shabbat morning shots of scotch.
team leaders, and she continues to serve in that role today.
at a Purim shpiel, which taught him that he needs more practice.
congregation and helping out as much as they possibly can.
Cliff was born in Montreal (and remains a Montreal Canadiens hockey fan to this day). During his early years in Canada he learned about the importance of synagogue membership, involvement and commitment from the example set by his parents, active leaders in the small Conservative synagogue to which his family belonged. He moved with his family to Connecticut in 1979, and subsequently settled in Riverdale. He is proud to note that he found a spiritual home joining CSAIR in June of 1991, well before actually moving to the community in July.
That spirit of commitment and volunteerism, coupled with a desire to create a safe and inspiring community where all members can feel comfortable and engaged, has led to his involvement at CSAIR. Among other roles, Cliff has been a member of the Board of Trustees for many years, chaired the Ritual and Religious Life Committee, and is a past President of the synagogue. He currently chairs the Child Protection Committee and has lead the charge in ensuring that our community is a safe one for those members that are the most vulnerable, our children and teens. He is quite proud that CSAIR has become a leader among congregations in its child protection efforts. Camp Ramah is one of his other passions. There he has furthered the cause of keeping children safe and healthy locally as the medical director of Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, and nationally as the chair of the National Ramah medical committee. Most recently he has taken on the role of Board Chair of Sacred Spaces, an organization that aims to prevent and address child abuse and other abuses of power in the Jewish community.
A graduate of the Joint Program (Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University) and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, he is an academic general pediatrician on the faculty of Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York.
Cliff is the very proud father of two adult daughters, Renana and Deena, who both grew up in CSAIR. He is particularly grateful to them, for all of their support over the years and for tolerating all of the shul meetings that their father has had to attend! Recently married to Shulamit Lerner, and step father to Moshe, Cliff is so appreciative for the warm welcome that CSAIR has provided the newest members of his family.