Daniel Schaefer
Rabbi
Rabbi Daniel Schaefer is a graduate of the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College, where he earned his M.A. in Jewish Studies. Prior to joining Mishkan Israel, Daniel served as the Interim Director for Jewish at Life at Georgetown University and the Assistant Rabbi at Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, MA.
Daniel grew up in Cheshire, Connecticut before attending Stanford University, where he studied History and Jewish Studies. His award-winning honors thesis, American Judaism Reconsidered: Religion & Nationalism in the Thought of Irving Reichert, explored visions of American Judaism before World War II. At Hebrew College, his capstone project, The Way of the Wilderness, focused on connections between nature and Torah in the book of Numbers.
After college, Daniel worked as an entrepreneur and ghostwriter, taught at a wilderness school, and served in AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps, before returning to rabbinical school. In addition to Hebrew College, he studied at Mechon Hadar, the Hartman Institute, the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Hebrew Union College.
He is passionate about Torah study, experiential learning, spiritual exploration, and building multi-generational Jewish community. In his free time, he loves spending time hiking with his dog Ruby and cheering on the Boston Celtics.
Arthur Giglio
Cantor
Cantor Arthur Giglio is a graduate of the H.L. Miller Cantorial School at The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) with a Master of Sacred Music and Diploma of Hazzan. He also holds a Bachelor in Voice and a Master in Music Education from Manhattan School of Music. Prior to coming to CMI, Cantor Giglio served as Interim Cantor at the Conservative Synagogue of Fifth Avenue, High Holiday Hazzan at Heichal Baoranim in Flagstaff, AZ and Temple Beth Israel at Plattsburgh, NY, and Assistant Cantor/Cantorial Soloist at Congregation Emanu-el of the City of New York.
Herbert N. Brockman
Rabbi Emeritus
Herbert N. Brockman is a seventh-generation rabbi. Raised in a richly Orthodox home, he chose the liberal tradition of Reform Judaism. After graduating from Ohio University, Rabbi Brockman attended Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, where he received both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Hebrew Letters. He received his Ph.D. from the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary and University of Baltimore. Upon completion of 25 years in the rabbinate, Rabbi Brockman was awarded the Doctor of Divinity from Hebrew Union College. He also is certified in divorce mediation.
Rabbi Brockman teaches and engages in community projects, and he has been at the forefront of interfaith and justice work, not only in New Haven, but also nationally and internationally. He serves on the board of Interfaith Cooperative Ministeries and Hartford Seminary, and teaches at Yale Divinity School. He has been described as a champion of compassion and justice. Rabbi Brockman describes the synagogue as being a spiritual home as well as a place where individuals can learn about and gain an appreciation of other peoples, cultures, and traditions. He views involvement in the community as central to the synagogue’s mission. “A temple exists to serve its members, first of all, but it should be a light to the community as well.”
Steven Jacober
Executive DIRECTOR
Steven Jacober brings extensive experience in leading both nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies to CMI. He has served on numerous synagogues’, Jewish community, and nonprofit-business Boards of Directors. In his role as a business leader, he has appeared on CNN and Good Morning America, was quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and numerous local and international newspapers.
Steve’s interest and hobbies include Family, reading, genealogy, history, foreign languages, New York Times crossword puzzles, travelling, and The Ohio State University football team. Go Bucks!
Steve is a graduate of Providence College and earned graduate degrees (an M.A. and M.Phil.) in Hebrew Bible from Columbia University. He and his wife Beth have four adult children and two beloved grandchildren.
Steve can be reached by calling the office 203-288-3877 or sjacober@cmihamden.org
Michelle Goldstein
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DIRECTOR
Michelle Goldstein earned a BA in English and a BS in Elementary/Special Education from the University of Hartford and a Master's of Education from the University of Phoenix. In addition to being CMI’s Religious School Director, she is a special education teacher in a local school system. She has been a program director at several summer camps, a youth group advisor, and long time teacher in CMI’s Religious School. Michelle’s love of children and youth of all ages is a lifelong passion. Her energy, enthusiasm, creativity and love of Judaism can be seen in all her work. She is proud to have been a child of the Congregation and transmit that same pride to children and adults alike.
Jennifer Verrier, M.Ed.
EARLY CHILDHOOD DIRECTOR
Jennifer has been an Early Childhood educator for more than 20 years, most recently at Temple Israel in New Rochelle, NY. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology & Elementary Education from Southern Connecticut State University in 2000 and her Masters in Early Childhood Education/Administration and Leadership from Champlain College in 2017. After earning her BA, Jennifer began teaching preschool. This sparked a passion for all things Early Childhood.
With a proven track record of successfully managing and growing early childhood centers, Jennifer believes that it is her role to provide teachers with tools to be successful, show them how to use those tools, and guide them through the entire process as their cheerleader. She focuses her energy on building strong positive relationships with teachers and families striving to foster a close feeling of community within the program.
Jennifer can be reached by calling the office 203-288-2375 or jverrier@cmihamden.org
Ellen VanDyke Bell
Rabbinical Intern
Ellen aka Batyah Binah Ruth, is a third-year student in the Masters of Religious Study Program at Yale Divinity School, where her scholarship focuses on the ethics of speech and language, as well as the experiences of Jews of Color in the diaspora. As a rabbinical student in the ALEPH Ordination Program, Ellen is committed to advancing Tikkun Olam—the repair and healing of the world—by fostering deeper connections between Jewish and non-Jewish communities through worship, study, and service. She previously served as a rabbinical intern at Temple Beth El in Danbury, CT.
Ellen is also the founder and president of Unapologetically Jewish at Yale, an organization dedicated to fostering unity among those who value peace, love, and respect for all people, especially Jewish people. The group is open to anyone who opposes antisemitism and seeks to learn more about Jewish religion, spiritual, cultural, and social heritage.
In addition to her studies, Ellen is a licensed attorney and currently serves as the Coordinator for Jews of Color, Jews of the Americas, and Jews of the Diaspora (JOCAD) at the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA). Her work at JALSA focuses on collaborating with both Jewish and non-Jewish communities to address social justice issues such as economic insecurity and discrimination, all through the lens of Jewish values and the unique erspectives of JOCAD. This also includes addressing antisemitism from this same perspective.
Outside of her studies and work, Ellen enjoys coaching competitive youth robotics and spending time with her family, both human and non-human.