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Officers of the Congregation
Office and Volunteer Staff
Officers of the Constituent Groups
Statement of Core Values adopted by the
Trustees in 2009
Lobby Banners of Core Values
Clergy:
"…a sacred partnership dedicated to supporting a congregation where members feel connected and spiritually enhanced."
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel was founded in 1847 as a traditional synagogue. In a move that made it Philadelphia's first progressive synagogue, KI became a Reform congregation in 1855 and was later considered the region's flagship for the Union for Reform Judaism. Our rabbis have been central figures in Reform Judaism and have helped shape the movement as we know it today. KI continues to serve a leadership role as a visionary congregation, dedicated to meeting the ongoing and ever-changing needs of our Jewish community.
All of KI's leadership - from rabbis and educators to officers and administrative staff - believe in a sacred partnership dedicated to supporting a congregation where members feel connected and spiritually enhanced. Our rabbis listen and are responsive. Our educators are inspiring and intellectually challenging. Our lay leaders and senior staff work together to make KI a unified, visionary place of worship.
 RABBI
LANCE J. SUSSMAN, PhD.
began his service as the eighth Senior Rabbi of Reform
Congregation Keneseth Israel in July 2001. A renowned author and
dynamic lecturer, Rabbi Sussman has published numerous books and
articles, including Isaac Lesser and the Making of American Judaism,
and Sharing Sacred Moments (a collection of his sermons), and served
as an editor of Reform Judaism in America: A Biographical Dictionary
and Sourcebook.
Rabbi Sussman is national Chair of the CCAR
Press, the publishing arm of the Central Conference of American
Rabbis.. He is a Trustee both of the Katz Center for Advanced
Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, the Delaware
Valley College, and the American Jewish Historical Society, and is
an active member of the Academic Advisory and Editorial Board of the
American Jewish Archives (Cincinnati). He is a past president of the
Cheltenham Area Multifaith Council and the Delaware Valley
Association of Reform Rabbis. Previously, Rabbi Sussman
served as Chair of Jewish Studies Department at Binghamton
University-SUNY and has offered courses in Jewish History at Hebrew
Union College in New York City and Princeton University.
He currently teaches Jewish History at Temple University and
is a docent trainer at the National Museum of American Jewish
History.
Rabbi Sussman sets the tone and standard
for an environment of genuine community and life-long learning at
KI. Knowledgeable and approachable, he always brings a new and fresh
perspective to the congregation. He is a rabbinic leader of many
strengths evidenced by his scholarly sermons, his caring presence
during times of joy and sorrow, his open and honest dialogue with
members of the congregation and the community and his obvious love
of sharing Judaism with children and adults alike. Rabbi Sussman is
the creator of the KI Puppets and loves playing the role of Torah
Turtle at Tot Shabbat.
Rabbi Sussman and his wife, Liz,
Director of the Preschool at Temple Sholom in Broomall and founder
of KI's Shir Joy Choir, share the joy of raising their children
Benjamin & Kelly, Joshua, Micah, Judah and Chana.
The Sussmans have two grandchildren, Sophie and Charlotte.
Email:
RabbiLJS@kenesethisrael.org
Read a few of Rabbi Sussman's documents:
"Statement of Principles for Reform Judaism"
KI Core Values
Interdependence
Visit the CCAR website:
CCAR - Platforms (Central Conference of American
Rabbis)
Rabbi Kev in
Kleinman
Our new Assistant
Rabbi was born and raised in Northern Virginia. Rabbi Kleinman
attended Camp Harlam and held leadership positions in NFTY-MAR as a
teenager. He vividly recalls deciding to become a rabbi at the Reform
Movement Biennial in Dallas, TX during the Friday night Shabbat worship
and song session, dancing in the aisles with friends and family,
surrounded by the energy and ruach of 5,000 Reform Jews. These
experiences shaped his desire to create meaningful, spirited, Jewish
life.
Rabbi Kleinman graduated cum laude from Brandeis University in 2002 with
a B.A. in Sociology. He minored in Near Eastern Judaic Studies.
Following college he worked as a Jewish Environmental Educator at the Teva Learning Center in Falls Village, CT where he met his wife and life
partner Chana Rothman. He and Chana are avid outdoor enthusiasts and
passionate about working toward building a more sustainable and just
world, guided by Jewish values. Rabbi Kleinman is currently a GreenFaith
Fellow, a program for developing religious environmental leadership.
