Rabbi Shua Mermelstein joined Adereth El in a part time role in August of 2020, and succeeded as rabbi in July of 2021, making him just the third rabbi at Adereth El since 1939! A 5th generation Lower East Sider, Shua has always loved the downtown Jewish community. Shua has also lived and engaged with Jewish communities in Nashville and Washington, D.C.

Shua is passionate about Jewish life, and is a member of the Leadership Development Council at Ohel and a member of the Advisory Board to the Jewish Law Institute at the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center at Touro College. Shua derives his energy from helping people and building meaningful relationships. He was a Dean’s Advisor and a Peer Advocate at Yale law school, and credits his rabbinic training for helping him grow his empathy and compassion.

Shua studied at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and lived in Israel for 3 years. He has also studied at Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah – Grodno and at Yeshiva University.

Rabbi Shua was ordained by the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University. He is a graduate of the Yale Law School, and continues to practice law in New York City.

Rabbi Gideon Shloush is a charismatic leader who has been an important part of the remarkable resurgence at Congregation Adereth El. Located in the heart of New York City – serving the Murray Hill, Gramercy Park, and Kips Bay neighborhoods of Midtown Manhattan – this 163 year old Synagogue is New York’s oldest Congregation on the same site. For the past 25 years, Rabbi Shloush has been the inspiration and coordinator of a wide variety of Jewish learning programs, lecture series, beginner’s services and social events at the historic synagogue, bringing in large groups of young singles and families. Under his leadership the synagogue membership has tripled, a magnificent Beit Midrash has been built and the synagogue underwent a major restoration for just the third time in its history. Rabbi Shloush has created strategic partnerships with organizations such as Manhattan Jewish Experience, Center for Return, Maor, NJOP, RAJE, The Jewish Flame and area universities to offer meaningful and impactful programming for the local Jewish community. Rabbi Shloush is currently on Sabbatical in Israel for the 2020-2021 academic year.

In April 2016 Rabbi Shloush was elected as the President of the New York Board of Rabbis. In this capacity Rabbi Shloush has met with the Pope, with the Secretary General at the United Nations, with members of the administration in the West Wing of the White House and with countless diplomats and interfaith leaders. The NYBR is comprised of more than 750 members across the tri-State area spanning the denominations: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist. A sampling of activities of the NYBR include close ties with leadership at the United Nations, warm relations with the Cardinal and interfaith communities, training in family violence protection, solidarity missions to Israel and support for chaplains (hospital, military and prison) to enable them to offer compassionate care. The NYBR is committed to helping those in need while at the same time being the face of the Jewish community to the broader public.

Rabbi Shloush serves in numerous leadership positions within the Jewish community. He sits on the Board of Directors of the UJA-Federation of New York, the largest Federation in the USA. He is a judge with the Beth Din of America. He twice served on the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America. Rabbi Shloush is an adjunct professor at Stern College where he teaches Bible and Jewish Studies. He is a chaplain with the Department of Homeland Security. He also served as Vice President of RIETS Rabbinic Alumni and as National Director of RZA-Mizrachi. He has a long-standing relationship with the World Zionist Organization (WZO) and works closely with their various departments.

For the past seventeen years Rabbi Shloush has served on the faculty of Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women. He teaches intermediate and advanced level courses in Bible and Judaic Studies.

For the past fourteen years he has been the Irving I. Stone Director of Rabbinic Internship and Training Program at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. In this capacity he is responsible for guiding students with the transition from the world of the Yeshiva to become professionally trained leaders within the Jewish community.

From 2003-2006 Rabbi Shloush served as the Director of Rabbinic Learning and Enrichment at the Rabbinical Council of America. In this capacity he is credited with the creation and overseeing of the Rabbi Steven M. Dworken Continuing Rabbinic Education program which offered a wide variety of Torah learning and professional development opportunities for nearly one thousand member rabbis around the world.

Rabbi Shloush is a descendant of a long line of distinguished Rabbis. He follows in the path blazed by his father Rabbi Eliahu Shloush (KBY ’65-’69), a respected Rav and scholar. His grandfather, Rabbi David Shloush z”l was the Chief Rabbi of Netanya in Israel for 63 years. His great-grandfather, Rabbi Yosef Shloush z”l, was the Rosh Av Beit Din and Rosh Chevra Kadisha of Jerusalem. He is also the great-grandson of Rav Meir Vaknin z”l, the long-time Chief Rabbi of Tiberias. Rabbi Shloush’s mother, Dr. Rita Shloush was the founder and Head of School of Yeshivat Rambam in Baltimore, MD. Several years ago, she was the recipient of the Jerusalem Prize from the President of the State of Israel.

Rabbi Gideon Shloush was ordained by the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University. He also holds an MBA in International Business from Baruch College.

Rabbi Sidney Kleiman served as the Rabbi of Congregation Talmud Torah Adereth El from 1939 – 1999. He continued attending services daily as Rabbi Emeritus until his passing at the age of 100 in the Spring of 2013. Rabbi Kleiman received Smicha (Rabbinical Ordination) from Rav Moshe Soloveitchik at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological seminary. He studied at City College, Columbia University and Yeshiva University where he received his B.S. in 1935. He also did Post Graduate work at Dr. Bernard Revel Graduate School.

Rabbi Kleiman was a respected member of the Rabbinical Council of America and the New York Board of Rabbis. In honor of his 100th Birthday, a gala celebration was held on January 6th, 2013 at the Museum for Jewish Heritage in Battery Park. Letters & Plaques were presented by the White House, Senators, Congressmen, Chief Rabbis and numerous other leaders of the Jewish community. Presentations were made by Adereth El’s current rabbi, Rabbi Gideon Shloush, the executive vice president of the NY Board of Rabbis Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, renowned defense attorney Benjamin Brafman and NYC Controller John Liu. Rabbi Kleiman concluded the evening with a powerful speech in recognition and appreciation of this milestone birthday!

In 2006, Rabbi Kleiman received a special citation from the Rabbinical Council of America for 67 years of service . A few years earlier he was recognized by Bellevue hospital for fifty years of service as hospital Chaplain.

Rabbi Kleiman’s great speeches and unique ability to relate to Jews of every generation and background made him a legendary figure in the history of New York’s rabbinic community. He served his congregation for 74 years, nearly half the history of this Civil War era synagogue.