Our people are truly our greatest asset. Representing many different backgrounds, age groups, and locations throughout metropolitan Cleveland, the leaders and members of Suburban Temple-Kol Ami are what make our worship community unique. We believe that every individual brings a wonderfully unique perspective on Judaism, faith, and community, and we encourage diversity in our congregation and its prayer and activities. All
members are equal partners in this enriching goal.
"A Rabbi is... a
teacher, a student, a counselor, a link to Jewish tradition, a bridge to a
fuller life...A Jew who rejoices in the power of God and faith."
Rabbi Eric J. Bram joined Suburban Temple – Kol Ami as our rabbi on July 1, 2002. He came to us from his position as Senior Rabbi at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, where he served since 1995.
Rabbi Bram is a Midwesterner by birth, education and professional affiliations. He is a native of Chicago. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a major in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. In 1984, he received his Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, where his Major Concentration was Jewish Religious Education. He was ordained at HUC–JIR in 1985.
After his ordination, Rabbi Bram served as Assistant Rabbi and then Associate Rabbi at Congregation Temple Israel in St. Louis, from 1985–1995. During that time, he also taught at St. Louis University, the University of Missouri and St. Louis University Medical School, conducting classes in Jewish Life and Thought, Jewish Religious Philosophy and “Working With Dying Patients and Their Families”. From 1986–1995, he was on the faculty of Goldman Union Camp-Institute, in Zionsville, Indiana. He was a Chaplain at the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois from 1991–1995.
Rabbi Bram has been very active in community organizations. He is the Founding President of the Indiana Chapter, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. He has been a member of the Indianapolis Urban League since 1996. Rabbi Bram is currently serving as a Task Force member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis Task Force on Spiritual Leadership, and as a Commission Member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations/Central Conference of American Rabbis Joint Commission on Synagogue Affiliation. He was also the Chair of the Indianapolis Board of Rabbis from 1997–1999, and President of the Missouri Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice from 1991–1995.
Rabbi Bram is on the faculty at our Union Camp, GUCI. Here is a picture of Rabbi Bram and Debbie Bram with our Temple campers (summer 2004)
Rabbi Bram studies with Ethiopian-Israelis at the Jaffa Institute in Bet Shemesh, Israel On September 8, 2005. Rabbi Bram was part of a national delegation of thirteen rabbis from the the Rabbinic Cabinet of United Jewish Communities to learn about the current conditions of Israel's Ethiopian community.
Rabbi Bram and his wife, Debbie, have two children, Jessica and Daniel. They make their home in Solon
Executive Director Loree Resnik
Loree
B. Resnik, FTA, has been our Temple’s Executive Director since 1978. Her years
of involvement with Suburban Temple-Kol Ami, including many years serving as
both Executive Director and Religious School Principal, make her a great resource
for questions about the Temple, congregation, and the Jewish community in Cleveland.
Loree was the founding president of the Cleveland Area Temple and Synagogue
Administrators, chaired the Cleveland Jewish Educators Council, and served as
a member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the National Association
of Temple Educators. She is currently Past President of the National Association
of Temple Administrators. A life-long resident of Cleveland, Loree received
her Bachelor of Science degree from the Ohio University and holds a Master of
Education degree from Kent State University with certification in School Psychology
and Administration. She holds a certification as a Fellow in Temple Administration,
has done post-graduate work at Kent State University, and has studied at institutes
at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles and the Hebrew Union College in
Cincinnati.
Religious School Director Debbie Bram
Deborah
Yochim Bram became our Religious School Director in July,2003. She brings with
her a wealth of experience having previously served as Educator of the Indianapolis
Hebrew Congregation Early Childhood Center, as Program Coordinator of "Our
Jewish Home", a project of the Jewish Community Center of Indianapolis
and as Relgious School Director of Congregation Temple Israel in St. Louis,
Missouri. Debbie holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Illinois and
an MSW from Loyola University of Chicago. She will bring to her work with our
Religious School families and students certification in Marriage and Family
Therapy and experience in that area. Married to Rabbi Eric Bram, she is the
mother of Jessica and Daniel. She will build on the strengths of our fine Religious
School program while bringing creative new ideas to our faculty and students.
Her goals include creating a strong sense of community among our students and
sharing her own contagious love of Judaism with all of them. She can be reached
here at the Temple by e-mail at DBram@suburbantemple.org
She would be delighted to talk or meet with any prospective Religious School
parents..
Board of Trustees President Tom Galvin.
At the March, 2008 Board meeting, Tom was elected to serve a third year as President.
Music Director and Organist Bruce Shewitz
Suburban
Temple-Kol Ami’s Music Director and Organist joined the temple staff in July
2001, but he has 30 years of experience as an organist and choir leader for
a number of area synagogues and churches. Bruce Shewitz came to Suburban Temple-Kol
Ami after serving as music director and organist with The Temple in Cleveland
for 17 years. A graduate of Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Bruce
is a member of the American Guild of Organists and became a board member of
the Guild of Temple Musicians in 2002. Bruce is also a singer and plays all
keyboard instruments, including the organ, piano, and harpsichord.
Rabbi Emeritus Michael Oppenheimer
For more than twenty-six wonderful years, Rabbi Michael Oppenheimer served as the spiritual leader of Suburban Temple-Kol Ami. His warm relationship with our congregation continues as he serves as our esteemed Rabbi Emeritus.
Our officers and Board of Trustees are truly representative of our temple family. Male and female, they cross all age groups, geographical areas, and professions. What they share is a common dedication to the temple and its mission.
Thomas E. Galvin., President
Barbara Feldman., Vice President
David Greenberg, Vice President
Dr. Steven Gordon, Vice President
Sara Stashower, Vice President
Diane Scholnick, Secretary
Thomas E. Gerson, Treasurer
Lea Bank
Annie Becker
Jack Alan Bialosky, Jr.*
Barnett Bookatz
Dr. Stanley Brown*
Dr. Richard L. Cohen*
Beth N. Curtiss*
Gary Dinner
Irwin Feldman
Peggy Zone Fisher
Dr. Jane Glaubinger
Irwin S. Haiman*
David Heiman
Donald S. Jacobson*
Kenneth M. Lapine*
Shelly Lazarus
Dennis Lehman
Ginny Lehman, Women's Committee
Sandra Lusher-Waterhouse
Richard D. Margolius*
Janis McCormick
Alan Melamed
Patricia Meyer Silver
Sue G. Nelson
Jody Podl
Michael Polster
Stanley Proctor*
Dr. Robert Rogoff
Robert T. Rosenfeld*
Ronald M. Rubenstein*
Larry Sears
Dr. Carol Shulman
Mina S. Siegel*
Lee Warshawsky
Jennifer Woomer
* Past Presidents
Past Presidents in Memoriam
Martin J. Cohn
David H. Dietz
Morton R. Dworken
Louis A. Fox
Robert J. Glick
David L. Margolius
Click here for information on membership at Suburban Temple-Kol Ami.