Templewelcomes new rabbi Congregation B'nai Israel, Old Freehold Road, Toms River, welcomes Rabbi Ellen Wolintz-Fields as the new spiritual leader of B'nai Israel in more than 30 years. "Coming in the footsteps of Rabbi Richard Hammerman, who was highly respected for his accomplishments, means there are very big shoes to fill. So, it's exciting," said Rabbi Wolintz-Fields. "But I'm up for the challenge." Rabbi Wolintz-Fields, who lives in Toms River, previously served as the rabbi of Congregation Or Tikvah in Grayslake, Ill. Before she moved to Chicago seven years ago, she lived in Brooklyn and Manhattan her entire life, earning a double degree: a bachelor of arts in religion from Barnard College and a bachelor of arts in Talmud from the Albert A. List College of Jewish Studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS). She earned a master's degree in Jewish Women's Studies at JTS and received her rabbinic ordination at the Rabbinical School there. Rabbi Wolintz-Fields is on the Rabbinical Assembly Task Force on Women, a national position, and was the outgoing president of the Chicago Regional Rabbinical Assembly. Rabbi Wolintz-Fields joins Adam Goldstein, cantor, and Dr. Ronald Rotem, temple president, both of whom joined the temple this year as well. "We're all looking forward to working together to ensure that B'nai Israel continues to be the best synagogue possible. Together we will continue many traditions and introduce exciting innovations," she said.