DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
MORE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS TO BE ANNOUNCED
RABBIS TARA & MEIR FELDMAN
Rabbis Tara and Meir Feldman began their tenure at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck in July, 2009. As hosts of the Forum, they proudly open the doors of their community and feel so blessed to have this extraordinary group of religious and spiritual leaders here at Temple Beth-El (TBE). This will be a historic moment for TBE, for the Great Neck community and beyond. As you visit ForgivenessGN.org, please learn about each of the distinguished speakers and guests that will join Tara and Meir in this important Forum.
CANTOR VLADIMIR LAPIN
Cantor Vladimir Lapin joined the clergy team of Temple Beth-El of Great Neck in July 2016. He received a master’s degree in Sacred Music from the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). He received his bachelor's degree in Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising from Temple University in Philadelphia. He also holds a graduate degree in Vocal Performance from New School's Mannes College of Music in New York City. As a student cantor, he served at B’nai-Jeshurun - Barnert Temple in Franklin Lakes, NJ, and at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City.
Cantor Vladimir Lapin joined the clergy team of Temple Beth-El of Great Neck in July 2016. He received a master’s degree in Sacred Music from the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). He received his bachelor's degree in Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising from Temple University in Philadelphia. He also holds a graduate degree in Vocal Performance from New School's Mannes College of Music in New York City. As a student cantor, he served at B’nai-Jeshurun - Barnert Temple in Franklin Lakes, NJ, and at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City.
YOUSEF BASHIR
Yousef Bashir is a Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellow at Partnership for a Secure America. Yousef received a B.A. in International Affairs from Northeastern University and an M.A. in Conflict & Coexistence from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University in May 2015. Being from Gaza, his master’s thesis aimed to explore the preconditions that are necessary for a just and a lasting resolution for the Israeli-Palestinian problem. Bashir is an active public speaker and a member of Seeds of Peace and Kids 4 Peace.
DR. YAKIR ENGLANDER
Dr. Yakir Englander is the Director of "Dialogue to Action" in Kids4Peace International, as well as a scholar at the Shalom Hartman Institute. Originally from the Ultra-Orthodox community of Israel, Englander earned a PhD from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in Jewish philosophy and gender studies. He is a Fulbright scholar and was a visiting professor of Religion at Northwestern University and Harvard Divinity School."
Seemi Ahmed is a Muslim Chaplain at Hofstra University, co-chair of the New York chapter of Muslim Peace Coalition, and is working as a per diem healthcare chaplain. She is a member of the Board of Trustees and on the Speakers’ Bureau of the Islamic Center of Long Island (ICLI), a member of The Interfaith Alliance, Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives, Philanthropic Educational Organization,
Seemi is heavily involved in outreach to the larger community, interfaith dialogue, and working to build bridges and promote understanding between the various faiths on Long Island through her involvement with The Multi Faith Forum.
Seemi received the “Peacemaker of the Year” award in 2011 by Pax Christi and the “Women’s Leadership Award” in 2011 from Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray.
She has a B.S. in Psychology and a degree in Computer Science. Seemi is also a mother of three and lives on Long Island.
SEEMI AHMED
HABEEB AHMED
Habeeb Ahmed is a medical technologist by profession, did his BS from Long Island University and his Masters from St. John's University. Working as senior medical
technologist at a local hospital. He is the President elect of Islamic Center of Long Island
in Westbury. He is very much involved in interfaith and outreach work. Works with ERASE racism, The Interfaith Alliance,
NAACP, Holocaust Center of Nassau County and a commissioner of Human Rights commission of Nassau County. Habeeb Ahmed was born in India. He has been living in the
USA since 1976. He is married with three kids and lives in Albertson.
NIGEL W. GRETTON
Nigel W. Gretton is an award-winning conductor and the Director of Performing Arts at St. John's University. He serves as President/Owner of Progressive Music Productions and has enjoyed a 34 year tenure as the Musical Director and Organist at the Congregational Church of South Hempstead.
Nigel has blessed Temple Beth-El of Great Neck with his musical talents for years at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Erev Shabbat service.
PROF. CHEN HUA LEE
Chen Hua Lee is a Tzu Chi Commissioner. He is part of a global network of selfless Tzu Chi volunteers dedicated to helping people in need in over ninety countries.
Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation was started by Dharma Master Cheng Yen with the support of 30 housewives as a local charity initiative in 1966. It has grown to be a respected worldwide Buddhist organization with millions of members. Dharma Master Cheng Yen empowers the commissioners to learn the Dahrma, spread Buddha's teachings to everyone with the hope to become living bodhisattvas. The foundation hopes to instill in each of its members a heart filled with enlightened love, inspiring compassion, unconditional giving, sincerity, uprightness, faith, honesty and wisdom. Over the last five decades, Tzu Chi has concentrated on its missions of charity, medicine, education and culture.