Rabbi and Rebbetzin

Rabbi Kaufman was born to Rabbi Yehoshua Heschel and Rebbetzin Gittle a"h Kaufman in Washington DC. He was raised in Washington DC, as well as Montreal Quebec Canada. Rebbetzin Debby Kaufman was born in Detroit, Michigan to Dr. Arnold a"h and Beatrice Eisenman a"h.

Rabbi Kaufman began his advanced studies in Montreal at the Yeshiva Gedolah/Merkaz Hatorah and continued them in 1974 at the Yeshiva of Staten Island, Mesivta Tifereth Jerusalem. In 1983, he received semicha from his great-uncle, the Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Moshe Feinstein and his son, Rabbi Reuven Feinstein. Rabbi Kaufman furthered his studies at the yeshiva Kollel until 1985 and received a master's degree in counseling and guidance from St. John's University in New York. He served as a congregational rabbi at the Young Israel of Eltingville for seven years and then as the assistant rabbi of the Young Israel of Staten Island for eight years, before taking the position of rav of Congregation Ohav Emeth in Highland Park in 2000.

Rabbi Kaufman is an active member of the Vaad HaRabanim of Raritan Valley. He taught Torah studies to students at the Rabbi Jacob Joseph School (RJJ) for 28 years and now devotes himself full-time to the needs of the shul and the community. He also gives instruction in practical rabbinics for a noted Kollel training program in New Jersey.

Rebbetzin Kaufman has served as a systems analyst at Handelman Record Company and Manufacturers Hanover Bank and a consultant at Exxon and Seagrams. She provided computer training to students at the Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva (RPRY), the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy/Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School and RJJ for 16 years, then took a position as an information data control specialist. She is recently retired, now working full-time as a 'Bubbe' and rebbetzin. She has been actively involved in supporting the work of Bikur Cholimi and the Highland Park Mikvah.

Rabbi Eliyahu and Rebbetzin Debby Kaufman are blessed with a growing family of married children, sons- and daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.