Sinai names new temple president

Bill San Antonio

As his family became more active at Temple Sinai of Roslyn Heights about a decade ago, Jonathan Cheris purchased the online domain name MySinai.org.

Now the director of marketing information and insights at Astoria Bank in Lake Success, the Village of East Hills resident sought ways of expanding Temple Sinai’s brand as he began serving the temple in various capacities, including a nine-year stint on its board of trustees.

MySinai.org is now the temple’s official website, and Cheris is Sinai’s president.

“The MySinai brand truly symbolizes how I feel about the temple,” said Cheris, who succeeds former President Howard Berrent with a two-year term. “When I’m in the building, something special happens. I feel it. It’s my Sinai and I want to share that with others. When they get it, they love it. Everyone should feel a part of my Sinai.”

Since the Cheris family joined the temple in 2001, Cheris has served as president of the Brotherhood, Sinai’s men’s group, as well as the chairperson of its membership committee, marketing committee and administration committee.

His daughter Sara, a junior at Roslyn High School, was also recently elected co-president of SORTY, the temple’s senior youth group. 

“I’m at a comfortable place now where I want to serve this community in a greater way,” Jonathan Cheris said. “I want to serve our community and I want to develop our regional and national connections more strongly.”

Cheris is also a member of the corporate board for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s Long Island chapter.

He said he is honored to succeed Berrent as Sinai president and serve a temple community “where all the past presidents remain so active.”

“When you’re in the building, you realize you don’t need Facebook or Twitter,” he said. “You realize that a brick-and-mortar institution, the building, and the people around you is still an incredibly powerful experience in the modern world. That is the feeling of my Sinai that means a lot to me.”

Share this Article