Rabbi Billy Dreskin served as spiritual leader of Woodlands Community Temple in White Plains, NY, from 1995 until his retirement in 2021. In 1980, Billy earned a degree in music composition from Brandeis University, followed by his 1987 rabbinic ordination from the New York campus of Hebrew Union College. He served for six years (1987-95) as Associate Rabbi at Fairmount Temple (now Mishkan Or) in Cleveland, OH. During college, he wrote the scores for two musicals, one of which (“Personals”) was produced off-Broadway. Throughout his rabbinical career, Billy taught Torah and Talmud, was an early adopter of visual t’filah, encouraged acts of social justice, deepened ties with the interfaith community, and composed music whenever he found the time. For 20 years, he performed with his friends in Beged Kefet, a music ensemble that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for tzedakah. These days you’ll find him very happily studying and composing music to his heart’s content, as well as coordinating the activities of The Jonah Maccabee Foundation, established in memory of his son and whose mission is “turning love into action.” Billy  is married to Cantor Ellen Dreskin, and is the proud father of Katie, Jonah (z”l) and Aiden. Charlie is his dog.  Rabbi Billy Dreskin served as the spiritual leader of Woodlands Community Temple in Ardsley from 1995 until his retirement in 2021. He has since returned to the passion of his youth: composing music.

Listen to Billy's music at jonahmac.org/billys-music and contact him at rabbibillydreskin@gmail.com. 

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Cantor Ellen Dreskin teaches and consults in a wide variety of areas, including contemporary Jewish music, innovative prayer-practice, liturgical exploration, and leading worship. She works extensively with congregations as a scholar-in-residence and has taught for many years at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, Hava Nashira, HUC-JIR, URJ Biennials and Kallot. Email her at ellendreskin@gmail.com.