A native New Yorker, Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman was installed in March of 2012 as President of the New York Board of Rabbis.  She is the first woman in the 131-year-history of the organization to hold this position. Rabbi Goodman has long been a leader in the community, outspokenly fighting to protect women’s reproductive rights and health care, and advocating for marriage equality in New York State.  For her advocacy in social justice, the New York Board of Rabbis awarded her the Rabbi Israel and Libby Moshowitz Prize, named after the great rabbinic fighter for social justice.  Currently Rabbi Goodman is an active participant the Reform Jewish Voice of New York State, and the Clergy Advisory Board of Concerned Clergy for Choice in Albany.  She also received the Zagelbaum Award in Chaplaincy, primarily for her work on behalf of our city in the wake of 9/11.  She also has just joined the Board of Trustees of UJA-Federation of New York.

Ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, Rabbi Goodman was the first woman to serve on the rabbinic staff of Temple Emanu-El of New York, and went on from there to serve as Rabbi of the Nassau Community Temple of West Hempstead and Hillel Director and Jewish Chaplain at Adelphi University.   She also has served on the Jewish Studies faculties of Molloy College and New York Theological Seminary.  She has served on the Board of Trustees of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and also on the CCAR’s Committee on Jewish Sexual Values and Resolutions Committee, and has served  as the New York Regional Representative for the Women’s Rabbinic Network.  Rabbi Goodman also holds an M.A. in Hebrew Literature and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hebrew Union College.  She has served as our Rabbi here at Union Temple since 1992. 

Student Cantor Lauren Phillips is a cherished member of our Union Temple family. Lauren is currently a fourth year student at the School of Sacred Music of Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. Before coming to Union Temple, she served as Student Cantor of the Port Jewish Center in Port Washington, NY. Lauren graduated from Tufts University with a major in Music and a minor in Communications and Media Students. She also holds an MM in Vocal Performance from The Boston Conservatory. She has won numerous vocal competitions and awards, and has put together an impressive array of roles in opera and musical theater. In May of 2006, Lauren made her Lincoln Center debut as a featured soloist in a Gala Concert at Alice Tully Hall with the Zamir Choral Foundation. Other notable concert appearances include solo recitals with the “Fridays at Noon” series at Manhattan’s 92nd Street Y and the “Sundays@3” series with the Great Neck Park District; the soprano solos in the Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island's touring revue show; a Gala Chanukah Concert at Congregation Mishkan Tefila in Chestnut Hill, MA; and the soprano solos in Handel’s Messiah with the Long Island

Choral Society. Favorite stage credits include the title role in Princess Ida, Lucy Brown in Weill’s The Threepenny Opera, Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel, Laetitia in Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief, and Mrs. Nordstrom in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. With a gorgeous soprano voice and sweet personality, Lauren holds great promise in the Cantorate, and we are blessed to have her with us.