Kollel Faculty

KOLLEL FACULTY

Stu Berger is a retired scientist who has been fascinated by and studied Jewish history and its association with the cultures in Biblical times through the 1st millennium CE. He has taught the "Jews of Iberia" and "The Formation of the Hebrew and Christian Bible" both at TBK and in Tucson.

Tamar (Tammy) Capon Eisenberg has been a classroom teacher in both elementary and secondary, as well as a Kollel instructor for several years. Her love of cooking and baking transcends to international cuisines which she enjoys sharing with others through learning, demonstration and dining.

Andrea Gluckman is an expert on policy, culture, education, and languages of the Middle East. She has worked as a diplomatic advisor, professor, and writer at Harvard University, the University of the Middle East, and the University of Rochester.

Athene Goldstein is a teacher for bar mitzvah students and adults.

Barbara Grosh was trained to facilitate Mussar study by the Mussar Institute. She has been practicing Mussar for about 15 years. She has taught online with the Mussar Institute as well as locally.

Dr. Joseph Kelly retired from full-time teaching after 37 years. For 11 years, he was Professor of Hebrew Scriptures at St. Bernard’s Seminary on Lake Avenue in Rochester and then served for 26 years as Professor of Religious Studies at Nazareth College. Now he devotes his time to teaching Adult Education courses in Scripture and Religious Studies in various parishes and congregations in the Rochester and Upstate areas.

Jacqui Lipschitz was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa where she attended a Jewish Day School and was immersed in the local Jewish community. She graduated from the University of Cape Town with a bachelor's degree in Jewish Studies and with a master's degree in Jewish education from Hebrew College, MA.  She currently works at the JCC of Greater Rochester as a Judaics educator. 

David Orange is a Jewish spiritual leader and passionate educator serving the Jewish, and non-Jewish community of Rochester. David has been a member of Temple B'rith Kodesh for over 30 years. He serves Jewish Senior Life as Worship Leader and provides the Jewish residents of St. John's Meadows and St. John's Home with spiritual care, life-cycle observances, and study.

Gene Spiro has been on the faculty at Temple B'rith Kodesh for many decades teaching both in the Religious School and in Kollel.  She is a member of the volunteer choir at TBK and also occasionally serves as a substitute for the cantorial soloist. Gene also sings with the Rochester Jewish Chorale.

Herb Skerker is a retired Secondary Social Studies and Special Education teacher and administrator. Currently, Herb is the Director of The Rochester Kollel.

Juleen Squires is a member of Temple B’rith Kodesh and has been playing Mah Jongg since 1999.  She has taught the game to a variety of people over the years.

Rabbi Peter Stein, MAHL, is the Senior Rabbi at Temple B’rith Kodesh. He came to Rochester after serving Temple Sinai in Cranston, RI and Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh, PA. His rabbinate is defined by a love of teaching and learning.

Rabbi Rochelle Tulik is the Associate Rabbi and Director of Education at Temple B’rith Kodesh. She was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2009.  She also holds an MA in Hebrew Letters and an MA in Jewish Education from HUC-JIR.  Her undergraduate studies were at the University of California at San Diego, where she crafted an Independent Studies Major in Modern Israeli Society and Israeli Culture.