Ep 120: Many Voices One Community with Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews and guest Cantor Gustavo Gitlin on hmTv

Episode 120: Many Voices, One Community
Guest: Cantor Gustavo Gitlin
Host: Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews
Produced by: hmTv at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center

In this heartwarming and deeply personal episode, Many Voices, One Community host Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews sits down with Cantor Gustavo Gitlin to explore the power of connection, cultural identity, and community service.

From Buenos Aires to Glen Cove, Cantor Gitlin shares his family's immigrant journey, the vibrant Jewish history of Argentina, and how a spontaneous birthday party just days after arriving in the U.S. sparked two decades of hospitality and inclusion. The conversation weaves through stories of faith, friendship, interfaith partnerships, and the profound impact of opening one's home—and heart—to others.

Together, Gaitley and Cantor Gitlin reflect on lessons from their shared work in Glen Cove, from combating homelessness through the North Shore Sheltering Program to building bridges between cultures and traditions. The episode also highlights Cantor Gitlin's inspiring partnership with Rabbi Irwin Huberman and their mutual commitment to honest dialogue and transformative leadership.

At its core, this episode is a celebration of community—a reminder that when we share our stories, respect our differences, and serve with intention, we strengthen the bonds that unite us all.

🎧 Listen now and be inspired by a conversation rooted in gratitude, compassion, and hope.

Transcript

Episode 120: Many Voices, One Community
Host: Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews
Guest: Cantor Gustavo Gitlin
hmTv | Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center

Gaitley:
Hello and welcome to Many Voices, One Community—stories that unite us across Long Island and beyond. I’m Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, and I’m so pleased to serve as the Community Engagement Officer here at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center. Today, I’m especially honored to welcome my dear friend, Cantor Gustavo Gitlin.

Gustavo:
Thank you so much, Gaitley. It’s a pleasure to be here.

Gaitley:
We’ve known each other for many years now, but I think our first real conversation happened at what was then Planet Fitness, now Glen Cove Fitness. You, Pastor Betsy, and I were on the elliptical machines—not sure if we burned more calories or used more words! [laughs]

It was one of those moments of genuine connection—just three people talking about life, community, the world. And for me, that laid a foundation. So, let’s start at the beginning of your story. You and your family moved from Buenos Aires to Glen Cove in 2003, correct?

Gustavo:
That’s right—August 12, 2003, to be exact.

Gaitley:
And I came in 2007. So we’ve both been here a while. I’d love for our listeners to hear more about your roots—how your family came to Argentina, and ultimately how you ended up here on Long Island.

Gustavo:
Absolutely. It’s always interesting when I speak Spanish and people look surprised. They’ll say, “You don’t look Hispanic,” and I say, “What does Hispanic look like?” [laughs] Argentina is actually made up of about 90% European descent. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, many Jewish families—like mine—immigrated from Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine and Poland.

There was a Jewish philanthropist named Baron Hirsch who helped relocate thousands of Jews escaping poverty and persecution. If you know Fiddler on the Roof, you know the story. That’s my family’s story—leaving everything behind and starting fresh.

Gaitley:
It’s powerful how immigration stories span so many cultures and generations. And of course, Jewish identity exists in every corner of the globe. We’re not one look, one language, or one experience.

Gustavo:
Exactly. And my wife Gabby’s family has roots in Poland and Germany as well. So we represent a blend of histories, like many in Argentina. And when we moved to Glen Cove, we brought that spirit with us.

Gaitley:
Speaking of Gabby, I love this story—you had just arrived, unpacked your seven suitcases, and she’s already planning her birthday celebration?

Gustavo:
[laughs] That’s right! We arrived August 12, and her birthday is August 15. She said, “Let’s have a party!” I said, “We don’t even have furniture!” But she insisted, and that Sunday we had about 80 or 90 people show up. It became the beginning of a beautiful tradition—opening our home, celebrating life, and building community.

Gaitley:
And I can personally attest—every corner of your home during those gatherings is filled with laughter, music, food, and people from all walks of life. It’s more than hospitality—it’s heart.

Let’s talk about community service. You’ve been deeply involved with the North Shore Sheltering Program. Can you share more about that journey?

Gustavo:
Sure. It was Reverend Betsy who first invited me to volunteer. Two homeless men had died on a cold night, and faith and community leaders came together to respond. I joined the board, and soon I was volunteering overnight. Monday nights became the best night of my week—spending time with these men, speaking Spanish with many of them, hearing their stories.

Gaitley:
That’s so moving. I know for me, delivering meals through NSH Delivers every Thursday grounds me. Sometimes I feel like I don’t have time, but that 45 minutes is always the most meaningful part of my week. It’s a reminder of our shared humanity.

Gustavo:
Yes, and we often forget what a blessing it is to take a hot shower or sleep safely. Volunteering opened my eyes to the kind of gratitude that leads to responsibility—to give back.

Gaitley:
That’s the essence of mitzvah, isn’t it? A commandment, but also an act of loving-kindness. You don’t just do it because it feels good—you do it because it’s right.

Gustavo:
Exactly. You don’t have a choice. It becomes part of who you are.

Gaitley:
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the incredible partnership between you and Rabbi Huberman. You’ve become a dynamic duo in our community. There’s a harmony in how you complement one another.

Gustavo:
We’ve worked side by side for more than two decades. Over time, our professional relationship became a deep friendship. One of the most valuable lessons he taught me was not to hold back. Every Yom Kippur, we’d sit down and ask each other, “Is there anything we need to say?” That tradition helped us grow. We don’t wait a year anymore. We speak up, we trust, and we grow through honest dialogue.

Gaitley:
That kind of communication is rare—and so powerful. We grow not just by looking inward, but also by opening ourselves to others. The dash between birth and death—that’s where our real work is done.

Gustavo:
It’s where we choose to love, to serve, and to build something lasting.

Gaitley:
Well, my friend, I’m so grateful for your presence today and for everything you’ve done—and continue to do—for our community. You embody the spirit of this series.

Gustavo:
Thank you, Gaitley. It’s been an honor to be part of this.

Gaitley:
To our listeners, thank you for tuning in to Many Voices, One Community. Be sure to check out other inspiring episodes here on hmTv and at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center. I’m Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews. Until next time—celebrate each other, respect each other, and keep building community.