About Andy

A native New Yorker, a teacher, a really proud Dad, and a Rabbi, Andy considers it a privilege of the highest order to accompany others on their journeys through the most intimate moments of Jewish life. Whether officiating marriages, baby namings, b'nei mitzvah, or funerals, Andy cherishes the opportunity to weave Jewish tradition and blessing into highly personal and engaging experiences.

Since 2015, Andy has served as the Rabbi of the Jewish Center of Northwest Jersey. He also teaches Adult Torah study at Manhattan's Congregation Emanu-el, as well as maintaining an active private teaching schedule with students of all ages in Jewish Studies, B'nei Mitzvah preparation, and Hebrew Language. Andy is also trained in Pre-Marital Couples Counseling. 

Prior to Rabbinical ordination, Andy enjoyed a 20-year career as an educator at some of the nation's most prestigious private boarding and day schools (St. Paul's School, Northfield Mount Hermon, Philips Exeter Academy and Trinity School). As well, he served as Dean of Students at two Jewish schools (Gann Academy in Massachusetts and American Hebrew Academy in North Carolina). He spent four summers as a Head-of-Tour for NFTY in Israel, which led to a position at the Union for Reform Judaism as Director of College Education and Founding Director of the Meitav Fellowship for Teen Leadership. 

After graduating with honors as a Religious Studies major from Amherst College in 1988, Andy earned master's (1991) and doctorate (2007) degrees from the Department of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages of The Jewish Theological Seminary, and was ordained as a rabbi by Hebrew Union College in 2014. 

A father of four (truly amazing) adult children and a spectacular grand-dog, Andy lives in New York City.