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Clergy & Staff
 AMY M. SCHWARTZMAN, Senior Rabbi
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Rabbi Schwartzman was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She
received her Masters of Hebrew Literature in 1988, and
ordination in 1990, from the Hebrew Union College Jewish
Institute of Religion in New York City. Following ordination,
she joined us as our Temple's first Assistant Rabbi, and became
our first Associate Rabbi. In June of 1998, following the
retirement of Rabbi Berkowits, Rabbi Schwartzman was installed
as Senior Rabbi of Rodef Shalom, giving Temple Rodef Shalom the
distinction of being one of the largest congregations headed by
a woman rabbi.
Rabbi Schwartzman
is involved in the leadership of many Jewish organizations and
has served on the executive board of the Central Conference of
American Rabbis (CCAR) and co-coordinated the Women's Rabbinic
Network of Reform Judaism. She has also worked with many
community organizations including the Religious Coalition for
Reproductive Choice, many national and local housing
organizations, and has been active in community AIDS projects.
2009 High Holy
Day Sermons: click here
to go to the sermon page.
2008 High Holy
Day Sermons (Available in both pdf
format to read, or mp3 format to listen to using an mp2 player.
Right-click and save to your computer, then open from your
computer)
"The Power of Narrative" Rosh Hashanah 2008 Sermon -
written text
audio
"God Loves Us" Yom Kippur 2008 Sermon -
written text
audio
 MICHAEL A. SHOCHET, Senior Cantor
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Cantor Michael Shochet is the first cantor of
Temple Rodef Shalom, having been appointed to this position
in 1998. He had served as the first cantor of Temple Sinai
of New Orleans prior to coming to Falls Church. Cantor
Shochet received his Masters of Sacred Music and Investiture
as Cantor from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of
Religion in May 1994.
Cantor Shochet is a full partner in the
clergy team of Temple Rodef Shalom, joining the rabbis in
meeting the full pastoral, educational and spiritual needs
of our congregation. Cantor Shochet directs the music and
cultural areas of our congregational life leading services,
directing our adult and junior choirs, congregational band
and numerous cultural events, concerts and programs.
Cantor Shochet gained recognition in the
Reform movement through his leadership positions with the
American Conference of Cantors and the Union for Reform
Judaism. He has served on the board of trustees and as Vice
President of the American Conference of Cantors and
co-edited the current lifecycle manual for American
Cantorate used in Reform congregations worldwide. Cantor
Shochet also served for many years on the Reform movement's
Joint Commission on Synagogue Music. Cantor Shochet focuses
his Cantorate on liturgy and teaching, in addition to
creating Jewish cultural experiences for our congregation.
Cantor Shochet is also certified as a Senior Police
Chaplain through the International Conference of Police
Chaplains and serves as the senior chaplain coordinator for
the Fairfax County Police Department, as well as a chaplain
for the Washington Field Office of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. Cantor Shochet is trained in advanced
Critical Incident Stress Management and in other areas of
pastoral crisis intervention.
2009 High
Holy Day Sermons: click
here to go to
the sermon page.
2008 High
Holy Day Sermon (Available in both
pdf format to read, or mp3 format to listen to using an mp2
player. Right-click and save to your computer, then open
from your computer)
"The Chickens That Went On Strike" Rosh
Hashanah 2008 Family Service Sermon -
written text
audio
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JEFFREY S. SAXE,
Rabbi
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Rabbi Saxe joined our clergy in July 2007 after
serving as Assistant Rabbi for two years at Central
Synagogue in New York City. He was ordained in 2005
and invested as a cantor in 2003, both by Hebrew
Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR)
in New York. A Wexner Graduate Fellow, he received
awards for his work at HUC-JIR in Talmud, Liturgy,
Rabbinics, Hazzanut, and other areas. While a
rabbinical and cantorial student, he enjoyed serving
congregations in New York, Boston and Ohio. His
experiences range from teaching Torah and Midrash,
to Counseling individuals towards conversion to
Judaism, and to song leading at a Jewish camp in
Yosemite.
Rabbi Saxe grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.
After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University
of California at Berkeley with a degree in Political
Science, he worked in Washington, D.C. for the US
Department of Justice as a Civil Rights Analyst. His
passions for Jewish learning, community and music
drew him to study at HUC-JIR and his eventual work
as a rabbi.
2009
High Holy Day Sermons: click
here to
go to the sermon page.
2008
High Holy Day Sermons (Available
in both pdf format to read, or mp3 format to listen
to using an mp2 player. Right-click and save to your
computer, then open from your computer)
"When
We Speak Out" Rosh Hashanah 2008 Sermon -
written text
audio
"Change" Yom Kippur 2008 Sermon -
written text
audio
 TRACEY SCHER, Cantor
Email
Cantor Scher joined the TRS
clergy team in July 2008. Previously, Cantor Scher
served for four years as Cantor at Temple Beth Or in
Washington Township, New Jersey. A native of Nova
Scotia, Canada, Cantor Scher attained a graduate
degree in opera from the Peabody Conservatory of
Music and performed professionally as an opera
singer. Her work as a soloist at the Park Avenue
Synagogue in New York City led to her decision to
become a cantor. She graduated from Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute in Religion in New York
City and was invested as a Cantor in 2003.
RABBI LASZLO BERKOWITS,
Founding Rabbi
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Following
his ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish
Institute of Religion in 1963, Rabbi Berkowits became
Temple Rodef Shalom's first rabbi. He held this position
until his retirement as Senior Rabbi in July of 1998. A
native of Hungary, Rabbi Berkowits earned a Bachelor of
Arts in Sociology at the University of Cincinnati, and a
Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters with Honors from Hebrew
Union College. After 25 years in the rabbinate, he
received his Doctor of Divinity from Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
Throughout his distinguished career in Falls Church,
Rabbi Berkowits focused his attention on religious,
civic, and humanitarian concerns. He was a member of the
Virginia Advisory Committee to the US Commission on
Civil Rights and served on the DC Chapter of the
American Jewish Committee. He is a former member of the
Executive Board of the CCAR and past president of the
Mid-Atlantic Council of the CCAR. Rabbi Berkowits is
also a founding member of the board of Hospice of
Northern Virginia, and served as president of the McLean
Clergy Association.
 BETH
SILVER, Executive Director
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Beth
Silver became Executive Director in July 2004. She
previously served for four years on the TRS Executive
Committee as both Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer, in
addition to teaching in the TRS Nursery School. Beth has
also held executive positions in both Finance and
Operations at Time Life, The Discovery Channel, and
Gannett. She is a member of the National Association of
Temple Administrators (NATA). A native of Rochester, NY,
she received her BS from Cornell University. Beth and
her family have been active members of TRS since 1993.
CANTOR
ALLEN LEIDER, Director of Education
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Cantor Allen Leider became
the Director of Education in July 2007. He comes to us
after serving as the Educator for Temple Beth-El of
Northern Valley in Closter, NJ. He previously served as
Cantor and Educator at Congregation Beth Israel in
Charlottesville, VA.
 HOWARD
STREGACK, Director of Membership Development
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Howard joined our
congregation in July 2007 as our first Director of
Membership Development. He was most recently at the DC
JCC in Washington, DC where he jointly ran their
Development office. His other non-profit and
development work includes the JCC of Greater Washington,
as well as several institutions in Seattle, including
the Hope Heart Institute, Intiman Theater, and Seattle
Hebrew Academy, with jobs ranging from ticketing and
subscriptions to marketing and PR to grants and special
events.
 ANITA
THORNTON, Temple Program Director
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Anita
Thornton became Temple Rodef Shalom's first Program
Director in July of 2001. Prior to this position, she
served as Assistant to the Administrator, and Music
Specialist for the TRS Religious School, Nursery School
and Camp.
A
graduate of Shenandoah College and Conservatory of
Music, Anita has worked as a Music Therapist/Recreation
Specialist and Volunteer Coordinator for the VA Medical
Center in Martinsburg WV, and was Director of Marketing
and Promotions for two Radio Broadcast organizations.
She
currently serves as a Vice President of the Program
Directors of Reform Judaism, and is active with several
local Jewish organizations. Part of a three-generation
TRS family, Anita grew up at TRS and was President and
Song Leader for our Senior Youth Group. She and her
husband Chuck have two grown children.
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 FRAN
PFEFFER, Director, Nursery School
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Fran Pfeffer became Director of the TRS Nursery
School in July 2006. Previously, she was
Director of the Northern Virginia JCC Preschool
for six years. Fran came to Northern Virginia
after many years as Assistant Director of the
JCC Prechool in Palo Alto California. She is a
member of the National Association for the
Education of Young Children, and the Early
Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism. A native
of Michigan, Fran and her husband are members of
TRS.
 BRYNNE
ROSENBERG, Youth Director
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Brynne Rosenberg
became the first full time Youth Director for
TRS in July 2006. She was very involved with
NFTY and her synagogue's youth group as a teen
and recently led a teen tour to Israel. Brynne
will be leading the three Youth Groups of TRS:
TRSTY (for grades 9-12), Jr. TRSTY (for grades 7
and 8), and TRSTY 56 (for grades 5 and 6). A
native of Yardley, PA, Brynne grew up at Shir
Ami congregation in Newtown, PA. She graduated
from George Washington University in 2005 with a
BA in Communication.
TRS Support Staff Members
We are blessed with an outstanding group of
staff members who support our clergy,
leadership, and congregants. Our staff members
include:
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Administration: Sharon Soffer (Camp
Registrar), Martha Hill (Librarian), Laura
Jacobs (Receptionist),
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Jen Regelman (Office Manager)
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Clergy Support: Anne Duncan (Clergy
Secretary), Kristen Gross (Clergy Secretary)
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Religious School:
Raphaele Pelaez (Religious School Office
Manager)
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Nursery School:
Anja Chase (Office Manager), Jamie Korelitz
(Office Assistant)
Office Hours: Monday- Thursday 9:00 am-5:00
pm, Friday- 9:00
am-3:00 pm |
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