Rabbi Laurence A. Kotok
RabbiKotok[at]TBK.org
Rabbi Laurence A. Kotok, DD, serves as the senior Rabbi at Temple B'rith Kodesh. Prior to arriving in Rochester in the summer of 1996, Rabbi Kotok served the North Country Reform Temple Ner Tamid of Glen Cove for 22 years. He is currently National Chair of the ARZA Rabbinic Cabinet, serves on the Board of the Jewish Child Care Association, and has been active in both the New York and National UJA/Federation. His long-standing involvement with inter-group programs to increase respect has been recognized by numerous local and national associations. | | | 
Rabbi Rebecca F. Gutterman
RabbiGutterman[at]TBK.org
Rabbi Gutterman was ordained from Hebrew Union College in May 2004. While in rabbinical school, she served several student congregations where she was exposed to the full spectrum of rabbinic duties, particularly adult learning and Bar/Bat Mitzvah education. Rebecca further augmented her training through a summer unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Brooklyn Hospital, work with a deaf Jewish community, and an apprenticeship with the San Francisco based A Traveling Jewish Theatre. This last experience reflects Rabbi Gutterman’s long-held passion for writing and performance. She has received special recognition for achievement in related areas of study including homiletics, liturgy and midrash. | 
Cantorial Soloist Keri Lopatin Berger / Director of Music
Music[at]TBK.org Keri Lopatin Berger is currently the Cantorial Soloist and Director of Music at Temple B'rith Kodesh. Mrs. Berger comes to Temple B'rith Kodesh after completing her Master of Music degree in music education and voice at the Eastman School of Music. While at Eastman, Mrs. Berger studied voice in the studios of Seth McCoy and Dale Moore. Mrs. Berger received her bachelor's degree cum laude in music and Jewish studies at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. During her final year at W.U., Mrs. Berger devoted her senior honors recital entirely to Jewish music of the 20th century. Prior to living in Rochester, Mrs. Berger sang professionally at Temple Israel in St. Louis, and her home congregation of Temple Beth-El in South Bend, Indiana. During her time at Eastman, Mrs. Berger developed an early childhood Jewish music curriculum, which she has worked to implement as part of the Temple B'rith Kodesh religious school. Mrs. Berger currently also works part-time in the Pittsford School District, where she teaches vocal music for kindergarten and first grades. Mrs. Berger is a member of the Guild of Temple Musicians, as well as the New York State School Music Teachers Association, and National Association of Music Educators. |
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Executive Director
Joel Elliot
Email: JElliot[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 222 Program Director
Carol Leichtner
Email: CLeichtner[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 245 Director of Education
Suzie Lyon
Email: SLyon[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 235 Director of Development
Debbie Zeger
Email: DZeger[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 229 Building Manager
Don Crane
Email: DCrane[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 232 Building Services Associates
Stephen Madison
Mike Paul
Jeff Wilson Clergy Assistant
Heather Chesterton
Email: RabbiStudy[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 227 Bookkeeper
Larisa Polonsky
Email: LPolonsky[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 223 Administrative Assistants
Suzanne Clark
Email: SClark[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 243 Joanne Mabb
Email: JMabb[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 240 Religious School Administrator
Terri Richardson
Email: TRichardson[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 236 Religious School Coordinator
Lisa Buchholz
Email: LBuchholz[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 252
Director of The Rochester Kollel
Herb Skerker
Email: HSkerker[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 242
Rochester Kollel Assistant
Juleen Squires
Email: JSquires[at]tbk.org
Phone: 244-7060 ext. 242
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 Joel Elliot assumed the role of Executive Director in May 2007. Joel and his family have been members of our TBK since 1983. An enthusiastic participant in congregational life, he’s taught in the religious school, advised BRiKTY, the high school youth group, volunteered for social action projects, and sang in the choir. Since moving to Rochester in ‘82, Joel spent stints in management at AAA Rochester and the Jewish Community Federation. The transition from active TBK member to energetic administrator is one Joel relishes in our warm, welcoming congregation.
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 In spring of 2007, Carol Leichtner resumed her job as Program Director. Carol Leichtner was appointed Executive Director of TBK effective May 1, 2004. She served as both Executive Director and Program Director, a position she has held since February, 1998. She served as Co-Director of the Temple's Religious School for the previous two years. A volunteer at Temple for 25 years, Mrs. Leichtner served on the Board of Trustees for seven years and was a vice-president for several terms. For 18 years, before becoming an employee at Temple, she was a certified teacher with the Penfield School District.
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 Suzie Lyon comes to Temple B'rith Kodesh with more than 20 years of full time experience as a Jewish educator. As with many Jewish educators, Suzie has knitted together diverse jobs to create a Judaic career that is her genuine passion. She is a lifelong learner, with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from George Brown College and recent coursework from York University. In 1986 Suzie was appointed full-time Youth Director of Toronto's Holy Blossom Temple, a Reform congregation of 1,950 member households. In that position she worked with students in 4th to 12th grades. From 1996 to the present she has worked at Netivot HaTorah Day School, a modern-Orthodox Zionist Day School in Toronto, running the school library, coordinating programming, mentoring new teaching staff and administering testing. She has received the North American Federation of Temple Youth's Tikkun Olam Award in guiding youth to achieve excellence for 8 consecutive years. Suzie joined TBK from Toronto, where most recently she taught Grade 6 at Holy Blossom and Grade 7 at Temple Kol Ami.
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