Our Clergy

Rabbi Craig Scheff
E-Mail Rabbi Scheff

Rabbi Craig Scheff did not follow a traditional path to the rabbinate. Though his friends nick-named him “Rabs” in high school, and despite the many Saturday mornings he spent in synagogue at his father’s side, his formal Jewish studies did not begin until college, and even that was part of a path to law school. While attending Harvard University, Rabbi Scheff chose a concentration in Near Eastern Studies, and graduated with honors magna cum laude.

Upon graduation, he entered Boston University School of Law, where he earned several honors in oral advocacy. Upon becoming a member of the Massachusetts Bar in 1989, Rabbi Scheff practiced commercial litigation for three years. Feeling spiritually unfulfilled, Rabbi Scheff, with his wife Nancy's support, gave up his career in Law and began the long process of studying towards the rabbinate.

In the fall of 1995, Rabbi Craig Scheff arrived at the Orangetown Jewish Center. Just having commenced his third year of Rabbinical School at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Craig took the position of Cantor at the OJC. Along with Nancy, who grew up in the OJC community, and their sons Matthew and Scott (5 and 3 years old, respectively, at the time), Craig was determined to make the OJC his home. After serving the OJC for 2 years as Student Rabbi, Craig was ordained in 1998, the same year that Jason was born into the OJC family. Jared would follow in 2000.

Rabbi Scheff has cherished the opportunity to teach and learn, to guide and grow, to celebrate and even mourn with the OJC community. He continues to feel deeply connected, and has had the privilege of connecting others, to the Land of Israel.

Rabbi Scheff has been blessed to share many special moments in the lives of the OJC’s families, and he is mindful each time he enters the sanctuary of the souls of departed ones that continue to be a strong presence in his life. His strong commitments to Israel, USY, Camp Ramah, the Conservative movement and the Rockland Jewish community all stem from the influential parts each played in his own upbringing.

Rabbi Scheff has been blessed with the opportunity to pursue many other passions beyond OJC. For seventeen years he held various positions at Camp Ramah in Nyack, including assistant director and Camp Rabbi. In January 2011, Rabbi Scheff was appointed chairman of Israel Bonds' National Rabbinic Cabinet. He is an Adjunct Lecturer at the Jewish Theological Seminary, facilitating the Rabbinical School’s Senior Seminar, serves as a mentor to JTS rabbinical students, and is a member of the Rabbinical School Council. He is also a National Council member of AIPAC. In 2012, Rabbi Scheff’s writing on Jewish law as it applies to “Synagogue Life” was published in the book The Observant Life, the Conservative movement’s guide to Jewish living. Rabbi Scheff has coached JCC football and basketball for many years, and has coached Rockland’s 14-and-under boys’ basketball teams in the Maccabi Games.

​From serving the congregation to coaching basketball in the community, to sharing time with his family, Rabbi Scheff represents the Orangetown Jewish Center’s vision of Judaism, peoplehood and community in all his undertakings. At the heart of his rabbinate is the belief that every relationship presents the opportunity to experience God’s presence in the world.

Rabbi Ami Hersh
E-Mail Rabbi Hersh

Rabbi Ami Hersh was raised in the warm Jewish community of Providence, Rhode Island. Through his attendance at the community Jewish day school, his family’s commitment to synagogue life, and a home that was filled with holiday celebrations and a love for Israel, he was set on a path to the rabbinate from an early age. In addition to his work at the OJC, Rabbi Hersh serves as the Director of Ramah Day Camp in Nyack.

He began spending summers in Rockland County right after high school through his work as a counselor at Ramah. His first time at the OJC in fact, was when he sang as part of an acapella group at the brit milah of Jared Scheff! Perhaps the writing was on the all those many years ago.

​A graduate of the University of Hartford in Connecticut, Rabbi Hersh holds degrees in Elementary Education and Judaic Studies. During his time in college he served as the President of the Student Body and President of the Hartford Hillel Foundation. Most importantly, college was where he met his future wife, Loni. Upon graduation, Rabbi Hersh taught fourth grade at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford. Through teaching on a daily basis, he honed his skills and developed his passion for education.

​In 2006 Rabbi Hersh, along with his wife Loni, moved to New York City to begin rabbinical school at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Rabbinical school was a period of rich learning and community building. For three years he served as the rabbinic intern at Brown University Hillel and worked at various congregations around the country. In his penultimate year of school, Rabbi Hersh completed his final internship at the Orangetown Jewish Center. It was during this year that he fell in love with the community.

Rabbi Hersh was ordained at JTS in May 2012 with a concentration in Jewish non-profit management. He also completed an M.A. in experiential education from the William Davidson School of Jewish Education with a concentration in Israel education. In 2012, Rabbi Hersh was one of the winners of the Jewish Futures Competition. In addition, he is an alumnus of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship.