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Congregation Temple Israel is blessed with a wonderful clerical and lay staff. Together, they put into action programs and services which further Jewish learning and identity among our members and the community at large.
Rabbi Mark L. Shook
Rabbi John A. Franken
Rabbi Amy Feder
Cantor- Linda Blumenthal
Deborah Morosohk, R.J.E., Director of Education
Gloria Lieberman, Deutsch Early Childhood Center director
Eli K. Montague, F.T.A., Executive Director
Jessica Farber, Director of Synagogue Community
Teresa Mareschal, Retirees Program Director
Rabbis
- Rabbi Mark L. Shook has been Senior Rabbi since 1987. A graduate of the University of Michigan (BA - Anthropology/Near Eastern Studies), he was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in 1972. As Assistant and later Associate Rabbi of Congregation Temple Israel from 1972 until 1980, he was instrumental in organizing our beautiful Edison Retreat Center, located in Troy, Missouri. Rabbi Shook was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree from HUC-JIR. He serves on the Board of Interfaith Partnership of Metropolitan St. Louis, is co-chair of Faith Beyond Walls, an interfaith program of community service, and is chairman of the Board of Ranken-Jordan, a children's convalescent hospital. He also serves as a Police Chaplain for the City of Creve Coeur and for St. Louis County, and as Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at St. Louis University, under an endowed lectureship of the Jewish Chautauqua Society.
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| Rabbi Shook makes presentation to Pope, on behalf of Interfaith Community during 1999 Papal Visit |
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- Rabbi John A. Franken, came to Temple Israel in 2003 after his
ordination at HUC-JIR in New York. As a rabbinical student, he divided
his studies between New York and Jerusalem, where he was a fellow at the
Hebrew University. In addition to a Master's degree in Hebrew
Literature, Rabbi Franken holds degrees in law (University of Maryland,
with honors) and Political Science (Tufts University, summa cum laude).
He is an avid traveler, having visited some 45 countries, and served
Jewish communities in Britain, Ireland, Israel, Luxembourg, and the
United States. Rabbi Franken enjoys the outdoors, all forms of Jewish
learning, and the fine arts. At Temple Israel, he is especially
involved with outreach, social justice, education, and caring community
projects. In the community, he is chair of the Adult Institute of
Jewish Studies, Treasurer of the St. Louis Rabbinical Association, and
sits on the Board of Directors of Doorways. Rabbi Franken also teaches
at the St. Louis University School of Law, where he is an adjunct
assistant professor of Jewish Law.
Email Rabbi Franken
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| Rabbi John A. Franken |
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- Rabbi Amy Feder began working as the assistant rabbi at Temple Israel in 2006 after her ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York . She graduated from the University of Michigan with high honors in 2001, where her coursework was focused on music and Judaic studies. She also holds a Masters degree in Hebrew Literature from HUC-JIR. Rabbi Feder has served in rabbinic and educational capacities in a number of communities, including several small towns throughout the southeastern United States as well as Jerusalem , Long Island, and St. Louis . As part of her rabbinic training, she worked as a chaplain at New York University Hospital and also taught at the Millers Honors High School program. Rabbi Feder has a great love for Jewish camps, where she formed an important part of her Jewish identity. She is also a trained musician and music teacher who tries to bring music into every part of her rabbinate. She works closely with the youth at Temple Israel , from teaching at the Deutsch Early Childhood center to serving as liaison to the various youth groups. A St. Louis native, Rabbi Feder became both a bat mitzvah and a confirmand at Temple Israel and is so pleased to be returning to a congregation and community that she cares about so much.
Email Rabbi Feder
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| Rabbi Amy Feder |
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Cantor
- Cantor- Linda Blumenthal has been an active participant in our music program for many years, first as a choir member, then as director of SHIRA, our volunteer music group and for three years as our music director. She was appointed by The Board of Trustees as Cantor Designate in January 1996. Cantor Blumenthal holds a Master's degree in music/vocal performance from Washington University and has taught music in public schools. In addition to her numerous performance and recording credits, she directed the planned giving program of a local university for more than five years. She is director of both the professional and volunteer choirs and works closely with the Heritage Society and older adult committees of the Temple.
Email Linda Blumenthal
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| Cantor-Designate Linda Blumenthal |
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Director of Education
- Deborah Morosohk, R.J.E., Director of Education, is a cum laude graduate of Washington University. She received her Master of Arts in Religious Education from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. She has worked as a retreat coordinator, a day school instructor, a religious school principal and director of education. A trained and talented musician, she often leads singing in Religious School worship and at Tot Shabbat services. Morosohk serves as staff advisor to the Fabric Family Institute and the Adult Education committee. As a certified Reform Jewish Educator (R.J.E.), she is a member of the National Association of Temple Educators.
Email Deborah Morosohk
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| Deborah Morosohk, R.J.E. |
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Director of Deutsch Early Childhood Center and The Rabbi Mark and Carol Shook Camp
- Gloria Lieberman has been director of the Deutsch Early Childhood Center and the camps of Temple Israel since 1992. A graduate of Drake University with a degree in elementary education, Lieberman has taught kindergarten and first grade in Schaumburg, Illinois, and special needs children in the Ladue school district. Her first love was the young child and that is what brought her to the DECC at Temple Israel. Lieberman is a member of the CAJE Educators Council and the Ladue School District's directors committee, - Bridging the Gap. Both of these organizations meet to discuss cutting-edge ideas in early childhood education, serving to create workshops and support for teachers, parents, and directors.
Email Gloria Lieberman
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| Gloria Lieberman and Reggie |
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Executive Director
- Eli K. Montague, F.T.A. has served as executive director of Congregation Temple Israel since 1989. He is a senior member of the NATA (National Association of Temple Administrators) and has earned the designation, "Fellowship in Temple Administration" or F.T.A., as conferred jointly by the NATA, URJ (Union for Reform Judaism) and CCAR (The Central Conference of American Rabbis). Montague is a native of St. Louis, holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of Missouri-Columbia and had 12 years of administrative experience in government and not-for-profit agencies prior to joining the Temple staff.
Email Eli Montague
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| Eli K. Montague, F.T.A. |
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Director of Synagogue Community
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Jessica Farber, Director of Synagogue Community joined Temple Israel in the spring of 2008.
She received her bachelor's degree from Indiana University in Journalism, Political Science, and Jewish Studies.
Jessica works with the members of the Synagogue Community committee on recruitment of new members and on issues of membership retention and integration.
She also works with the Public Relations/Communications committee to help create publicity about the Temple's programs, staff and members.
Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Jessica was an active member in the Jewish community.
She enjoys reading, cooking and current events. Jessica is very excited to be in St. Louis working for T.I, and looks forward to meeting with congregants.
Email Jessica Farber
Jessica Farber
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Retirees Director
- Teresa Mareschal has been director of our retirees program since the summer of 2005. She also enjoys teaching 3rd grade religious school at Temple Israel. Since earning her masters degree in Early Childhood Education at Webster University, Teresa has taught preschool, special education, and religious school and was the director of an early childhood education center. Since 1998 to the present, she has taught parent education programs, child care provider trainings, and works with a group of senior citizens for the University of Missouri Extension. Teresa is working on a doctorate degree in Adult Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. In November 2005, she presented a research paper with her professor on social justice and religion at two national conferences.
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| Teresa Mareschal |
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Congregation Temple Israel
#1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin Drive - Ladue Road at Spoede
St. Louis, MO 63141-7670
Voice: (314) 432-8050 Fax: (314) 432-8053
e-mail:
writeus@ti-stl.org
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