Rabbi David Goldstein was born and raised in South Florida. He attended yeshiva and university in Israel and New York, receiving his ordination in 1978. At that time he became a chaplain for the Federal Correctional Institution in Miami and then accepted the interim pulpit at Temple Beth Orr in Coral Springs. He has served as rabbi at several congregations including Temple Beth Torah in Holliston, Mass., Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center in Staten Island, Temple Beth David and Congregation Shir Hadash in Palm Beach Gardens, and most recently Gomley Chesed Congregation in Portsmouth, Va.
During his time in Massachusetts and Florida, he also served as a volunteer chaplain for several police agencies and hospitals. Throughout his career he has been devoted to advancing Jewish education, serving on the board of the International Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education, as well as helping to plan and coordinate several of its annual conferences. He has chaired and co-chaired the educational program committees of three conferences, Shabbat programs, and served as registration chair for several years.
Rabbi Goldstein has been married twice and is currently a widower. He is the middle of three children with two sisters residing in Portland, Ore., and North Palm Beach. Rabbi Goldstein has led numerous tours to Israel, where his niece Naomi resides. He is a member of the Palm Beach County Board of Rabbis and has served several years on its executive committee, as well as teaching and organizing its Introduction to Judaism courses in the past. Rabbi Goldstein is happy to now be residing in Lakeland with his rescue dog Nico!
Member since: 1965
Grew up: Born in Youngstown, Ohio, and lived there about six years until my family moved to Florida. Then I grew up in Lakeland.
Occupation: Registered nurse – medical auditor and legal nurse consultant.
Children/grandchildren: Fur child Shirley,
Interests/hobbies: Theater, Temple Emanuel
Member for: 10 years
Grew up: Upstate New York
Occupation: I was in the consumer electronics industry for over 40 years, including the division vice president of Sharp Electronics USA, vice president and general manager for JVC magnetic tape products.
Children/grandchildren: 2 adult children, and 3 grandchildren
Interests/hobbies: Golf and my wife Arlene
Member since: 1973
Grew up: in Northern Minnesota
Occupation: Former Executive Director of the Lakeland Community Theater. Presently works in husband Ira’s law office.
Family: Married to husband Ira for 48 years. Two sons: Ben & Jon , four grandchildren: Miriam, Zachary, Ellie, and Hannah.
Interests: Theater, volunteering and travel
Member for: 8 years since returning from Orange County, CA, but probably 15 years total
Grew up: Born in Chicago, but grew up in Miami Beach
Occupation: Retired Physician (Otolaryngologist/ Head & Neck Surgeon); later, Medical Business Consulting
Children/grandchildren: 3 daughters: Deborah Lynne, Lauren Andrea, Julie Nicole. 4 grandchildren: Miranda Kate, and Elliott Rhys, Richmond, VA; Daniel Allen, and Mila Adriana, Lakeland, FL
Interests/hobbies: Stock market and investing; exercise, travel, reading, my children and grandchildren, keeping our country free.
Organizational activities: (1) Communications director Miami Beach High Class of 1958, (2) Board Member Winter Haven 9-12 Project, (3) Board Member B’nai B’rith Lodger 1515
Member since: 1980
Grew up:Great Neck, Long Island, N.Y.
Occupation: Retired; previously a commercial banking loan officer in Chicago and a financial consultant for a phosphate company in Bartow
Children/grandchildren: Jessica, and Jeffrey. Both live and work in New York City.
Interests/hobbies: Travel, reading, baking, volunteer work, theater/arts/architecture, time spent with friends and family
Other: Married to husband, Brian, for 46 years
Member since: 1980
Grew up: in Lakeland, about 3 blocks from the Temple
Occupation: Attorney specializing in insurance subrogation
Children/grandchildren: none that he knows of!
Hobbies/interests: racquetball, ice hockey, college football, and playing poker
Member since: 1972
Grew up: Miami
Occupation: Retired educator. I taught a total of 37 years (Chorus 9 years, English / Reading 28 years).
