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Temple Beth El Choir

 

Cantor Alison Levine, director

Mary Klein 

Ilene Davis

Linda Braun

Doug Gilman

Marcia Schwalb

Li Josenhans

Alyssa Axelrod

Erich Josenhans

Carmen Greenhut

Tom Cohn

Andy Pinals

Margaret Mills

Ken Friese, accompanist

 

 

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Rabbi Barton Shallat led Temple Beth El from 1971 until 2003. During his tenure, Rabbi Shallat strengthened our sense of responsibility to pass our Judaic heritage on to the next generation in an inclusive, thoughtful manner. Rabbi Shallat likes to say, “we accept people where they are and help them become the Jews they wish to be.”

Cantor Emerita Sandra Sherry

Cantor Emerita Sandra Sherry-Pilatsky served as Cantor of Temple Beth El for 22 years, through June 2012. Cantor Sherry’s passion for combining music and spirituality, along with teaching both adults and children, left a lasting impression that has endured throughout Temple Beth El.

Diane Berg, RJE has been a Jewish educator for 50 years, educating two generations of students over the 44 years she worked for Temple Beth El. Diane earned the prestigious title of Reform Jewish Educator from the CCAR, ACC, NATE, HUC-JIR and the UAHC (1996). She received her Principal’s Certification from the Federation of Reform Synagogues (1982). Temple Beth El hired Diane to teach fourth grade and Hebrew High School in 1972. She was then chosen to become Director of Education, holding this position for 28 years. During this time, she was also Director of the Morasha Teacher Training Institute for 11 years (SAJES) helping to cultivate the next generation of Religious School teachers. Diane leaves knowing she has made a difference in her students’ lives.

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Samara Rossi

Samara Rossi was born in Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in the five towns and Long Beach.  Being diagnosed with ADHD during her high school years led Samara to have an interest and gift for working with special needs children. Her grandparents were a huge influence in her formative years and their love of Jewish culture, values and family history contributed in cultivating her exploring Jewish education. Her teaching journey began at her childhood synagogue, Temple Emanuel of Long Beach, where she was mentored by “a brilliant women and exceptional educator” Vicki Cabrera, whom Samara thanks for guiding her to where she is today.

Samara believes strongly in experiential education that focuses on the student’s interest to guide their learning experiences; her past experiences include Director for Youth Engagement, Director of Holiday Programming, Classroom Educator and special needs Behavior Intervention Therapist.  She has enjoyed working with children from nursery school age through high school. Prior to her career and passion for education, Samara was the Northeast Warehouse Seller Division Manager for JPMorgan Chase Mortgage division.

Samara has a degree in Early Childhood and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a dual degree in Child Psychology and Social Sciences with an Alpha Sigma Lambda Honors award for excellence.  Currently she is in the process of completing a dual honors program with Fordham University for General and Special Education. 

Samara and her husband Joe live with their two children Bella (age 12) and Sam (age 8), in Huntington.

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There's a reason why Sirius/XM Satellite Radio plays Rabbi Bob Alper's bits several times daily, often sandwiched between Bob Newhart and Jerry Seinfeld: Bob's unique background - he's an ordained rabbi who served congregations for fourteen years and holds a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary - prepared him well for a twenty-seven year comedy career with wonderfully unique material presented in a way that's intelligent, sophisticated, and 100% clean.

Audiences adore him, from an SRO crowd at the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival to a standing ovation before 2,700 people at New York's famed Chautauqua Institution. He's even appeared at Hollywood's IMPROV and THE COMEDY STORE.

Bob performs all across North America and England, at corporate events, theatres, non-profits, conventions, private parties, churches, and, naturally, synagogues. And he's done over 200 shows with his Arab and Muslim comedy partners, at a variety of venues, but primarily colleges and universities. The New York Times reported the comics "...had the audience convulsing."

Bob's 90-minute stand-up act is fast-paced, with impeccable timing and material that's definitely sharp yet gentle and unhurtful. In addition, he offers an informative, hilarious event called "The Spirituality of Laughter," which is particularly appropriate for religious organizations, civic groups, school and hospital in-services, etc.

The rabbi-comedian draws tremendous media attention, and, among others, has been seen on The Early Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Showtime, the BBC, CNN, and was featured on Extra, TV's top-rated entertainment program, immediately following a segment on the size of Jennifer Lopez's buttocks.

In addition to being a full-time stand-up comic and conducting annual High Holyday services, Bob is the author of three books that further showcase his considerable talents: Life Doesn't Get Any Better Than This, an inspirational collection that The Detroit Free Press called "a volume of spiritual gems;" the award-winning full-color cartoon book A Rabbi Confesses; and the recently- published Thanks. I Needed That, more stories that touch readers with their warmth, humor, and wisdom. He's also produced two best-selling comedy CDs as well as a DVD.

Bob resides in rural Vermont with his wife Sherri, a psychotherapist. Professionally, he makes people laugh, while she helps people cry.