Ariel Taps Rabbi Pinchas & Naomi Fink to Lead

It’s been an exciting spring for Dunwoody’s Congregation Ariel, which celebrated in May its three-plus decade anniversary and the renaming of the Beis Midrash in honor of Rabbi Binyomin and Morah Dena Friedman.

Concurrently after a global, 18-month search, the congregation hired Rabbi Pinchas Fink to succeed founding Rabbi Friedman, who is retiring at the end of July after more than 30 years of service. Synagogue President Josh Bakhshi, stated, “Rabbi Fink was chosen from over 20 applicants. He got high marks and enthusiasm from across our culturally and religiously diverse community, which includes Torah scholars, those who are newly observant and those who have always been so, Russian speaking, South African, Israeli and other Sephardic Jews. That we achieved 85 percent consensus among these groups is a blessing we did not expect. That is a tribute to Rabbi Fink.”

Prior to officially launching the search, the search committee co-chairs, Steve Mendel and Elaine Brasch, conducted “listening” sessions with the membership to understand what the community was seeking in future rabbinic leadership. In addition to prior experience, the community wanted a kind, empathetic listener with demonstrated ability to provide pastoral care, advice and guidance for challenging life situations who was also energetic, charismatic with a high emotional IQ and uncompromising Torah practice and acumen. A tall order!

Also high on the congregation’s list was to continue the Friedmans’ legacy of being a non-judgmental, vibrant and welcoming home for all Jews in Dunwoody while remaining true to Torah and Jewish law.

“Rabbi Fink checked all our boxes. We are confident that he will take our established community to the next level,” said Brasch.

Mendel told the AJT that “the search committee really got to know Rabbi Fink over the last few months. He impressed us not only with his background and experience, but his soft spoken, kind and gentle demeanor. He has the vision and passion to work together to inspire and strengthen our community. He is also an enthusiastic educator and has professional training in marriage and mental health counseling. It became clear to us early in the search process that Rabbi Fink was a strong contender.”

Rebbetzin Dena Friedman, affectionately known as “Morah” Dena, partnered with Rabbi Friedman to build the Ariel community from the ground up. Alyson Lembeck, a member of the search committee related, “Morah Dena is not replaceable, but we are so excited that Rabbi Fink’s wife, Naomi, who shares many of Morah Dena’s qualities, is so willing to support her husband’s efforts, lead women’s events, teach and counsel women all while pursuing her impressive career.”

Currently, Naomi Fink is a manager of new product development for Tiffany and Co. at Pelham Productions. She has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Rutgers University and a master’s in applied statistics from Penn State University.

Lembeck continued, “She will be an incredible role model to our women and daughters.”

He has the vision and passion to work together to inspire and strengthen our community.

Both Rabbi and Rebbetzin Fink grew up in Highland Park, N.J., where their families are long-time friends. Rabbi Fink studied in Yeshivas in Wisconsin, New Jersey, and ultimately, in the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva, spending 10 years learning in the Beis Medrash and Kollel and ultimately received his Semicha (rabbinic ordination). He began his rabbinic career while in Chofetz Chaim serving as a rabbinic intern at the Jewish Heritage Center, and then as interim rabbi at Kesser Torah, both in Queens, N.Y.

He currently serves as the rabbi of the Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation in Mount Kisco, N.Y. Rabbi Fink also holds a B.A. in history from Touro College. The Finks are the proud parents of Danny (11), Laya (7), and Tzviki (5) who will attend Torah Day School in the fall.

Rabbi Fink said, “We are privileged to follow in the visionary footsteps of the Friedmans, whose leadership and dedication shaped Ariel into the vibrant community it is today. As we look ahead, we are excited to lead Ariel into its next chapter. Ariel is a shul and a community that we feel truly blessed to be part of, and we are confident that it will continue to grow, thrive, and inspire.”

The Finks plan to arrive in Atlanta early in August.