Rabbi Uri Topolosky joined Congregation Beth Israel in July of 2007. He and his wife Dahlia – a child psychologist, and their two boys, Elyon and Itai, relocated from Riverdale, NY. Uri served previously there as the Associate Rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. Uri received his rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School, a Manhattan based program, founded by Rabbi Avi Weiss, that is committed to training and placing modern orthodox pulpit Rabbis. Uri was a member of the second graduating class in 2005. Prior to his rabbinic studies, Uri spent two years studying in Israel at Yeshivat Sha’alvim before attending the University of Maryland at College Park. While completing a BA in Communication, Uri played an integral role in the development of an inclusive, Jewish community on campus. He spent the following year living in Jerusalem, learning and working for the Isralight Institute, further cultivating his passion for music and spirituality as a community leader.

Rabbi Uri is a warm and approachable person, whose goal is to create an “accessible” synagogue – a place where all people, regardless of background or affiliation, feel welcome and embraced. Feel free to contact him at rabbi@bethisraelnola.com

Dahlia Topolosky, a wife and mother, musician and psychologist, is also our new Rebbetzin!

Dahlia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and English at Barnard College in New York. Dahlia has also spent time in Israel, learning in various institutions of advanced Jewish studies and volunteering in underprivileged communities. In 2005, she completed her doctorate in clinical psychology, specializing in children and adolescents. Along the course of her studies, she met Uri and was married in 2002.

In college, Dahlia learned to play guitar and began to lead concerts for women sharing Jewish mystical teachings and soulful melodies. Over the past few years, Dahlia started the first Jewish mommy and me music and movement class, Kol Nearim, in Riverdale, NY with a friend. She recently released her first children’s CD, which is now available for purchase online and in Jewish stores around the country.

Balancing a career working at Mercy Family Center and giving to the Jewish community, Dahlia loves spending time with her family and hopes that their home is an open and warm place where everyone feels welcome. You could always reach her at: dahliatop@gmail.com

Click here to find out more about Dahlia’s newly released album, “Kol Nearim/Voice of Children.”