Rabbi Aaron Brusso, Senior Rabbi
Rabbi Brusso is senior rabbi of Bet Torah, where he has led a vibrant and dynamic congregation of approximately 550 families in Northern Westchester since 2009. In addition to pastoring, preaching, teaching and leading in the Bet Torah community, Rabbi Brusso is an officer of the the Rabbinical Assembly, a Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute and served as faculty for the Anti-Defamation League’s Bearing Witness program teaching Catholic school educators about Judaism and Antisemitism. During his time at Bet Torah, Rabbi Brusso has been a vocal supporter of immigration rights and was awarded the 2020 Human Rights Hero award from T’ruah.
Prior to joining Bet Torah, Rabbi Brusso served for nine years as rabbi at Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka, Minnesota. While in Minnesota Rabbi Brusso chaired the Minnesota Rabbinical Association and served on the Minneapolis Children’s Hospital Ethics Committee and on the boards of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition and Jewish Community Action.
Rabbi Brusso received his ordination and master’s degree in Jewish Philosophy from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and bachelor’s degree in Political Science from American University. While in Washington he worked at the Supreme Court of the United States and interned on Capitol Hill for his congressman and senator. Rabbi Brusso has written articles featured in The Forward, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Slate and been featured in the Washington Post.
He is married to Hana Gruenberg, who is the Managing Director of the Department of Jewish Life at UJA-Federation of New York, and they have three children, Sari, Zoe, and Ilan. Originally from Chicago, Rabbi Brusso is a Bulls fan, a loyal reader of Marilynne Robinson, and appreciator of fine craft beer.
Rabbi Lisa Sacks, Rabbi & Director of Lifelong Learning
As the Rabbi and Director of Lifelong Learning, Rabbi Lisa Sacks helps individuals continue their Jewish journeys and find their place in our community.
Rabbi Sacks was ordained in 2020 from the Academy for Jewish Religion, a pluralistic seminary based in Yonkers. As a student she served both Conservative and Reform synagogues in a variety of roles, most recently as the student rabbi for Ohev Sholom Congregation, a Conservative community in York, PA. In recognition of her service and creativity during rabbinical school, she was awarded the AJR Community Service Award, the Rabbi Chana Timoner Creative Liturgy Award and the AJR Student Leadership Award. She continues her association with AJR as a faculty member teaching about prayer, Mussar, and writing.
Over the past fifteen years Rabbi Sacks developed a particular interest in contemplative practice and Mussar, a tradition within Judaism focused on developing one’s character traits as a spiritual practice. She was trained as a facilitator through The Mussar Institute and wrote her rabbinic thesis on Contemplative Practice in Jewish Community. She is thrilled to be part of the fifth cohort of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality's Clergy Leadership Program.
Prior to entering the rabbinate, Rabbi Sacks had a wide-ranging career in the public sector working in local, state and national politics, serving as an Assistant Commissioner for the City of New York, as the Executive Director of Beit Rabban Day School, and as the Chief Financial Officer of Hazon, the Jewish environmental organization. She has a BA in government from Cornell University and an MPA from Columbia University. She also spent a year learning at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies on a Dorot Fellowship and served as a long-time board member of Limmud NY. Rabbi Sacks is a member of the Rabbinical Assembly, the Association of Rabbis and Cantors, and the Westchester Board of Rabbis.
Cantor Gil Ezring
Cantor Gil Ezring joins Bet Torah after moving to Westchester from Long Grove, IL where he served as cantor at Congregation Beth Judea since 2018. In addition to serving as shaliach tzibbur, leading the congregation in prayer, Cantor Ezring taught in the Beth Judea religious school, oversaw the B’nai Mitzvah program, empowered congregants of all ages to read Torah and participate in services, interfaced with Sisterhood and Men’s Club, mentored young musicians and led the synagogue band.
With an extensive background in music of many styles, Cantor Ezring is an accomplished singer, songwriter and composer of contemporary Jewish music. He especially loves working with young families and children and has spent time as Mashgiach and B’nai Mitzvah tutor at Camp Ramah Darom and song leader & Music Director at Camp Zeke.
Cantor Ezring was a founding member of Rock HaRuach, a Jewish rock band based out of Charlotte, NC, where he grew up. In addition, Cantor Ezring and his sister, Aviva Ezring, write and perform as the Jewish musical duo, AGEz. He attended the H.L. Miller Cantorial School at The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.