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Rabbi Josh Tannenbaum

I was born in Brooklyn, and at a year old, my family moved to the Five Towns on Long Island. I started out in Yeshiva of South Shore , under the guidance of Rav Binyomin Kaminetsky, Rosh Yeshiva, and Rabbi Chanina Hertzberg as the Menahel, and then went to HALB for middle school. During this time a friend and I ran youth groups for the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst. For high school, I went to HAFTR followed by Yeshiva Ohr Reuven in Monsey, under the guidance of the Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Bezalel Rudinsky. During this time, I met Rabbi Zalman Wolowick from the Chabad of the 5 Towns and was involved in teen programming. After high school, I went to Eretz Yisroel, where I learned first in Nevei Tzion in Telshe Stone, Yerushalayim, and then in yeshiva in Tzefat, under the guidance of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Rephael Wiengot. There I met Rabbi Yaacov Orimland, and my deeper connection to chassidus was solidified. For the next few years I helped run, teach, organize trips and learned under and together with Rabbi Orimland at Yeshivas Nishmat Shlomo, as well as being his dorm counselor.

During the summers of my teenage years I held various jobs, including: being a counselor for YACHAD (an organization that works with the handicapped population), working as a mechanic for a heating and air-conditioning company, as well as for a company that installed high tech security. Many of these skills are still utillized in my day-to-day life.

When I returned from Israel, I studied at the Rabbinical College Of America in Morristown N.J..  There I met a friend and together we started a construction company. I later joined my father's heating and air-conditioning company as a head mechanic. I then developed the contracting side of the business, and I eventually became the CEO of this division.
After I got married, I continued growing the business. I moved to Rochester, N.Y., where I opened up a branch of the business. My family then moved to Cleveland, and we now reside in Bettendorf, Iowa. My wife is an anesthesiologist at Genesis Medical Center and is the Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology. My wife and I are proud parents of 14 children. Our children are all home schooled up until high school, and some until Zal/Beis Medrash, both in Judaic studies and secular studies.

While working, I always took time out to continue my Hebrew studies. Several years ago, I received my rabbinic semichah from Machon L’Hora’ah, under Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm and tested by Rabbi Dovid Shochat of Toronto. Currently I am learning shechita.

I have taught Sunday School and given other classes. I like to think that I have made a difference in bringing the Jewish spirit to life for children as well as adults, that would otherwise have no opportunity to broaden their knowledge of Jewish holidays and the basic ways of Jewish life.
Throughout our travels, my wife and I have had an open and inviting home for all Jews, no matter their affiliations. We welcome community people into our home, along with being active in local community affairs. I am on the board and help maintain our local Jewish Cemetery. Holidays are a special time for us as we encourage and welcome people to share in our spiritually uplifting events and services that we organize. As there are no kosher caterers in the area, my wife and I, along with the help of our children, prepare all the food for every event.
We have organized programs for each holiday and have received much positive feedback from the community. Wherever we have journeyed, I feel that my family and I have made a positive and important influence in the lives of those we have encountered. We hope to continue to do so on a greater scale given the opportunity. I feel it will be invaluable to our community.