Rabbi Kleinman previously served as Student Rabbi at Temple B’nai Israel
Laconia, NH and Rabbinic Intern for Men of Reform Judaism while studying
at HUC-JIR in New York. During this time he also created and directed
URJ Kutz Camp’s Teva Outdoor Experience summer program, taking teens
hiking and rock climbing in upstate New York.
Rabbi Kleinman is very excited to be joining the amazing team at KI.
His rabbinic vision is based on partnership: developing personal
relationships with community members of all ages, working
collaboratively with clergy and lay leaders to build community and
pursue social justice. In these sacred encounters he believes we teach
and are taught; we counsel and are consoled; we work for change and are
transformed.
Email:
rabbikleinman@kenesethisrael.org
 Cantor Amy E. Levy,
appointed Cantor of KI in July 2004, considers herself blessed to
be doing “work” she truly believes to be a calling. Cantor Levy knew
when she made her first trip to Israel during high school that she
wanted to serve the Jewish people. She loves to sing and teach about
what is meaningful and important to her.
Graduating from the University of Kansas in 1996 with a Bachelor’s
Degree in Music for Vocal Performance, Cantor Levy went on to the Hebrew
Union College - Jewish Institute for Religion’s School of Sacred Music.
Her graduation and investiture as a Cantor took place in 2000. Cantor
Levy served Temple Israel in Tulsa, Oklahoma until June 2004. She served
on the Executive Board of the American Conference of Cantors, and is
active in Hadassah. She performed in Cantorial Concerts from New York to
Oklahoma.
Cantor Levy enjoys working with congregants of all ages and with all
kinds of music. From the bar and bat mitzvah students to choirs for
every age group, to Rock n’ Roll Shabbats, and Yiddish music, she makes
the worlds of Jewish music and sacred music accessible. Cantor Levy’s
endless talent, spirituality, and enthusiasm leave an indelible and
joyous imprint on the souls of everyone with whom she comes in contact!
Cantor Levy is married to Ross M. Levy and they have two children.
Email: CantorAEL@kenesethisrael.org
Web Site: http://www.unlimitedprayer.com
RABBI
Stacy Eskovitz Rigler, MAJE,
was appointed KI’s Director of Religious Education in July 2003. After
receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Emory
University, Rabbi Eskovitz Rigler earned her Master of Arts degree in
Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of
Religion (HUC-JIR) in Los Angeles in May 2001 and was ordained as a
rabbi in New York in May 2003.
During her tenure at KI she has overseen the accreditation of both our
Library and our Religious School programs. She has worked at Camp
Harlam, the URJ Department of Jewish Education and the Religious Action
Center in Washington, D.C. and participated in the HUC-JIR/JTS
Leadership Institute for Congregational School Principals. Rabbi Eskovitz Rigler has developed a well-rounded program that is warm,
inclusive and meets the needs of our Religious School families. She
engages the children in an exceptional curriculum while involving the
families with creative programming and enrichment opportunities.
Rabbi Stacy Eskovitz Rigler is married to Rabbi Peter Rigler and they
have three
children, two of whom attend KI’s preschool and religious school.
Email: Educator@kenesethisrael.org
Brian
D. Rissinger
joined KI as its Executive
Director in
July
2006.
An active member of the National Association of Temple
Administrators, Brian has an extensive background in synagogue
administration and operations. For 17 years,
Brian served
as
Executive
Director
of
Main Line
Reform
Temple in
Wynnewood,
PA,
where he was involved in all aspects of the synagogue's systems,
finances, membership, staff recruitment
and facility
maintenance.
Prior to serving at
Main Line Reform
Temple,
Brian
was
a member of the administrative team at Federation Early Learning
Services for eleven years.
Brian
holds a bachelor of science degree in
psychology.
Brian also serves as a member of the board for the Interfaith
Coalition on Energy.
email:
brissinger@kenesethisrael.org
 Beth
Berman, M.S.Ed.,director
of the Richard E. Rudolph Jr. Preschool, started at KI in July 2005. Berman earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal
justice from the University of Delaware and her master’s degree in early
childhood education from the University of Pennsylvania. She belongs to
National Association of the Education of the Young Child, the Delaware
Valley Association of the Education of the Young Children, NATE, and the Early
Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism, an affiliate of the Union for
Reform Judaism.