Children/grandchildren: Dane Scott , Joseph Blocher , Charles Blocher , David Blocher , Jyssica Scott Schwartz . Grandchildren: Dane’s: Marisol, Makai.
Interests/hobbies:Reading, cooking, volunteering, writing, and editing/proofreading
Member for: 20 years
Grew up:
Occupation:
Children/grandchildren: Melody and Alex
Interests/hobbies:
Member since: 1999
Grew up: in Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Associate Professor of English, Florida Southern College, specializing in early modern English Literature (Shakespeare!) and writing. Also the archivist for the Temple Emanuel Archive and a Sunday School teacher (who would have thought?).
Family: Married to husband Michael for 25 years. Two children: Tilly 19 & Manny 15; cat Mailbox is about 6 or 7 (we’re not sure—she was a rescue).
Interests: Southern Jewish History, old stuff, volunteering, crafts, transcribing early modern handwriting, oral history and travel.
Member since: 1975
Grew up: Lakeland
Occupation: Owner of Nathan’s Men’s Store
Children/grandchildren: Kevin Estroff, Greg Estroff and Erica Woodruff. Grandchildren: Jake Estroff , Max Estroff , Lyla Woodruff , Kyle Woodruff , Bradley Woodruff , and Hallie Woodruff .
Member for: 38 Years. I Was raised in the Temple
Grew up: My family moved to Lakeland when I was two. They were members of Temple Emanuel. I frequently attended services and went to Sunday and Hebrew Schools at Temple Emanuel. I left Lakeland to attend college. I returned to Lakeland in 1972 and became a member with my ex-husband.
Occupation: I retired twice from the Clerk of Court, my last time being in 2015. My last job title was Victim Assistant in the Domestic Violence Department. During my working years I was a Support Enforcement Counselor, Social Worker, and Family Law Mediator.
Children/Grandchildren: I have two married children Michelle Oliver, and Jason Dougherty. I have 4 grandchildren and one step-grandson age. I have a fur baby Zippy.
Interests: Travel, local politics, health and family issues
Grew Up: New York
Member for:
Occupation: Retired Pediatrician
Children/grandchildren: sons Aaron and Joel Leviten, and daughter Sara Wilson. 4 Grandchildren
Interests/hobbies: Music, Reading, Cooking
Member for: 6 years
Grew up: Long Beach, Long Island, N.Y.
Occupation: Senior financial analyst in New York and tax and securities attorney in Florida, Maryland and Washington state
Children/grandchildren: Children Gregory, Alex and Aimee; granddaughter Annabel; great nephew Cobalt
Interests/hobbies: History of art and being a modern artist. I’m intrigued by archaeology, physics, and cosmology.
Member for: 18 years
Grew up: Atlanta, Georgia
Occupation: HR Manager
Children/grandchildren: 2 two-legged children (1 daughter, 1 son) and 2 four-legged children (labradoodles)
Hobbies/interests: Reading, playing tennis, traveling and watching my children’s sporting events
Member for: 11 (ish) years
Grew up: Berkeley Heights, NJ
Occupation: Marriage and family therapist
Children/grandchildren: Ben, and Kassie
Interests/hobbies: I like traveling, going to the movies, being outdoors, exercising, horseback riding, being with friends, health/nutrition, chocolate and coffee. I’m interested in development, relationships, improvement, behavior, helping.
Member since: 2015
Grew up: on Long Island NY
Occupation: Worked for a local newspaper before moving to Florida to raise her family
Children: Kayla and Kyle
Member for: Around 9 years
Grew up: Hollywood, Florida
Occupation: Shareholder of CPS Investment Advisors, Lakeland FL.
Family: Married 16 years to Nyrka and we have a daughter Anya.
Interests/hobbies: Travel, being outdoors, golf, playing sports
