Rabbi Leitner energizes Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley
As he nears his first anniversary at Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley, Rabbi Kenneth R. Leitner says, “My greatest joy has come from introducing a phenomenally successful family night service.” Rabbi Leitner is not alone in his feelings about his new congregation’s family service, which uses a special prayer book created and designed to appeal to young families. Attendance at the services has been growing steadily at the 60-year-old congregation.
“Rabbi Leitner has brought new energy to our shul. We are especially excited about his introduction of Young Family Shabbat that happens on the third Friday of each month when we have a shorter, musical service followed by a child-friendly dinner,” says TBS-EV President Debora Bloom. “His good humor and approachability make all feel welcome. We appreciate his practical teachings and down-to-earth style.”
The only Conservative synagogue in the East Valley, TBS- EV is located at 3400 N. Dobson Road in Chandler. The campus includes the TBS sanctuary, social hall, youth lounge, administrative offices and Sisterhood-sponsored Judaica shop, as well as Sholom Preschool and the religious school.
“We are also very pleased that Rabbi Leitner will lead the religious education of our children beginning in August, a position where he has many years of experience,” adds Bloom. “All in all, we feel very blessed to have Rabbi Leitner lead our congregation!”
Rabbi Leitner is a noted educator who has been involved with the founding of two Jewish day schools and a community Jewish supplementary high school. The senior class of the high school honored him with a “teacher of the year” award for excellence in classroom teaching. A native Californian, he has served congregations in NY, CT, PA, CA and GA. Ordained as a rabbi in 1976, he completed his post-ordination doctoral work in the Talmud department of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and holds an honorary doctorate from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
“I am very much looking forward to leading the religious school during the coming year and integrating the best of the 30+ years of experience in Jewish education,” says the rabbi. “Although I have been primarily a pulpit rabbi, I have served primarily smaller congregations in which the rabbi is deeply integrated into the school, if not in direct leadership of the school. I look forward to a school year that is celebrative and joyous!”
TBS offers a warm and supportive environment in which Jews by birth and by choice and non-Jewish family and friends celebrate the richness and beauty of Jewish life through life-cycle events,communal worship and education. Rabbi Leitner says Beth Sholom’s greatest strength lies in its commitment to the idea of empowerment. The adult studies program at TBS includes classes from beginning Hebrew to advanced text study, with the majority of classes taught by lay members. Services also are led primarily by the laity.
“For too long, we have professionalized those aspects of synagogue life which sit at the core of the Jewish spiritual experience: leading tefillah, reading Torah, giving a d’var Torah, teaching other adults,” he says. “I believe it is the role of the rabbi to encourage all Jews to grow into these roles. …We have welcomed new people into our cadre of Torah readers and have individuals in training to lead parts of the Shabbat service.
Cantor Nesis adds voice to Congregation Kehillah
Sheila Nesis joins Congregation Kehillah, an independent Jewish congregation founded in Scottsdale in 2008 under the leadership of Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Cantor Nesis started her path as a sh’licha tzibur at a very early age. Inspired and trained by Rabbi Sergio Bergman and Fundacion Judaica’s School of Shlichei Tzibur, Cantor Nesis served numerous congregations including Temple NCI-Emanu-El and C.I.R.A (also known as “Temple Libertad”) the first synagogue in Buenos Aires.
During the years that followed the economic crisis in Argentina in 2001, she worked with the World Union for Progressive Judaism helping the Jewish and non-Jewish community in Argentina that was in need: she lead Shabbat services and performed concerts in synagogues throughout the United States (Los Angeles, Phoenix, Carmel, Sacramento, Houston, East Hampton), and was featured in regional and national URJ Biennials.
From 2007-2012 she served as assistant cantor at Temple Israel of New York City. In August 2012 she and her husband Alex Abreu relocated to Arizona whre Abreu is now a PhD student at the School of Media, Arts and Computer Engineering at Arizona State University. She has since then worked on a soon-to-be-released recording that features original melodies for Shabbat liturgy.
“Cantor Nesis’ music is so ethereal and uplifting,” says Congregation Kehillah’s administrator Jill Weinstein. “With her and Rabbi Bonnie on the bimah, you can feel the positive energy. They’re an inspiring duo.”
The community can meet the cantor at Kabbalat Shabbat services on Aug. 9 and 23. congregationkehillah.org
Rabbi Rosenthal brings passion to Prescott’s Temple B’rith Shalom
Jews in the Quad City area have a new rabbi: Rabbi Jessica Rosenthal became Temple Beth Shalom's spiritual leader July 1. Her first Shabbat service in Prescott was July 5, preceded by a special oneg Shabbat.
Rabbi Rosenthal, who was ordained by the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, holds master’s degrees in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College; a master’s in Jewish education
with distinction from Siegel College of Judaic Studies, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from New College – the Honors College of Florida. She has been involved extensively in Jewish teaching, counseling, community building and spiritual leadership since 1994, and has served several congregations as religious school educator and principal, and as a student rabbi.
“I’m thrilled to have been chosen to be spiritual leader of B’rith Shalom,” Rabbi Rosenthal says. “I met many members of the Jewish community during my visit here, and I was impressed with the enthusiasm they showed for Jewish learning, communal activity and spirituality.”
She adds that she, her husband, Chad, and her 8-month old son, Isaac, look forward to enjoying all of the cultural and outdoor activities in the Prescott area. “We spent a lot of time taking in this beautiful community, and we loved what we saw. “My passion is to bring people together with a charge to help others discover their own doorway into Jewish life,” Rabbi Rosenthal emphasizes. “I believe that relationships are the foundation of community. A web of connections held together by a synagogue can bolster the community and enhance every individual’s connection to Judaism. I want to help to build entryways for the unengaged and the disenfranchised based on their personal interests.”
Rabbi Rosenthal succeeds Rabbi William Berkowitz, who is returning to the private sector after serving as Temple B’rith Shalom’s spiritual leader for the past five years. “I’ve been deeply touched by the relationships our congregation offered me over these years,” he says. “I’ll always treasure the experience and wisdom I gained working with B’rith Shalom and with the entire community of caring in the Quad City area.” Temple B’rith Shalom is located at 2077 Brohner Way in Prescott. Affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism, the congregation seeks to create a spiritu
al home for all Jews in Arizona’s central mountain region. B’rith Shalom also is popular with Valley residents who flock to Prescott to escape the summer heat. The temple offers attractive associate membership dues for people who are members of other congregations.
For further information, please contact TempleB’rith Shalom at 928-708-0018.
