Rabbi Matthew Futterman came to us from Israel Center of Conservative Judaism in Flushing, NY Prior to that, we worked in Ashkelon, Israel, where he was the spiritual leader of Kehillat Netzach, Israel, since August of 1986 when he made aliyah with his wife, Chana and their two American-born children, Alon and Yael. The Futtermans third child, Itamar, is a sabra like his mother.

Rabbi Futterman has been a pioneer of Masorti/Conservative Judaism in the State of Israel. Kehillat Netzach Yisrael is the leading Conservative congregation in Israel with a very diverse community of over 300 families, the majority of whom are Israeli.

Rabbi Futterman has successfully integrated different generations and the customs of various ethnic groups. He has also helped develop strong bonds between Israeli and American Jews. He has developed successful relationships with the Orthodox community as well as the Ashkelon city government. Utilizing his training in cross-cultural and family counseling, Rabbi Futterman has developed skills for working and communicating with new immigrants and congregants from all over the world. He was an active teacher in the synagogue and in the local public school system. Rabbi Futterman was the primary founder of Ashkelons TALI educational program which adds Jewish content to the curricula of non-Orthodox Israeli schools. Having taught hundreds of TALI students, parents and teachers for years, he was appointed the official TALI Rabbi for several of Ashkelons elementary schools.

Prior to serving in Israel, Rabbi Futterman was the spiritual leader and educational director of Congregation Beth Ohr in New Jersey for four years. During this time, in the early 80s, he launched innovative programs such as a Shabbat learners minyan, a support group for mourners, and an interfaith couples group.

Rabbi Futterman has been a scholar-in-residence for the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Greater Midwest Region and for the Jewish Theological Seminary Office of Development, Greater Detroit Region. He has been a guest speaker at congregations in the US and Canada. Over the past 30 years, Rabbi Futterman has served in almost all major educational capacities in the Camp Ramah system. He has taught at the Rabbinical School of the Schechter Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. In addition, he served as Dean of Students for Achva College in Israel.

Rabbi Futterman was the President of the Rabbinical Assembly of Israel from 1990-1992, and 2000-2002. He was the International Convention Chairman of the Rabbinical Assembly in February 2004. He has written articles on Conservative Judaism for several publications.

Rabbi Futterman grew up in Flushing, attended Temple Gates of Prayer and was an active USY member. His former teacher was the late Ritual Director at ICHM, Cantor Israel Hershkowitz, of blessed memory. He received his BA in Comparative Religion and Psychology and his MA and Master of Education in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University. He also received a BA and MA from the Jewish Theological Seminary with majors in Jewish History and Jewish Education. In his spare time, Rabbi Futterman enjoys old movies, baseball, concerts, museums and old time radio. Most of all he enjoys spending Shabbat and Yom Tov with his family and friends and looks forward to the friendships he will enjoy at Anshe Emet.