Clergy

Rabbi Leonardo Bitran is one of the few leaders of the Conservative Movement whose experience includes serving synagogues across the continent, inspiring nearly a dozen of his former students to become rabbis, and mentoring rabbinical students serving Latin American congregations.

Rabbi Bitran earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Chile.  He was ordained at The Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York with a Master’s degree in Hebrew Letters with a major in Talmud and Rabbinics.

Rabbi Bitran grew up at the Sephardic Synagogue in Santiago, Chile. Influenced by his parents and religious leaders he began leading religious services on Shabbat and High Holy Days at Bar Mitzvah age.  He attended the school of Economics at the University of Chile, the Seminario Rabinico Latino Americano in Buenos Aires and The Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York.

Rabbi Bitran served at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Michigan, where he led its vibrant satellite congregation, B’nai Israel, for eleven years. Most recently and for ten years he served Congregation Agudas Achim in San Antonio, Texas, enabling it to achieve excellence in Jewish education.  At Temple Beth El, Rabbi Bitran aspires to lead and inspire our Temple to be a model and center for Conservative Judaism.  Rabbi Bitran is committed to building strong relationships and a caring community, dedicated to worship, study of sacred texts and the creation of a kind environment for its members.

lbitran@tberochester.org

Cantor-in-Residence Matt Austerklein is honored to join Temple Beth El after serving with distinction at pulpits in Bethesda, Maryland, Akron, Ohio, and Sarasota, Florida. Cantor Matt is a well-known educator and musicologist, and is currently finishing his PhD dissertation in Jewish Studies at Halle-Wittenberg University. He is the editor of three books, and the author of dozens of articles on Jewish Music (which you can read at mattausterklein.substack.com). In 2022, he received the Cantors Assembly’s Samuel Rosenbaum Award for Scholarship and Creativity, one of the organization’s highest honors. Cantor Austerklein is also passionate about nigunim, and leads musical events and services that center the voice of the congregation.

Cantor Austerklein lives in Akron with his wife, Rabbi Elyssa Austerklein, and their two children, Georgie & Beatrice.