Rabbis and Staff

Rabbi Pinchas Fink grew up in Highland Park, NJ. After spending high school in Yeshiva Tiferes Naftoli, he studied in Milwaukee, WI at the Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study. Rabbi Fink moved back to the east coast in 2009 to attend the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva, where he learned for 11 years in the Beis Medrash and Kollel. While completing his Semicha, he began his rabbinic career, serving as Rabbinic intern at the Jewish Heritage Center, and then as Interim Rabbi at Kesser Torah, both in Queens. During this time, Rabbi Fink also served as the Night Seder Mashgiach and Shoel Umeshiv in Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim.

Rabbi Fink moved with his family to Mount Kisco, NY in 2022 to serve as the Rabbi of Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation, where he provided Shiurim, Psak Halacha, Counseling, Pastoral care, and communal leadership.

Rabbi Fink also served as a Rebbe and the Director of Programming at Ezra Academy in Queens, where he taught and creatively inspired students to be excited about Torah and Mitzvos.

Rabbi Fink has Yoreh Yoreh, Yaddin Yaddin Semicha from Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim, and a BA in History from Touro College.

Rebbetzin Naomi (Baruh) Fink, also from Highland Park, is Manager of New Product Development for Tiffany and Co. at Pelham Production. She has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University and a Masters in Applied Statistics from Penn State University. She gives shiurim, leads women’s events, and can always be counted on for advice, or just to shmuz.

The Finks are the proud parents of Danny (11), Laya (7), and Tzviki (5)

Rabbi Binyomin Friedman
Rabbi Emeritus

Rabbi Binyomin Friedman is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a child Rabbi Friedman attended day school in Minneapolis and Hebrew Theological High School in Skokie, Il. Two years into the University of Minnesota, Rabbi Friedman decided to go to Israel to get some answers. He ended up studying in Yeshiva in Israel for four years. Rabbi Friedman continued his Yeshiva career for eight more years at the Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore where he received his Rabbinic Ordination. In Baltimore he also met his wife Dena.

In 1987, the Friedmans joined a group of young couples who founded the Atlanta Scholars Kollel. In 1993, classes being taught by Rabbi Friedman in Dunwoody morphed into Congregation Ariel. One year later, Rabbi Friedman became Rabbi of Congregation Ariel in Dunwoody, a position he held for 32 years until recently retiring as full-time rabbi and ascending to the position of Rabbi Emeritus. As Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Friedman will be able to devote himself exclusively to teaching Torah and helping people come closer to Hashem.

The Friedmans are blessed with five children and thank G-d many grandchildren.

Additional community rabbis

Rabbi Izrael Zelman

Congregation Ariel is dedicated to providing its members with what they need to grow in their Judaism. The members from the Former Soviet Union need an opportunity to learn Torah from a teacher who speaks their language and understands their experiences. After studying Torah for many years in his native Moscow Rabbi Izrael Zelman received Rabbinic ordination in Jerusalem. Rabbi Zelman came to Atlanta to serve the King David Bukharian community in Norcross. In 2006, the Zelman family took up residence in Dunwoody and Rabbi Zelman started his nonstop teaching schedule. With specialties in Talmud, Jewish Thought and Kabbalah Rabbi Zelman enriches the lives of all who learn from him even in English.

Rabbi Yossi Vakrat

Rabbi Yossi Vakrat heads Achdut Yisrael, a full time program of classes and minyanim for Hebrew speakers at Ariel. Rabbi Yossi was born and raised in Israel. After having studied in Israeli Yeshivot he spent time at Aish Hatorah preparing himself to teach Torah in the diaspora. Rabbi Vakraat came to Atlanta under the auspices of the Atlanta Scholars Kollel. Rabbi Vakraat is a founder of Sharsheret, a network of centers doing outreach to Israelis in North America. He and his wife Malka have three children.

staff members

Denise Jacobs
Synagogue Administrator

Denise joined Ariel in the summer of 2020. She has a wealth of experience in the 'shul' business, having worked for several Atlanta area congregations. Denise pegs herself as the 'wondering Jew' as she has lived in Ontario, Canada, Netanya, Israel, San Francisco, CA, Houston, TX, and originating from Queens, New York. She loves working for and being an active member of the Jewish community. Although, they don't live locally, Denise's children (living in Canada and California), are a huge part of her life. Denise and her husband Steve relocated to Atlanta in 2008.

Elka Reisch

Youth Director

Elka Reisch is excited to return to Dunwoody with her family, after spending two summers here as a Camp Shamayim Counselor. She also led youth groups at Shomrei Emunah Congregation and served as head counselor at Camp Bais Yaakov in Baltimore, where she grew up. After graduating from the University of Maryland with a Masters in Social Work she has worked as a child and family therapist to help her clients overcome mental health challenges. She is looking forward to working with the youth at Congregation Ariel and hopes to build meaningful and lasting relationships with both children and families

Flavio Ramon
Facility Maintenance

Flavio has been at Ariel since 2013 and is the smiling face behind-the-scenes at the synagogue. Flavio ensures we always have a building to be proud of, and can clean a room, set up a kiddush and repair a broken lock – usually simultaneously! Flavio is the “right-hand man” to our many volunteers, making sure our events run smoothly, and making it all look so easy!