About Our Rabbi

Rabbi Shmuel Hain is a pulpit rabbi and educator. Under his leadership since 2006, YIOZ of North Riverdale/Yonkers has transformed into a vibrant community synagogue, doubled the size of its membership, and completed a major expansion project. As Rosh Beit Midrash V'Torah Sheba'al Peh at SAR High School, he oversees all Beit Midrash programs, mentors and teaches the Beit Midrash Fellows, chairs the TSBP (Gemara) Department, and teaches advanced Judaic Studies classes. He is also on the leadership team of Machon Siach, SAR High School's research arm for educators. Rabbi Hain is also an adjunct faculty member at YCT where he teaches Hilchot Aveilut. During the summer, he serves as Rav Machaneh (Camp Rabbi) of Camp Moshava- Indian Orchard.

Rabbi Hain was awarded the Daniel Jeremy Silver Fellowship at Harvard University's Center for Jewish Studies (CJS) for the 2020-2021 academic year and was a Visiting Scholar at CJS during the Spring 2022 semester. His interdisciplinary research and teaching at Harvard integrated academic, halakhic, and pastoral perspectives on the Jewish laws of mourning. He has previously co-authored and edited several volumes of Torah and academic scholarship, including a volume in The Orthodox Forum series entitled The Next Generation of Modern Orthodoxy (Ktav: 2012).

Rabbi Hain graduated with honors from Yeshiva College with a BA in Psychology and studied both Medieval Jewish History and Talmud at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. He was an inaugural fellow of the Bella and Harry Wexner Kollel Elyon at RIETS, where he was ordained in 2001 and where he taught advanced Talmud classes to semikha and undergraduate students from 2000-2012. From 2005-2011, he served as Rosh Beit Midrash of the Graduate Program for Women in Advanced Talmudic Studies at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Hain also previously served as Assistant Rabbi at The Jewish Center in Manhattan and as Rabbinic Assistant at the Young Israel of Woodmere.

Rabbi Hain and Shari, Senior Physician Assistant of the Ear Nose and Throat Department at Mt. Sinai West Hospital, cultivate a warm, communal feel at YIOZ by opening up their home to all members of the community. They are the proud parents of Eitan and Shira, Akiva and Reva, Judah, Nate, and Rayli. 

Rabbi Hain can be reached at rabbi@yioz.org.