish identity, especially as teens.
You can reach Michael at 908-722-0674, ext. 324 or MichaelEiniger@templebethelnj.org.
Rabbi Arnie Gluck
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Rabbi Arnie Gluck retired from Temple Beth-El after 33 years of service. A teacher, scholar, and tireless advocate for social justice, Rabbi Gluck pioneered programs in adult Jewish literacy, family education, youth activities, social action, Jewish healing, and interfaith dialogue.
Locally, Rabbi Gluck helped found the Interfaith Hospitality Network for the Homeless of Union County and Somerset County, served as president of the Somerville Area Ministerial Association, was the founding dean of Jewish LIFE—a community-wide consortium for adult Jewish learning—and was a founder of the Ohr Tikvah Jewish Healing Center.
Beyond the local community, Rabbi Gluck served on the Executive Committee of the Association of Reform Zionists of America’s Rabbinic Cabinet, is an active member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, was the founding Coordinator of the Beit Din for Conversion of the New Jersey Association of Reform Rabbis, and served on the board of the United Israel Appeal. He has been honored by the Jewish Federation and Israel Bonds.
Rabbi Gluck received Rabbinic Ordination and a Master of Arts in Hebrew Literature from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. He is an alumnus of the University of Albany and the One-Year Program of The Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
From 1986 to 1991, Rabbi Gluck lived and worked in Haifa, Israel. During that time, he played an active role in the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism and the Israel Council of Progressive Rabbis. He was also among the founders of Clergy for Peace and Rabbis for Human Rights.
Rabbi Gluck enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, golfing, and skiing. He travels to Israel annually and finds joy in discovering new places and experiencing new things. He savors time spent with family and friends. He and his wife, Sarah, have two daughters and a delightful granddaughter.
You can reach Rabbi Gluck via email.
Sarah Gluck
Sarah Gluck’s passion for Judaism, Hebrew, and spiritual exploration are the foundations upon which she approaches Jewish learning — inside and outside the classroom.
Sarah recently retired from her role as one of Temple Beth-El’s Education Directors. Sarah taught Hebrew for nearly four decades and has contributed to many of the Hebrew and Jewish Studies textbooks that are used by religious schools throughout North America.
A long-time member of the Association of Reform Jewish Educators, Sarah now serves on the organization’s board of trustees. She also represents the organization on the Reform Movement’s Joint Commission for Worship, Music, and Religious Living.
Sarah earned her B.A. at Oberlin College and masters’ degrees at Columbia University in Middle East Studies, Arabic, and Hebrew. She is an alumna of the One-Year Program of The Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Sarah and her husband, Rabbi Arnie Gluck, came to Temple Beth-El in 1991, after spending five years in Haifa, Israel. They are the proud parents of two daughters and grandparents of one extremely adorable granddaughter. She loves music, yoga, being out in nature, travel, and reading a good book.
You can reach Sarah via email.