Melissa Crespy - Rabbi
614.237.2747 Ext. 13
rabbicrespy@agudasachim.org
Rabbi Melissa Crespy is the senior rabbi of Congregation Agudas Achim in Bexley Ohio.; Rabbi Crespy became the spiritual leader of Agudas Achim in the summer of 2009 and is the first woman to serve as the Conservative congregation rabbi in it's 128 year history.
Rabbi Crespy was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in 1991. The Rabbi earned prizes in Bible, History, Rabbinics, Professional Skills and Liturgy. As a rabbinical student, she served as research assistant to Rabbinical School Dean Rabbi Gordon Tucker for four years. During the summer of 1988, she served as chaplain at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
After ordination Rabbi Crespy served as Assistant Rabbi at the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City for two years, where she taught Talmud and Introduction to Judaism to adults, and also ran a welcoming Learner's/Havurah Service.
She then served as Rabbi at New York's Conservative Synagogue of Fifth Avenue for four years. Her passions there continued to be in adult teaching and creating a Friday evening Learner's Service. She also deeply enjoyed her interfaith work as a member of the Greenwich Village Ministerium, and as a member of the Board of Governors of the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing.
Her next three years were spent in Port Chester, New York, where she enjoyed introducing a comprehensive adult education program to the congregation, including new celebrations of Tu B'shevat, Shavuot and Simchat Torah.
Before entering the rabbinate, Rabbi Crespy worked as a credit analyst for
Manufacturers Hanover Trust. She is a graduate of McGill University, with a degree in French Literature and Modern Languages, and earned an MBA in Finance and International Business from New York University.
Rabbi Crespy is married to Larry Kaufman, and they are the proud parents of Avi and Netanya. The family resides in Bexley, Ohio.
Edwin R. Frankel (Ed) – Ritual Director
614.237.2747 Ext. 22
efrankel@agudasachim.org
Edwin R. Frankel (Ed) is entering his second year as ritual director at Agudas Achim. Born in Rochester, NY, he grew up in Philadelphia. , Ed earned his BA in History and his BHL in Bible from the Combined Program of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and Columbia University. He also holds an MA from JTS in Talmud and completed an MA in Jewish Educational Administration from New York University. Ed has extensive experience a teacher and administrator in Jewish days schools and as a synagogue professional.
Ed lives in Bexley with his wife Anna. He has three amazing children from his first marriage: Joshua, a rabbinical student at Yeshivat Chovevai Tsion, Elisheva, a student at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and Sara, has completed a year of independant study in Jerusalem, and has decided to remain in Israel as an Olah, where she hopes to continue college studies in physical therapy.
Carol Cohen – Preschool Director
614.237.2747 Ext. 28
ccohen@agudasachim@org
Carol Cohen joined the Agudas Achim Team in 2003 with a proposal to start the Agudas Achim Preschool program. She has been the Preschool Director and Lead Teacher for us since the program began in the fall of 2004. Carol graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. She has over 18 years of experience in teaching young children.
Carol resides in Bexley with her husband Scott and their two boys, Jacob and Evan.
Naomi Kurland - Academy Administrator
614.237.2747 Ext. 17
nkurland@agudasachim.org
Naomi Kurland has been the Agudas Achim Academy Administrator since July 2007. Naomi was born and raised in Chicago, where she received her B.A. in Sociology from Roosevelt University. Since her Bat Mitzvah, she has served several Jewish communities as a tutor, teacher, administrative assistant, and day camp director. Prior to moving to Columbus, she worked in Human Resources at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Naomi is married to Ruvane Kurland, and they just had their first child, Lyric Samson, in April 2008.
Debbie Robinson - Controller
614.237.2747 Ext. 12
drobinson@agudasachim.org
Debbie is currently in her 21st year at Agudas Achim. She first came to us in 1987 working part-time as an accountant. Within time, the position expanded and Debbie is now officially the synagogues controller. Debbie is an accounting graduateof Central Ohio Technical College in Newark Ohio and worked in small business accounting before coming to Agudas Achim.
Debbie lives with her husband Steve in New Albany. They have three adult children, Cory, Michelle and Jodie.
Dina Vinar-Cieplinski - Office Manager
614.237.2747 Ext. 14
dcieplinski@agudasachim.org
Dina Vinar-Cieplinski is entering her 7th year as the synagogue’s office manager.
She holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Clinical Social Work from The Ohio State University with special emphasis in Human Development and Family Science. She is a licensed social worker.
Growing up in Columbus, Dina was very active in Agudas Achim’s youth program. She is an 8th grade alumna of Columbus Torah Academy and a preschool alumna of the Agudas Achim Preschool.
Dina resides in Eastmoor with her husband Eli and daughters, Julia and Rebekkah.
Jennifer Lasky Russell - Rabbi's Assistant
614.234.2747 Ext 10
jrussell@agudasachim.org
Jennifer was hired as Rabbi Crespy’s assistant in August 2009. She has over 9 years of experience working in Jewish institutions in Columbus and metropolitan Detroit.
Jennifer grew up in the Detroit area and received her B.A. in Ancient Studies from Michigan State University and her M.S. Ed. in Museum Education from Bank Street College in New York City.
She lives in Columbus with her husband James and a menagerie of pets.
