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: Two fur children, Sadie and Shirley, age 13
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: Children, 45 and 42; grandchildren 9, 7, 4.
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 47 years. Two sons: Ben 40 & Jon 35, four grandchildren: Miriam 6, Zachary 3, Ellie 3, and Hannah 1-1/2.
Interests: theatre, 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. Previously, Physician (Otolaryngologist/ Head & Neck Surgeon); later, Medical Business Consulting
Children/grandchildren: 3 daughters: Deborah Lynne age 54, Lauren Andrea 47, Julie Nicole age 39. 4 grandchildren: Miranda Kate, age 11 and Elliott Rhys age 6 Richmond, VA; Daniel Allen 4 1/12, and Mila Adriana age 4 1/2 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: 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: 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, 36, and Jeffrey, 33. Both live and work in New York City.
Interests/hobbies: Travel, reading, baking, volunteer work, theatre/arts/architecture, time spent with friends and family
Other: Married to husband, Brian, for 45 years
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 39, Joseph Blocher 37, Charles Blocher 34, David Blocher 32, Jyssica Scott Schwartz 32. Grandchildren: Dane’s: Marisol 11, Makai, 8.
Interests/hobbies:Reading, cooking, volunteering, writing, and editing/proofreading
Member for: 20 years
Grew up: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: Physician
Children/grandchildren: Melody19, and Alex 17
Interests/hobbies: Music
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 12, Max Estroff 9, Lyla Woodruff 7, Kyle Woodruff 6, Bradley Woodruff 3, and Hallie Woodruff 1.
Member for: About 18 years. We joined after Temple Emanuel became egalitarian.
Grew up: Atlanta, where my mom is still an active member of Ahavath Achim, a large Conservative congregation
Occupation: Editor and publisher of LkldNow.com. Before that, I was a newspaper editor in Tampa and Lakeland for 37 years.
Children/grandchildren: Daughters are Laurel and Amelia. Granddaughters are Adira of blessed memory and Ela.
Interests/hobbies: Hiking, biking, reading, convertible driving, music, reading, yoga
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 47, and Jason Dougherty 42. I have 4 grandchildren ages 21,17,15,11 and one step-grandson age 15. I have a fur baby Zippy 13.
Interests: travel, local politics, health and family issues
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: 10 (ish) years
Grew up: Berkeley Heights, NJ
Occupation: Marriage and family therapist
Children/grandchildren: Ben 9, and Kassie 6
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 for: 42 years
Occupation: Before retirement, I was the elected Clerk of Courts and County Comptroller
Children/grandchildren: Son, Stephen Weiss 44 and daughter, Alisha Stephens 40. Grandchildren: Kaylee Weiss 12; Ellery Weiss 9; and twins Paige and Savannah Stephens 7
Interests/hobbies: Saltwater aquariums, fishing, travel, boating, time with family
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 19 and Kyle 16
Member for: Around eight years
Grew up: Hollywood, Fla.
Occupation: Shareholder of CPS Investment Advisors, Lakeland FL.
Family: Married 15 years to Nyrka and we have a daughter Anya 9.
Interests/hobbies: Travel, being outdoors, golf, playing sports
