CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM


688 Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065
(518) 371-0608

Our Rabbi

Rabbi Amiel Tuvia Monson, Rabbi in Residence

Rabbi Monson is the Jewish Community Chaplain for Jewish Family Services of Northeastern New York and Daughters of Sarah Community & Massry for Seniors. He also is a Hebrew school teacher for B’yachad, Congregation Beth Emeth, and Agudat Achim.

Rabbi Monson graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA with a BA in Comparative Religion and a certificate in Jewish Studies. He went on to achieve three Masters degrees from Gratz College in Elkins Park, PA in Jewish Education, in Jewish Communal Service, and in Jewish Studies. Rabbi Monson received his Rabbinical ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion in California. While a student at the Academy, Rabbi Monson was the Director of Youth Engagement at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino.

Rabbi Monson has been a Jewish professional for most of his adult life. He has held various positions, including Program Director at Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel, Program Director and then Associate Director at Queens College Hillel, as well as a Jewish Studies teacher at Perelman Schechter Day School in Elkins Park. Rabbi Monson has been on the Hebrew School team for a myriad of synagogues over the last 25 years, and has worked with both Jewish youth and the Jewish aging population in multiple capacities.

Rabbi Monson is the son of two Jewish Educators. Rabbi Michael Monson and Dr. Rela Mintz Geffen z’l, and the step-son of Fani Magnus Monson. He has a brother Uri and sister-in-law Rebekah, and two nieces Shoshana and Ariel and one nephew Eitan. Rabbi Monson is blessed with a beautiful family consisting of his wife Manya, his sons Moshe and Ravi, and their two canine friends Shmooly and Rocky.

Rabbi Monson loves to meet new people, be a resource in the local and national Jewish communities, he loves sports & music, and his favorite Jewish book is Pirke Avot.

Rabbi Monson feels honored and privileged to serve the Beth Shalom community of Clifton Park, NY.
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Dr. Chanan Markowitz is the rabbi emeritus of Congregation Beth Shalom and the immediate past president of the Capital District Board of Rabbis. A native of Buffalo, he joined our synagogue on July 1, 2007 after serving for a number of years as "rabino," the community rabbi in Campinas, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


Rabbi emeritus Markowitz earned his doctorate from The Chicago Theological Seminary, which is affiliated with the University of Chicago. He holds rabbinical ordinations from Rabbi Dr. Moses Jacob Burack, Chancellor of Ner Israel Yeshiva Rabbinical College of Toronto, Canada and the late Rabbi Nison Lipa Alpert, Rosh Kollel L'Horrah at The Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. Rabbi Markowitz is also a trained Cantor. His late father, Hazzan Moshe Markowitz, served for 27 years as Cantor at Ahavas Achim Synagogue in Buffalo, NY.


Dr. Markowitz was the Founding Dean and Professor of Instituto de Bioethica do Brasil (The Brazilian Institute of Medical Ethics) and Sociedade de Maimonides do Brasil (The Maimonides Society of Brazil). 


Rabbi emeritus Markowitz is warm, compassionate, and experienced. He is a wonderful speaker and preacher who easily helped us to laugh, cry, and learn. He was readily available for counseling, ritual support, and any other consultation or conversation. His beautiful and strong cantorial voice has enriched the beauty of our Shabbat and Holiday services. He devoted personal attention to the needs and the inspiration of each family and individual, reaching out to people of all ages with warmth and love. He was well respected and a much sought lecturer in the capital district Jewish community as well as in numerous interfaith settings.

Rabbi emeritus Markowitz encouraged both Jewish and interfaith couples, families and singles to worship and join our synagogue, including families with children. Rabbi emeritus Markowitz was available to tutor children as well as adults in our synagogue. A customized instruction plan was jointly developed to meet educational objectives.


Rabbi emeritus Markowitz held  his popular periodic adult education classes and lectures on contemporary Jewish perspectives and issues in Jewish medical ethics and on many other fascinating topics on a weekly basis.


We wish Rabbi emeritus Markowitz best wishes on his retirement in Chicago.