Sutton Place Synagogue

Rabbi Allan Schranz Rabbi Allan Schranz was elected to lead our congregation in 1998. A native New Yorker, Rabbi Schranz was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1972. At his graduation, he received an award for excellence in homiletics (preparation and delivery of sermons). Rabbi Schranz has served as spiritual leader of Temple Israel and Jewish Community Center of Ridgewood, New Jersey, Congregation Beth Shalom of San Francisco, and, for ten years he was the Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, the largest Conservative Jewish congregation in Los Angeles. He has also held administrative and academic positions. From 1981-1983, he was Assistant to the Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Rabbi Gerson Cohen. In 1996, Rabbi Schranz was appointed Assistant to the Dean of the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, and taught Bible and other subjects. He is presently the Corresponding Secretary of the New York Board of Rabbis.
Cantor Dov Keren For the past 20 years our religious services and special events have been enriched and enhanced by the golden voice of our talented cantor, Dov Keren. A veteran of service with the Israeli Defense Forces, Cantor Keren came to us from Haifa, Israel. Following his appearance as guest cantor for the synagogue’s 1984 High Holy Days Services during which he thrilled the congregation with his magnificent liturgical renditions, Cantor Keren was invited to move to the United States and become our synagogue’s full time cantor. He not only leads our services, but also prepares our Bar and Bat Mitzvah students, both adults and children. Cantor Keren’s rich tenor voice and great personal warmth have contributed much to the growth of our synagogue.
Minna Schneider Executive Director Minna joined Sutton Place Synagogue in May 2007. She comes to the Synagogue after many years in the non-profit world, most recently as the Director of the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden. A longstanding Manhattan resident, Minna received a B.A. from New York University and a JD from Yeshiva University's Cardozo School of Law. She, her husband, and two children live on Manhattan's Upper Eastside.
Harriet Janover Director, Programming and Member Services Our congregation is fortunate to have benefited from Harriet’s talented and dedicated service as Executive Director from March 1977 – December 31, 2005. For more than 28 years, she played a major role in the extraordinary growth that helped Sutton Place Synagogue evolve from one man’s dream into the major Jewish institution it is today. She successfully worked with a diverse congregation to bring about unity, despite the varied tastes and sensibilities of our members, and efficiently fulfilled her role as Executive Director. Harriet’s vitality, creativity and people skills are characteristics that make her ideally suited for her newly created role as Director of Programming and Member Services .
Lesley Hoffman Principal, Jackson Religious School Lesley joined the Sutton Place Synagogue community in July 2005 as Principal of the Jackson Religious School . She is a graduate of List College , a Joint Program between Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), where she received a BA in Sociology and a BA in Bible. In May 2005, she graduated from the Davidson School at JTS and earned her Master's degree in Jewish Education. Lesley is originally from St. Louis , Missouri . She attended Religious School from kindergarten through high school, making her position as principal especially meaningful. She is also an alumna of Camp Ramah in Wisconsin where she spent 13 wonderful summers as a camper and staff member. Lesley is thrilled to be a part of the Sutton Place Synagogue community and welcomes your comments and feedback on the happenings at the Jackson Religious School.
Amy Morgano Director, Kaplan Nursery School Amy Morgano became the Director of the Stanley H. Kaplan Nursery School in September 2000, just as the Sachs Family Educational Center’s construction began. One year later, KNS welcomed its first group of pre-schoolers. Before joining KNS, Amy was the director of Purple Circle Preschool. Prior to being an administrator, she taught two year olds at Christ Church Day School in Manhattan. Amy earned her graduate degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Bank Street College of Education, with a specialization in Infant/Toddler and Parent Development and Early Intervention. Amy lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn with her husband and three children.