Rabbi Shmuel Goldin served as the Spiritual Leader of Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, New Jersey, one of the largest and most prominent synagogues in North America, for 33 years. He continues to serve as that Congregation’s Rabbi Emeritus. Prior to his position in Englewood, Rabbi Goldin served as the Rabbi of Beth Sholom Congregation in Potomac, Maryland and as an Assistant Rabbi at Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills, California.
While actively serving his Englewood congregation, Rabbi Goldin taught Bible and Philosophy at Yeshiva University. He also led countless missions to Israel during difficult times, including two “Rallies in Israel,” each of which brought well over 500 participants from across America to Israel during the second intifada.
Rabbi Goldin is the author of a popular five-book set of commentary on the parsha, “Unlocking the Torah Text” and “Unlocking the Haggada,” which has enriched many Pesach Sedarim since its publication 2019. All of these works have garnered significant critical and popular acclaim. More recently, he co-edited the new HaMadrikh, Rabbi’s Guide, under the sponsorship of the Rabbinical Council of America. He is currently working on a new volume concerning the cycle of the Jewish year.
Rabbi Goldin served for two terms as President of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), the world’s largest association of Orthodox rabbis and as past Chairman of its Gerus Oversight Committee, overseeing the policies and standards for conversion to Judaism. He has occupied leadership positions in countless other communal organizations and has received many honors, accolades and awards for his decades of service to the Jewish community both in America and Israel. In recognition of his contributions, Rabbi Goldin has been included in lists of the most influential Jewish American leaders published by Newsweek Magazine, The Forward, and other periodicals.
In addition to the numerous awards presented to Rabbi Goldin by his own congregation upon his retirement from the Synagogue; the City of Englewood honored him for his years of dedicated service to the broader community by renaming the street upon which the synagogue stands “Rabbi Goldin Way.”
Since coming on aliya in 2017 with his wife, Barbara; Rabbi Goldin has continued to lecture, write and teach in a wide variety of settings. He is currently working on a new volume concerning the cycle of the Jewish Year.