CLERGY
Rabbi Yaron Kapitulnik
Rabbi Yaron Kapitulnik serves as senior rabbi of Temple Judea, the congregation where he began his career in 2010. As the congregation's leader, Rabbi Yaron works to create a community where each member is inspired to lead a richer Jewish life, be it through joyous worship, thoughtful learning experiences, a social connection over a cup of coffee, or empathetic pastoral care.
Rabbi Kapitulnik graduated and was ordained in 2010 from the New York campus of Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion where he was selected as a participant in the Bonnie and Daniel Tisch Rabbinic Fellows Program which identifies exceptional rabbis who have the ability to lead and transform synagogues and other Jewish communal institutions. Rabbi Kapitulnik is a graduate of Hebrew University in Jerusalem where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Geography with a major in Education and has a diverse background including serving as a paratrooper and paramedic in the Israeli Armed Forces, graduating from Israel's Ministry of Tourism School and serving as an Environmental Guide in Ein Gedi.
Rabbi Kapitulnik has four children, twin girls, Roni & Tom, Danielle and Yonatan. He is a runner, avid chess player, reader, and chef.
Cantor Abbie Strauss
Cantor Abbie Strauss serves as the Cantor of Temple Judea. As a temple, we feel blessed to welcome her and be uplifted by her voice, personality and musical vision. When Abbie sings it is a beautiful combination of her musical talents, and a glimpse into her soul, which transforms the words she sings into inspiration.
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Abbie earned her BS from Indiana University and has a Master of Education from SB University in St. Louis, Missouri. She has also studied at the Pardes Institute of Jewish studies in Jerusalem and received her Cantor's certification from the Cantors Assembly.
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Prior to coming to Temple Judea, Abbie served as the cantorial soloist of Temple Israel in Memphis, Tennessee. During that time, Abbie served as a full clergy partner – leading all worship services as well as participating in the pastoral and lifecycle needs of her members. Abbie has over a decade of experience as a professional musician. She is classically trained in vocals, is a singer/songwriter, and has a background in piano, guitar, and saxophone. She has sung at Carnegie Hall as well as performed at NBA games! She is the founder of The Institute of Jewish Rock and a familiar and sought-after musician in the Jewish music scene.
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Abbie is married to Rabbi Feivel Strauss and together they have three children, Joseph (11), Eden (9) and Elijah (4). In her personal time, Abbie likes to run and enjoy the outdoors!
RABBI FEIVEL STRAUSS
Rabbi Feivel Strauss serves as the Associate Rabbi of Temple Judea beginning June 1, 2020. Rabbi Feivel will support Rabbi Yaron in building a richer Jewish community, officiating at life cycle events and providing pastoral care. He will also oversee our adult and youth education programs as well as our social justice and social action initiatives.
Rabbi Feivel earned his BA and MA from Bar Ilan University in Israel and was ordained by the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem in 2011. Prior to coming to Temple Judea, he served as a Rabbi and Senior Educator at Temple Israel in Memphis, Tennessee. He has also served as a rabbi of Hillel at The Ohio State University and as Director of Jewish Life at Emery Weiner school in Houston and has experience from several other prominent organizations.
Rabbi Feivel is a Boca Raton native. He moved to Israel after high school, served in the IDF, and remained in Israel for 15 years. He is fluent in Hebrew and has played guitar for 20+ years. He is married to Temple Judea’s cantor, Abbie and together they have three children, Joseph (11), Eden (9) and Elijah (4). In his personal time, Feivel loves to play tennis, grill dinner for his friends and family, and is learning to play the piano.
RABBI ROSE DURBIN
Rabbi Rose Durbin ("Rabbi Rose") grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, where she learned the value of authentic friendliness and inclusion in forming meaningful Jewish community. Rabbi Rose took the mitzvah "love the stranger, for you were once strangers" to heart from an early age. She has always prioritized tikkun olam (healing our world) and tzedakah as an essential part of her Jewish identity, beginning by serving as a unit head at Camp Jenny during her youth group days. She continued volunteering regularly throughout her time at Brown University, mentoring a local student as a "big sister" each week. During her her rabbinical student days in New York (as a classmate of Rabbi Yaron!), she served as an educator at the weekly HUC Soup Kitchen, and she helped build latrines in Senegal as part of an AJWS delegation.
Following her ordination, she became the rabbi of historic Knesseth Israel Synagogue in Gloversville, NY, and empowered the community to begin volunteering at local soup kitchens. Rabbi Rose has extensive leadership experience working with young adults, most recently serving for five years as the Campus Rabbi for Florida Atlantic University Hillel, where she taught classes such as "Civic Involvement and Activism: a Jewish obligation," and led several "Mitzvote" campaigns encouraging students to vote. Her favorite effort towards tikkun olam has been dancing as a "Martin County Star" in front of 600 people while 6 months pregnant, and raising $15,000 for prenatal care in Martin County. These days, you can find Rabbi Rose reguarly calling her elected officials and asking them to ban assault rifles and provide safe reproductive care and anti-Racism education in public schools. Rabbi Rose lives in Palm City with her husband, Rabbi Matthew Durbin (Temple Beit HaYam), their opinionated and spirited daughters, Delilah, Maya and Ellie, and energetic goldendoodle Ruby. In her free time, she is a voracious reader, rollerblader, new Peloton rider, and binge watcher of the Bachelorette, Schitt's Creek, and everything non-violent that's trending on Netflix. Rabbi Rose is very happy to be back at Temple Judea to work with this amazing community and inspiring profesional team!
Rabbi Joel Levine
Rabbi Emeritus
I am honored to have served as the rabbi of this unique, Reform, post-denominational congregation that embraces spirituality, Torah, and the mitzvot of acts of loving kindness.
In September 2016 I became Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Judea and along with my wife, Susan, became an official "sandbird" when we moved to Los Angeles, California.
For those of you who are new to Temple Judea, and whom I didn't get a chance to meet, I welcome you to your new home and know you will love it. For those of you that I had the chance to minister to, thank you for allowing me to be an important part of your lives. It was a blessing.
I hope you will take a minute to view my "REFLECTIONS ON TEMPLE JUDEA" video below.
Rabbi Joel Levine
"The best preacher is the heart; the best teacher is time; the best book is the world; the best friend is God." - Talmud