Rabbi Felipe Goodman has credentials that are as impressive as his youthful spirit and commitment. Born in Mexico City, he was voted President of the Latin American Union of Jewish Students. Singled out by international leaders for both his ideas and hard work, young Felipe was promoted to vice president of the World Union of Jewish Students. In 1990, having earned a Bachelors of Arts degree from Mexico City’s University of The New World , the young man began his rabbinical studies at The Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Adding leadership responsibilities to his overwhelming study load, steadfast Felipe was elected President of the Rabbinical School student organization, moonlighting as chairperson of the Student Placement Service. He received a Masters Degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1993 and was ordained as a Rabbi in 1996. In 2008 he became certified by the Joint Bet Din of the Conservative Movement as Mesader Gittin – a rabbi who is an expert in matters of Jewish divorce, which involves the actual writing of a Get.

Before joining Temple Beth Sholom in 1998, Rabbi Goodman served as assistant Rabbi in Comunidad Bet-El de Mexico in Mexico City , the largest conservative synagogue in Latin America . Rabbi Goodman’s charisma has made a profound impact on the Jewish community of Las Vegas. Attendance at Shabbat services has climbed from handfuls to hundreds, with eager, joyful numbers rising by the week; vibrant Temple Beth Sholom is anything but a synagogue of once-a-year congregants.

Keeping with his tradition of extracurricular leadership, Rabbi Goodman remains active outside the synagogue. He was handpicked to be a member of The Chancellor’s Rabbinic Cabinet at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, one of only 13 American Rabbis so honored. In June 2002 Rabbi Goodman, along with seven others, was invited to serve on a special task force to discuss the results of the 2000 National Jewish Population Census. Rabbi Goodman was appointed by the Rabbinical Assembly to serve in the Joint Placement Commission of the Conservative Movement and was also recently appointed by the Jewish Theological Seminary as one of its representatives on The Joint Reitrement Board of the Conservative Movement. In the past he has served as part of the Executive Committee of The Rabbinical Assembly and has also served as President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern Nevada. The most widely distributed Pesach Haggadah of the Conservative Movement in Latin America was co-authored by Rabbi Goodman. Rabbi Goodman is currently working on his new book: "Torah from Sin City."

The most impressive quality about indefatigable Rabbi Felipe Goodman? A chat with him is merely a phone call away, a heart-to-heart discussion a knock on his office door. Even if one chooses simply to sit and enjoy one of Rabbi Goodman’s sermons, it’s a pleasure encountering the man with the smile that just won’t quit.