Meet the Team
Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt
Born in Jerusalem and raised in Moscow, Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt studied in Bnei Brak’s Ponevezh Yeshiva, Jerusalem’s Chevron Yeshiva, and continued his post-graduate studies at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey, and at Yeshivas Ohr Reuven in Suffern, New York. He received rabbinic ordination from Rav Dovid Cohen and Rav Yosef Chevroni of the Chevron Yeshiva (Givat Mordechai) and Rav Betzalel Rudinsky of Yeshivas Ohr Reuven. He served Manhattan’s Jewish community at Park East Synagogue for a decade before opening the Altneu Synagogue in 2021.
Rabbi Goldschmidt and his work has appeared in the New York Times New York Times, the Washington Post, Haaretz, Mishpacha, Kikar Shabbat, Kan TV, the Headlines podcast, and the Forward, among others.
Read his sermons here.
Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt
Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt is a journalist, rebbetzin and mother. Her work has appeared in the Atlantic, New York Times, Foreign Policy, The New Republic, Vox, Vogue, Salon, Glamour, Business Insider, Los Angeles Review of Books, Jewish Review of Books, and Religion & Politics, among others.
Previously, she was an editor at the Real Deal and the Forward, and a reporter for Haaretz. She has taught journalism at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women and at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.
Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.
Chaya Weiss
Chaya Weiss, our Program Director, comes with an extensive and diverse administrative background. At her last position at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York, she served as the B’nei Mitzvah Coordinator and Executive Assistant to the Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson.
A native Floridian transplanted into New York with a background in English/Communications from Yeshiva University, Chaya has built a career through a variety of Judaic administrative environments. When not strategizing schedules, firing off emails and helping build new synagogues, Chaya spends her time going to the theater and reading.
Akiva Garner
Originally from Houston, Texas, our Chief of Staff, Akiva Garner is a graduate of Yeshiva University, where he studied Philosophy and Psychology. He is deeply passionate about Jewish communal life, having dedicated much of his extracurricular energy in school to fellowships and community initiatives.
Outside of the Altneu, Akiva enjoys photography, spending time with family and friends, reading literature or poetry and watching sports.
He also can be found hiking, playing and listening to music, or cooking.
Rabbi Yoni Kirsch
Our Rosh Kollel & Rabbinic Fellow, Rabbi Kirsch, was born on the Upper East Side and raised in Teaneck. After studying at Yeshivat Hakotel in Jerusalem, he attended Yeshiva University, where he earned a degree in Political Science, was a member of the Masmidim Honors Program, and studied with Rabbi Hershel Schachter for six years. He completed his rabbinic ordination at RIETS, Yeshiva University’s Rabbinical Seminary, and is currently a member of the Bella and Harry Wexner Kollel Elyon.
Having taught in a wide range of settings, Rabbi Kirsch is passionate about connecting with people through learning and teaching Torah. Outside of the beit midrash, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Tehila, and their two daughters, and can often be found on the pickleball court.
Talia Laniado
Born in South America and raised in a rabbinic family in Los Angeles and Brooklyn, Talia Laniado is a creative rooted in Middle Eastern heritage and shaped by New York City’s cultural energy. Since earning her B.S. in Digital Multimedia Design from Touro in 2017, she has worked as for mission-driven organizations, specializing in visual identity, narrative development, and brand experience, most recently, as KJ’s in-house designer.
Talia now serves as our Communications & Creative Director, crafting our visual story, leading our weekly and seasonal communications, and expanding the Altneu brand with beauty and strategic intention.
A lifelong storyteller, Talia also writes, photographs, and creates art. Outside of her creative work, she loves exploring nature, spending time with her family, and getting lost in a good book. You can see her work at talialan.com or follow her @talia_lan.
