Clergy

                         Rabbi David J. Lerner

Rabbi David J. Lerner received ordination in 2020 from the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he concentrated his studies in Talmud and Rabbinics. During his tenure at the Seminary, he received the prestigious Cyrus Adler Prize for academic excellence as well as the Rabbi Ben Zion Bergman Prize for Scholastic Achievements in Talmudic Studies. 

Prior to seminary, Rabbi Lerner attended the University of Michigan and Wayne State University of Detroit where he was pre-med and received a BS in Biological Sciences. While he did not pursue the path of medicine, he told his mother that he wished to be a different type of healer...

Rabbi Lerner was heavily involved in Jewish communal work even before ordination. He served as Director of Youth and Young Adult Programming at Congregation Shaarey Zedek and ritual leader and teacher at the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in his native Detroit. He worked for Beth Tzedec Congregation in Toronto (the largest Conservative synagogue in North America) focusing on young family engagement. He also sat on the board of the Jewish Family Service and various community youth and young professional committees, and has done private tutoring in all areas of Judaics. 

Rabbi Lerner has continued his passion for community relations and Jewish leadership in his role as rabbi of Congregation B'nai Sholom-Beth David. In addition to spearheading new programs and engagement initiatives at the temple, Rabbi Lerner serves as chaplain of the Rockville Centre Fire Department, delivers benedictions and prayers at many village events, and is engaged with various organizations and political leaders to promote Israel advocacy and to fight against antisemitism. He is also frequently featured in local and national media outlets, and you can read about his work and that of his community most frequently in the Rockville Centre Herald.

Rabbi Lerner lives with his wife, Rebbetzin Dr. Alexis Lerner, who is a distinguished Assistant Professor of Political Science at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, and their three beautiful children, Magda Rose, Levi, and Goldie. Rabbi Lerner loves learning and teaching Torah, connecting with community, and spending time with his family.  He is passionate about  deepening relationships and sharing his spirit and Torah with the B’nai Sholom-Beth David community and beyond.

Cantor Alexandra Weiser

Cantor Xan Weiser is a lyric soprano whose work as a Cantor and concert soloist has taken her across the country and around the world.  As a member of the Cantor’s Assembly, she is currently engaged in continued professional development at the Academy for Jewish Religion. Brandeis University is her alma mater, where she received academic Magna Cum Laude honors studying psychology, classical music, theater, and Hebrew as a second language. Cantor Weiser’s vocal training includes Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute and the Metropolitan Opera’s Bel Canto Institute where she was selected to train in Florence, Italy as one of 20 emerging singers globally. Her evolution into the role of Cantor came naturally, as she has always been excited by the capacity of music to fuse mind, body, community and heritage.

Cantor Weiser brings depth and breadth of Jewish understanding and musical sensibility to her work. She also calls on an expansive creative and executive skill set in theater as a producer, dramaturg, and life-long performer. Her background in theater (MFA: Columbia University’s School of the Arts) gives her a unique perspective on using music and storytelling as one of the many ways to empower others. At Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David, Cantor Weiser brings her special creative flair to exciting community events (e.g. “Jewish Composers Night” and “Yiddishkeit Night),” organizing trips to Broadway, and collaborating on programs with local Cantors. 

Cantor Weiser is proud to have served both Reform and Conservative egalitarian congregations across North America and is honored to be Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David’s first female Cantor. She and her husband Jared live on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and recently welcomed baby Emmett. 

IN MEMORIAM

Richard Perlbinder – Ritual Director

1955 - 2024

Richard Perlbinder, the Ritual Director (Shammes) of Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David since 2000, is responsible for leading daily minyanim, chanting from Torah in the course of services and reading from the Megillah when called on. He understands the Hebrew of the Torah and has been chanting now for many years so he can chant quickly and accurately with comprehension of the text. Anyone who hears him is awed by his fluency.

Richard was born in Brooklyn and raised in Valley Stream, and by his own accounts, spent two pivotal years, 1968 and 1969, at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. His education includes a short time at HILI in Far Rockaway, several years at the Hebrew High School of the Five Towns, Prozdor, Cornell College of ILR, and Stony Brook. Before going to university Richard traveled to Israel for five months in 1973 and spent a year in Israel 1979-1980, traveling and working on a kibbutz. He was active as a Zionist progressive during his student years. As a lover of Israel and its people, Richard supports Israel’s founding ideals.