Berrent new president of Temple Sinai

The Island Now

He was married at Temple Sinai, his children became B’nei Mitzvah and were confirmed at Temple Sinai and now Howard Berrent will become president of Temple Sinai of Roslyn. 

Berrent has been active at Temple Sinai for years, including time spent on the religious school committee, adult education, and he and his wife Margie were “founding members” of the Chai Society. Most recently Berrent served as vice president of the congregation and will succeed outgoing president David Schwartz.

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead this incredible temple for the next two years,” Berrent said. “Temple Sinai has always been a welcoming community, a supportive community. A home away from home that is there for you when you need it, want it, look for solace, need time to pray; it is even there when you are not looking for it. My goal as president is to make Temple Sinai an even more engaging community, with services, programming and educational opportunities relevant to each and every congregant. Working alongside our new executive vice president, Jon Cheris, Vice Presidents Rich Evans, Lara Weinstock and Michelle Golden, and under the leadership of Temple Sinai’s Senior Rabbi Michael White, I am looking forward to helping transform Temple Sinai into an even more connected, meaningful and engaging congregation.”  

Berrent received his doctorate in reading from Hofstra University after which he taught elementary school and served as a reading specialist. Berrent was a professor in the department of special education and reading at LIU/CW Post, where he chaired the division of reading for several years. He is also certified as a school psychologist in New York. 

Berrent started and ran the Berrent Learning Center Ltd. He and a staff of approximately fifteen educators assessed and instructed students with learning and reading disabilities. 

He then founded Berrent Publications Inc., a publishing company dedicated to meeting instructional needs of students in reading and mathematics. 

He later founded MainStreet Associates LLC, an education consulting group working with educational publishers, school districts, and financial groups. Berrent has authored educational materials for Steck-Vaughn, Harcourt Education, and McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. He has been a keynote speaker and presenter at international, national, state, and local organizations and school systems. 

Most recently Berrent founded RALLY! Education LLC, an educational publishing company, which addresses standards-based, classroom-focused assessment and instructional materials for schools, both in print and electronic forms. Presently, he is CEO of RALLY! Education.

Howard and Margie’s family includes their daughter Jennifer, her son Paul, their son Steven and daughter-in-law Diana, and their two children, Zelda and Spencer. 

Margie’s parents, Bobby and Ed Steiner, have been members of Temple Sinai for more than 52 years. 

“As executive vice president for the past two years, and a long-time congregant and lay leader, Howard has already made such an impact on Temple Sinai,” said Senior Rabbi Michael White. “I know in his role as president of our synagogue he will continue to grow our congregation, and that his vision for the future of our temple will be embraced by his leadership team and all of the families who call Temple Sinai their spiritual home.”

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