Yoni Z
Born and raised in Crown Heights, NY, our cantor, Yoni Z, is honored to bring his passion for Jewish music and community to the Altneu family. From a young age, Yoni’s unique artistry has inspired and uplifted audiences around the world, blending classical, contemporary, sacred, and secular influences into music that resonates with all generations. While his songs have garnered millions of streams and views, Yoni’s greatest joy lies in using his talents to create meaningful connections and elevate Jewish life.
Yoni’s commitment to tradition and innovation reflects his distinguished lineage, which includes Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz, and his great-uncle, Rabbi Meir Shapiro of Lublin, founder of the Daf Yomi. With a deep respect for the past and a vision for the future, Yoni brings soulful melodies and heartfelt energy to every prayer.
Yonatan Israel
Our Ba’al Tefilah, Yoni, has been inspiring our community with his beautiful voice and prayers for over a year. Born and raised in Stamford, CT, Chazan Yoni Israel graduated SAR High School in 2014, and attended Yeshivat Ma’aleh Gilboa in Israel for a year of religious studies. He graduated from Brandeis University in 2019 with a major in biology and a minor in music, and dedicated his time outside of classes to directing his college acapella group, playing ultimate frisbee, and helping strengthen the Brandeis Orthodox Organization.
He is currently a 4th year medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and living on the Upper East Side. Yoni recently got married to Shoshana Rosenzweig – Mazel tov! Yoni loves leading weekly Shabbat services at The Altneu, and is excited to be a part of its growing community.
Rabbi Manny Nagel
Manny Nagel was raised in Teaneck and studied for two years at Aish Gesher in Jerusalem before continuing his studies at Yeshiva University, where he earned a degree in Computer Science. He is currently pursuing semicha at RIETS, Yeshiva University’s Rabbinical Seminary, as well as a master’s in Jewish History at the Bernard Revel Graduate School.
Over the past year, Manny has learned as a fellow in the Kollel, and he is excited to now be joining the shul as Rabbinic Intern. He is especially passionate about Torah that speaks to character development and the transmission of mesorah across generations, and he enjoys helping people connect Torah ideas to their own lives in a way that is thoughtful, authentic, and meaningful. Outside of the beit midrash, Manny enjoys endurance running, and playing the drums and piano, having performed in both his high school and university jazz bands.
Manny shares his passion for teaching Torah with his wife, Ali, who is currently taking a gap year before starting medical school next fall. Manny and Ali both love learning and teaching Torah privately and in group settings, and Ali is also open to learning with members of the shul.
Rivkah Fox
Rivkah Fox has successfully set up many of our Altneu community members. She holds a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and resides in Philadelphia with her husband Rick, a leading rabbi and chaplain at UPenn, and their four children.
Rivkah’s genuine passion for matchmaking and connecting people, together with a generous dose of help from Above, has led to incredible success in bringing singles, from across the Jewish spectrum and from around the world, together in marriage.
Rivkah is also the founder of BlindFate, an innovative dating platform that lends fresh and exciting perspective and programs to an old, traditional dating process. BlindFate’s initial success was catalyzed by an innovative dating game on instagram. Since then, BlindFate has grown to have an international database of over 3k+ singles, it has initiated thousands of dates, and has led to numerous marriages across eight countries!
Victor Rukaj
Raised on the Upper East Side, Victor Rukaj brings a unique blend of experience, dedication, and heritage to his role as Facility Manager at The Altneu. An alumnus of Pace University, Victor grew up learning the ins and outs of property management from his father, who worked in the field for over 30 years. Those early lessons, combined with his own dedication and attention to detail, have shaped his approach to the role today.
With a 20-year career in media, working at industry giants like NBC Universal, Fox News, and Viacom, Victor honed his leadership and organizational skills. A devoted husband to Vera and father to three boys, he embraces his Albanian roots and passion for history. When he’s not in the office, Victor can be found pursuing one of his many hobbies, including fly fishing, skiing, music, and sports. A lifelong Yankees fan, he brings the same enthusiasm to his work that he shows in cheering for his favorite team.
Freddy Jara
