Meet Our Clergy
David Z. Vaisberg
Senior Rabbi
Rabbi David Z. Vaisberg, M.A.R.E., M.A.H.L. joined Temple B’nai Abraham as Senior Rabbi on July 1, 2019. In this time, in addition to the work of leading services, teaching, community-building, pastoral care, and life cycle events, Rabbi Vaisberg has involved the community in numerous social justice efforts, including partnering with New Jersey Together in community organizing in Essex County, and upgrading TBA’s technological capacity and offerings. Rabbi Vaisberg currently serves on the Central Conference of American Rabbis Responsa Committee and is a chaplain for the Maplewood Police Department.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, and raised in Mississauga, Ontario, Rabbi Vaisberg earned his Honours B.A. in Psychology from York University in 2006, while acting and doing construction work for Vanier College Productions and working as Cantorial Soloist for Solel Congregation of Mississauga. Rabbi Vaisberg was ordained from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion’s New York Campus in May 2012. He was a Mandel Fellow and a teaching and research assistant to Rabbi Dr. Eugene Borowitz. Before joining the Temple B’nai Abraham family, Rabbi Vaisberg served as spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El in Edison, New Jersey, where he also served as President of the local interfaith clergy association and the regional rabbinical association.
Rabbi Vaisberg’s academic interests include Jewish law and rituals, Jewish and Israeli culture and music, Midrash and story-telling, and Talmud. His written work includes “Israel: Projection, Potential, and Self-Actualization” in Stanley Davids and Lawrence Englander’s Fragile Dialogue: New Voices of Liberal Zionism (2018). Rabbi Vaisberg writes for the Times of Israel Blog and the New Jersey Jewish News as well. You can also find his work at davidvaisberg.com. Rabbi Vaisberg is an accomplished guitarist and singer, an enthusiastic cook, and a long-distance and obstacle course runner.
Max Edwards
Associate Rabbi
Rabbi Max Edwards has been the Associate Rabbi at Temple B’nai Abraham since June 6, 2021; he served as the rabbinical assistant for a year before that. Rabbi Edwards received rabbinic ordination and a Master of Jewish Education from Hebrew College Rabbinical School in Newton, MA. Prior to his rabbinic studies, he completed a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a B.A. from Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN. Rabbi Edwards’ approach to congregational life is greatly informed by his experience as a hospital chaplain. In the course of his rabbinic studies, he completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA.
His writing has been featured in the Hebrew College 70 Faces of Torah blog, (M)oral Torah from T’ruah, and jewishLive’s Virtual Seder.
Most mornings you can find Rabbi Edwards playing tennis with other early birds in West Orange. He lives in South Orange with his wife, Evie, daughter, Esther, and their dog, Hezzie.
Emily Simkin
Cantor
Cantor Emily Simkin serves as the Cantor at Temple B’nai Abraham in Livingston, NJ, having joined the temple on July 1, 2025. She brings a deep passion for Jewish life, music, and building meaningful connections within the community. She is a graduate of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion with a Master’s in Sacred Music and holds a degree from Berklee College of Music, where she graduated magna cum laude. Cantor Simkin has served congregations across New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Hawaii, earning a reputation for her warm presence, creative worship leadership, and innovative approach to Jewish education. She designs inclusive programs for all ages, crafts dynamic worship experiences, and cultivates a strong sense of belonging. Her work emphasizes spiritual mentorship, relationship-building, and uplifting Jewish values. Whether leading services, teaching, or offering pastoral care, Cantor Simkin creates spaces where individuals feel seen, supported, and inspired in their Jewish journeys. Cantor Simkin lives in Metuchen with her husband, Adam Halpern and son, Tal.
Clifford M. Kulwin
Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Clifford M. Kulwin was Temple B’nai Abraham’s Senior Rabbi from 1999 to 2019, and was formerly a congregational rabbi in Rio de Janeiro. Aided by his knowledge of several languages, for fifteen years he oversaw international development for the World Union for Progressive Judaism. An Illinois native, Rabbi Kulwin graduated from Macalester College, was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and was a Doctoral Fellow in Jewish history at Columbia University. He and his wife, Robin, reside in Montclair. Their son, Noah, is a New York City-based journalist; their daughter, Molly, is a school social worker in Chicago. Rabbi Kulwin continues to work extensively with Spanish and Portuguese-speaking Jewish communities. His commentaries frequently appear in The Star-Ledger and the Los Angeles Times.
Lee Coopersmith
Cantor Emerita
Cantor Lee Coopersmith has a Doctor of Ministry as a graduate of the School of Sacred Music of the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, and was invested as a Cantor in 1982. She received her Master of Sacred Theology and Pastoral Counseling Certificate from the New York Theological Seminary. In April 2010, she earned a Doctorate in Pastoral Ministry from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in a joint program with Post Graduate Center for Mental Health, New York City.