Beth has two daughters,
Samantha and Jolie, who attend KI’s Religious School.
Visit the PreSchool page
Preschool Calendar(2011-12)
Email:
preschooldirector@kenesethisrael.org
215-885-2425.
Richard D.
Weiss, M.D., President
Dick and his
wife Bobbi joined Keneseth Israel in 2004.
Shortly after joining they received a phone call
inviting them to participate in the Shabbat morning Torah study group
and their participation in the life of the congregation began there.
Dick joined the adult education committee and volunteer choir
soon thereafter and began writing a monthly column about Jewish
life for the synagogue bulleting.
He served on the Torah Fund committee, and then became chairman
of the Religious Practices committee where he supervised the study and
eventual purchase of Mishkan T’Filah, the new prayer book of the Reform
Movement. He joined the Board of
Trustees in 2007 and, as
chairman of the Religious Practices committee he was a part of the
congregation’s Executive Committee.
He was a member of the pulpit committee in 2009 when Rabbi Kevin
Kleinman was selected as Assistant Rabbi.
He served as a congregational vice-president under Peter Soloff
from 2009-2011.
Dick is a graduate of Temple University and its School of Medicine,
graduating from the latter in 1965.
After a residency in radiology he practiced that specialty until
April of 2011 when he retired from the staff of Abington Memorial
Hospital. He and his wife
have three sons and three grandsons.
Email:
idleeyes63@comcast.net
Installation Speech
 Rabbi Simeon J. Maslin, Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Simeon J. Maslin was elected the sixth Senior Rabbi of Keneseth Israel in 1980. Holding degrees from Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and Chicago Theological Seminary, Rabbi Maslin is the author of two books and numerous articles and pamphlets. He served both the oldest congregation in the Western Hemisphere
(Mikve Israel-Emanuel of Curacao) and the oldest congregation in Illinois
(K.A.M. of Chicago) before coming to Keneseth Israel, the oldest Reform congregation in Greater Philadelphia. He is a Past-President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Email: ShiMaslin@aol.com
Cantor Emeritus Richard Allen
 Cantor Emeritus Richard Allen has served the Congregation with distinction from 1976 to 1997. Over the past 21 years, he has enriched the Jewish dimension of our musical liturgy with his baritone voice and musical sensibilities. Cantor Allen has presented the best of our tradition from Sulzer to Steinberg. He has made recordings with Max Janowski and Ben Steinberg. Steinberg's Shomeir Yisrael was commissioned by KI and written for Cantor Allen's voice. His cantorial career spans thirty-five years. He is known internationally for his operatic and concert performances. Cantor Allen currently teaches music, studies, and remains accessible to our congregation.
Bill Ferstenfeld, Executive Administrator, Emeritus
William Ferstenfeld was named Executive Administrator Emeritus upon his
retirement from the field of Temple Administration in 2003. Bill served
K.I. for over 25 years where he was involved in the day to day
operations of the Temple. During his tenure at K.I., Bill was active in
the national Reform movement as well. He is a past president of the
National Association of Temple Administrators, served as a member of the
Union of American Hebrew Congregation's Board of Trustees, Executive
Committee and Commission on Synagogue Management. Bill and his wife
Nancy, currently reside in the Palm Springs, CA area. He is a project
manager in his family's subcontracting business
Email: BFerst@aol.com
Andrew Senn, Organist/Pianist
 A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Andrew
Senn is Organist/Pianist at KI. He also serves as Director of Music and
Organist at The First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, where he
directs the professional chancel choir, the volunteer parish choir and a
dynamic and growing concert series. Following his studies with John
Weaver at The Curtis, Andrew spent a year as Organ Scholar at Truro
Cathedral in England. As a conductor, he has led acclaimed performances
of Handel's Messiah, Poulenc's Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani,
Britten's Saint Nicolas, Bach's B minor mass and Duruflé's Requiem. As
an organ recitalist, he has performed numerous concerts in notable
venues across the United States, England and Germany. As an ensemble
player, he has performed with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and
the Philadelphia Singers. Andrew is passionately devoted to the organ
and aims to make the instrument and its music accessible to everyone. In
his spare time, he enjoys food, fine cars, Harley-Davidson motorcycles
and people.
2010-2011
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This page was updated
01/31/2012 01:19 PM |
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