CLERGY AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF
Rabbi Daniel Liben was ordained by the
Jewish Theological Seminary's in 1983, and became the spiritual leader of Temple Israel in 1991. His
warm, friendly and caring approach make all who enter the Temple feel at
home. The Rabbi is committed to a vision of Temple Israel that supports
the needs of Jewish families at every stage of life. In addition to counseling
and guiding individuals and families as they face life cycle events, he
brings energy and enthusiasm to his role as teacher in a wide range of
settings. The Rabbi leads Family Education programs in the Nursery School,
discusses the weekly Torah portion with our Religious School students,
teaches adults from the Bima or in Adult Education classes, and leads Israeli
Folk Dancing for adults on Thursday evenings. Rabbi Liben's leadership
has brought focus to Temple Israel's mission to provide individuals and
families with opportunities to learn and grow Jewishly in a nurturing and
supportive community.
Rabbi Liben's High Holiday Sermons
Rabbi Liben's Passover Songs
e-mail Rabbi Liben
Cantor Ken Richmond graduated from the
H.L. Miller Cantorial School of the
Jewish Theological Seminary in 2004 and joined the Temple Israel family in
the summer of 2006. As Cantor (Hazzan) and Family Educator, he enjoys leading the congregation in participatory prayer
and teaching and learning with nursery school students, religious school and day school students and their families, and
adults of all ages. He hopes to share his love of yiddishkayt, Jewish learning, mitzvot, and shabbat and
holidays with the community. Since 2003 he has been married to Shira Shazeer, his partner in life as well as in their
duet Fish Street Klezmer and their larger band,
The Klezmaniacs, of which his son Zalmen is the newest member.
Cantor Ken is on the faculty of the Cantor Educator Program
at Hebrew College and a member of the
Rabbinical Assembly Mahzor Committee.
He invites you to download and share the musical offerings here, including Torah and Haftarah trope and songs and
prayers for shabbat and holidays.
Melodies and prayers as sung by Cantor Richmond
e-mail Cantor Richmond
Rabbi Laureate Harold Kushner was the spiritual leader at Temple Israel for
over 25 years. He is the well-known author of
When Bad Things Happen to Good People and five
other nationally best-selling books on how religion helps us cope with
life's problems. Rabbi Kushner continues to help officiate during High
Holiday services as well as during periodic services throughout the year.
Congregants always enjoy his insightful sermons and Divrei Torah.
Faith & Family: Favorite Sermons of Rabbi Harold S. Kushner was released at the end of October 2007.
This wonderful book is a compilation of 18 of Rabbi Kushner's favorite sermons. You may
order a copy now.
Rabbi Kushner's High Holiday Sermons
Hazaan Emeritus Robert Scherr served as our Cantor from 1976 through
the spring of 2005. During his tenure, he helped to define Temple Israel's
identity as a congregation of Torah readers, training hundreds of ba'alei kriah (individuals acting as
Readers from the Torah at services). Hazzan Scherr received the
Jewish Theological Seminary's 2002 David Putterman
Cantorial Award for distinguished and excellent service. Hazzan Scherr currently serves as the associate chaplain
at Williams College in western Massachusetts and remains active
in the leadership of the Cantors Assembly.
e-mail Hazaan Scherr
Professional Staff Members
Karen R. Hayett: Education Director
Betsey Garfinkel: Nursery School Director
Karen Yaffe: Temple Administrator
Cyvia Scharf: Youth Advisor
