Congregation Agudat Achim

Rabbi Rafi Spitzer has served as Spiritual Leader of Congregation Agudat Achim since August 1, 2019. Rabbi Spitzer grew up in Sharon, MA, and was ordained as a rabbi and teacher by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. In addition to ordination, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Judaic Studies and received a Certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Rabbi Spitzer holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Boston University.

Rabbi Spitzer has served as a hospice chaplain with the Manhattan Jewish Health System at the Isabella Geriatric Center in Washington Heights and at the Block and Zicklin Hospice residences in the Bronx. Recently, he was a student rabbi with the Fitzgerald Hebrew Congregation in Fitzgerald, GA and served as a rabbinic intern at the United Synagogue of Hoboken, NJ. Rabbi Spitzer learned Talmud and Jewish Law intensively at the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Nishma Summer Beit Midrash and spent many summers at Camp Ramah in New England as a counselor and ultimately as a Rosh Edah.

During his Seminary year in Israel, Rabbi Spitzer was a fellow with Encounter, and an intern at Hod VeHadar, a Masorti synagogue in Kfar Saba. Before pursuing the rabbinate, he worked as a youth educator and community projects specialist at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA, and trained as a mikvah guide at Mayyim Hayyim in Newton, MA.

Rabbi Spitzer, his wife Rachael Besser, and daughter Ellie reside in Niskayuna.

Rabbi Spitzer is inviting congregants to make an appointment to get to know him individually in his office or at a convenient offsite location. You can reach Rabbi Spitzer at (518) 393-9211 or by emailing rabbispitzer@agudatachim.org. During the COVID-19 crisis, you can also schedule a pastoral care appointment with Rabbi Spitzer at calendly.com/rabbispitzer.

Josh Cooper-Ginsburg has served as Executive Director of Congregation Agudat Achim since December 1, 2019. He has over a decade of experience in relationship management, customer service, and support in a variety of industries including Jewish community simchas and other non-profit organizations' events.

Having come from a position of leadership at the New York State of Health contact center, Josh's ability to brighten the day of those around him and help millions of consumers across New York State apply for public health insurance plans were among his top priorities in that role. He now works to bring the same feelings of togetherness and community to Congregation Agudat Achim and continue its mission of community and brotherhood.

Josh is responsible for the overall management of the congregation and implementation of policies. He holds a Master of Science degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University at Albany, SUNY. Josh and his husband, Eric, live in Schenectady with their Westie terrier, Shea. You may see them walking through Schenectady's beautiful Central Park.

Josh can be reached at 518-779-2747 or by email at admin@agudatachim.org with any questions, concerns, requests, or suggestions on how to improve our community and our congregation.