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. Majority of work centers around performing revenue integrity audits for health care institutions.
Children/grandchildren: Two fur children, Sadie and Shirley, age 12
Interests/hobbies: Theater, Temple Emanuel
Member for: 10 years
Grew up: Upstate New York
Occupation: I was in the consumer electronics industry, former division vice president of Sharp Electronics
Children/grandchildren: Children, 44 and 41; grandchildren 8, 6, 3.
Interests/hobbies: Golf and my wife Arlene
Member since: 1973
Grew up: in Northern Minnesota
Occupation: Former Executive Director of the Lakeland Community Theater
Children/grandchildren: 2 grown sons and 4 grandchildren.
Member for: 6 years
Grew up: Lowell, Mass.
Occupation: Owned an insurance agency in Westford, Mass. Now working part time at Heath Funeral Home. Active in Rotary, SCORE, and Temple Emanuel
Children/grandchildren: Sons Jeffrey, 48, and Aaron 45; 8 grands and 6 ‘bonus’ grands, ranging in age from 7 to 20
Interests/hobbies: Reading, movies, working out, Rotary, and travel
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, 35, and Jeffrey, 32. 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 44 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, 38, Joseph Blocher 35, Charles Blocher, 33, David Blocher, 31, Jyssica Scott Schwartz 31, Grandchildren: Dane’s: Marisol 10, Makai, 7
Interests/hobbies:Reading, cooking, volunteering, editing/proofreading
Member for: 20 years
Grew up: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: Physician
Children/grandchildren: Melody, 18, and Alex, 16
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, 11, Max Estroff, 8, Lyla Woodruff, 6, Kyle Woodruff, 5, and Bradley Woodruff, 2.
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: Lakeland, born and raised.
Occupation:Administrative assistant for Baylis & Company PA
Children/grandchildren: I have a 17-year-old stepdaughter, Lydia, and two boxer fur children, Brisket, 6, and Whiskey, 2.
Interests/hobbies: Traveling with my husband, sports, playing softball, my dogs, being outdoors and spending time with my family
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: 10 (ish) years
Grew up: Berkeley Heights, NJ
Occupation: Marriage and family therapist
Children/grandchildren: Ben, 8, and Kassie, 5
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, 43; daughter, Alisha Stephens, 39; grandchildren, Kaylee Weiss, 11; Ellery Weiss, 8; Paige Stephens, 6; Savannah Stephens, 6
Interests/hobbies: Saltwater aquariums, fishing, travel, boating, time with family
Member since: about 1987
Grew up: Ohio
Occupation: Construction engineer, supervisor of maintenance for a school district.
Children/grandchildren: Daughter Beth and her children, Brian and Emily; deceased son Marc and his children Tracy, Sam and Judy; Scott and his children, Nathan and Rachel
Interests/hobbies: Temple Emanuel, Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In, music
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 18 and Kyle 15
Member for: Around eight years
Grew up: Hollywood, Fla.
Occupation:I’m a personal financial specialist helping families and businesses achieve and maintain financial independence.
Children/grandchildren: Daughter Anya Riskin, 8
Interests/hobbies: Travel, being outdoors, golf, playing sports
