Rabbi Shmuel Goldin has served as spiritual leader of Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, New Jersey, since 1984. With a membership of approximately 700 families, Ahavath Torah is the largest orthodox synagogue in Northern New Jersey. Rabbi Goldin has already made an impact on the broader Jewish community, as can be seen by his selection as one of the “Forward 50”, the Forward Magazine’s list of Jewish communal leaders who have made a difference this past year.
An articulate spokesmen for Orthodoxy, Rabbi Goldin has developed an innovative educational approach to Torah study, Jewish law and Jewish identity which is enthusiastically received by traditional and non-traditional Jews alike. In April 2000, Rabbi Goldin delivered a ground-breaking lecture at The Jewish Theological Seminary of America concerning interdenominational relations titled “Why Can’t We All Just Get Along: An Orthodox Rabbi’s View on Pluralism”. He has lectured extensively throughout the world in a wide variety of synagogue and communal settings.
Rabbi Goldin is the author of four popular and extremely well-received volumes on the Torah: “Unlocking the Torah Text: Bereishit”, “Shmot” , “Vayikra”, and “Bamidbar”, Gefen Publishing Company and OU Publishers. Rabbi Goldin has authored several articles on the peace process, Israel-Diaspora relations, interdenominational dialogue, the singles problem, and other current issues which have appeared in prominent publications in America and abroad.
Rabbi Goldin is a past President of the Rabbinical Council of America, past President of Rabbinic Alumni of Yeshiva University, past President of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County and former Chairman of its Kashruth Committee. He is a member of various other prominent Jewish organizations.
Rabbi Goldin has received numerous awards, including Bnei Akiva- Rabbinic Leadership Award (1997); ECHO; Yeshiva University-Rabbinic Alumni Award (1991); Sinai Learning Disabilities Program of Bergen County (1987); Orthodox Union-Rabbinic Leadership Award (1986); NCSY; Yachad; Hebrew Free Burial Society; Shvut Ami, Shaare Zedek Hospital, Yeshivat Shaalvim and many others. He was selected as "1994 Newsmaker of the Year" by The Jewish Standard, a weekly publication of Bergen and Hudson Counties in New Jersey.