Rabbi Lois Ruderman
Rabbi Ruderman comes to Perrineville Jewish Center after serving independent, egalitarian synagogues throughout New Jersey where she developed a range of fascinating programs that will lay the groundwork for exciting new offerings.
Rabbi Ruderman was ordained by the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York, a leading pluralistic seminary rich with tradition and contemporary dynamism. She calls herself a ‘singing rabbi’ and enjoys bringing to her congregants beautiful prayer music composed in recent years.
Rabbi Ruderman’s approach to the spirituality of worship is to impact the heart – to inspire, uplift the spirit, bring comfort and familiarity, all the while, enhancing a meaningful connection to a refreshed, modern Judaism.
Rabbi Ruderman has hands-on artistic talents which she uses to lead workshops on handcrafting Mezuzot cases and Tallitot. Perhaps you’ll also join her in paper-collage Torah study! Join us and Rabbi Ruderman for lively discussions around the Shabbat lunch table, for summertime “Shabbat Under the Stars” and for a host of Sunday afternoon programming!
Rabbi Emeritus Sheldon Schevelowitz
Rabbi Sheldon Schevelowitz was raised in Maspeth, New York and led the congregation at PJC from September 1989, retiring to Emeritus in June 2024. Rabbi Schevelowitz is a graduate of The Talmudical Academy Bet Aaron, receiving his rabbinical ordination in 1973. He also received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Bernard Baruch College, in addition to a Computer Technology Certificate of Study from New York University.
Rabbi Schevelowitz began his teaching career in 1969 as a Hebrew school teacher in Maspeth, NY. He spent several years living and working in Israel as well as several years in the Kosher Supervision field covering all of Long Island, New York. He has an extensive Chaplaincy background, was assistant Chaplain at the New York Hospital as well as the New Jersey Department of Corrections. He is certified to teach several behavioral and life skills courses by the State of New Jersey.
Cantor Susan Cohen DeStefano
"Most of my friends and relations seem to remember me as always singing. The truth is that, as a young child, I hardly sang at all. My mother, Jo Cohen, had a remarkable dramatic soprano voice – and could accompany herself beautifully on the piano. Reasoning that if you couldn’t sing like Mom, you might as well not sing, I just didn’t. But one day, my first-grade teacher asked for volunteers to entertain the class. For reasons unknown, I raised my hand – and sang “Over the Rainbow” (how I learned the words is still a mystery). “Just like Judy Garland!” everyone said. Did I run home and tell Mom? Nope.
When Mom came home from the next Parent-Teacher conference, she decided we should have a serious discussion. “Mrs. Weintraub tells me that you sing. Do you sing?” So I chirped away: “Some-where! over the rainbow, way up high….” “You do sing!” Mom exclaimed, “Want to sing something else?” And from her piano bench, she brought out “Getting to Know You” – thus doubling my repertoire.
In high school and college I became a choral soloist and section leader. The Sarah Lawrence College Touring Chorus performed at major music festivals in Europe, Israel and the former Soviet Union. Sarah Lawrence also introduced me to Balkan dance and music, for which I developed a lifelong love. I continued to study voice, which kept me from going off the deep end while I pursued a law degree and a full-time career in labor relations, and I performed featured roles with several local opera workshops. I also studied privately for the cantorate; from 1989 until 2010, I served Reform Jewish congregations in the New York metro area as a cantorial soloist – and still chant services at the High Holy Days."