Hometown: Kew Garden Hills, New York
Spouse's Name: Jordana
Favorite Part of Beth Jacob: The Friendly and Welcoming Atmosphere
Favorite Website: vbm-torah.org and ted.com
Favorite Books (s): The Tipping Point and Man's Search for Meaning
I will retire and live in...: Eretz Yisroel
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Rabbi Kalman Topp - Senior Rabbi
Prior to joining Beth Jacob as Senior Rabbi in August 2009, Rabbi Kalman Topp served as a Rabbi in the Young Israel of Woodmere, a thriving Centrist Orthodox congregation in Woodmere, New York.During his tenure at Young Israel of Woodmere which began as Assistant Rabbi, Rabbi Topp, working in partnership with Rabbi Hershel Billet, led the shul to a growth of more than 200 new families to reach a membership of close to 950 families. Rabbi Topp also taught widely in the Five Towns-New York area and lectured at the Ateret Seminary, located on the Queens College campus. In May 2008, he was appointed by the Nassau County Legislature to serve as a Human Rights Commissioner in Nassau County on a multi-racial commission that investigates human rights complaints, promotes tolerance and fights all types of discrimination in the county.
After growing up in Kew Gardens Hills, NY, Rabbi Topp studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush) for two years and then returned to Yeshiva University where he attended the Sy Syms School of Business graduating as valedictorian. As part of the Gesher program which attempts to bridge the business worlds of the U.S.A. and Israel, Rabbi Topp worked in the finance department for Osem Foods International in Petach Tikvah, Israel.
After spending a year as a learning madrich for the inaugural year of Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim, he received his ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (Yeshiva University) and earned a Masters degree in secondary education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education.
With a passion for teaching Torah, Rabbi Topp has been a teacher of Jewish studies at the Frisch School (Bergen County, NJ), Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaways (Long Island, NY) and in the Beis Medrash of Bergen County. Prior to his post in Woodmere, Rabbi Topp had the privilege to serve as Rabbi at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.Rabbi Topp was a member of the Vaad Hakashrus of the Five Towns and also served on the Board of Education at the Shulamith School of Long Island. He is currently on the Executive Board of the Rabbinical Council of America and serves on a subcommittee dealing with agunot and recalcitrant spouses. Rabbi Topp has contributed articles to numerous journals and books including a chapter in a book released by Artscroll on Character Values.Rabbi Topp and his wife, Dr. Jordana, are blessed with 5 children: Rachelli, Tzippora, Ayelet, Yakira and Aharon.
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