A native Texan, Rabbi Jeremy Schneider grew up in Houston at Congregation Beth Israel, attended the University of Texas in Austin earning a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development, and attended rabbinical school at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion where he received a Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters and a Master of Arts in Jewish Education. Rabbi Schneider wrote his rabbinical thesis with Rabbi Reuven Firestone, Ph.D. on Jewish-Christian Relations: From Tolerance to Pluralism to Partnership. Rabbi Schneider comes to Scottsdale from Dallas, Texas where he was the Associate rabbi at Temple Shalom for five years.

Rabbi Schneider has earned certificates in Synagogue Management and pre-marital & marital counseling. He completed Clinical Pastoral Education with Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles and St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas where he honed pastoral skills and a special rapport with children. Rabbi Schneider is a charismatic teacher and is actively involved in early childhood education, religious school and adult education, and is an enthusiastic supporter of NFTY, Jewish teen programs and camps. He grew up as a camper and a counselor at the URJ Greene Family Camp and URJ Jacobs Camp, including leading trips to Israel.

In 2009, Rabbi Schneider was selected to participate in the executive leadership program Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal: Professional Education for Excellence in the Rabbinate.  His writings have been published by the Phoenix Jewish News, Union for Reform Judaism and has an article recently published in the book Reflections and Experiences of Religion and Society.

In 2008, Rabbi Schneider was chosen as one of six Americans for an interfaith study tour in Egypt and Syria sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. In 2009, Rabbi Schneider was given the “Citizen Diplomat – Peace Quilt Award” from the National Peace Foundation in Washington, D.C. for his grassroots work in durable peace building. In 2010, Rabbi Schneider was a keynote speaker at the 47th Annual Islamic Society of North America Convention in Chicago. Rabbi Schneider is considered a national leader in Interfaith relations.

Rabbi Schneider is married to Rachel, a teacher at Pardes Jewish Day School in Phoenix, who holds a Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service and a Master of Arts in Public Service. They are the proud parents of Ezra and Micah.

Contact: Phone 480-951-9660 ext 203—– click here to email

Rabbi Herring was born in Western Pennsylvania, and attended Taylor Allderdice High school. As a teenager he was a president of his Temple youth group, becoming active in the National Federation of Temple Youth, where he met his wife to be, Barbara Levin. After graduation from the University of Pittsburgh, Rabbi Herring went on to Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati where, five years later, he was ordained to the rabbinate. In 1965 Rabbi and Barbara moved to Tachikawa Air Base in a suburb of Tokyo where, for the next three years he served as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, serving troops in central and northern Japan, Korea, Taiwan and in the support hospital for Viet Nam. Among his major accomplishments was learning how to make sushi, and climbing Mount Fuji. In 1968, the Herrings moved to Phoenix with their first daughter Laura, where Rabbi Herring took a position as Assistant Rabbi at Temple Beth Israel. He was assigned the primary task of Youth Activities, so, in that time, two more daughters were born to him and Barbara. During the next twenty years, he helped found and develop Camp Charles Pearlstein, serving as its director for fifteen years. He also served as Director of National Federation of Temple Youth Southwest (SWFTY) and SWFTY Summer Institute, Beth Israel youth group (BITY), and helped found the nationally awarded Mitzvah Corp, involving Reform Jewish teens throughout the Southwest, and its Camp SWIFT, serving thousands of inner-city children. Rabbi Herring also created Beth Israel’s cutting edge contemporary worship services for Shabbat and the High Holy Days, remaining a leader in creative liturgical evolution.

In 1988, Rabbi Herring was invited to become the rabbi of the newly created Temple Kol Ami, and he accepted the position. The congregation quickly outgrew its rental home, and moved into its present facility in 1994. Rabbi Herring has written the prayer books used here for Sabbath and High Holy Days, as well as the astonishing religious school curriculum used by all Kol Ami children. He still teaches youth from pre-school through high school, as well as adults and senior citizens. In 2003, the Central Conference of American Rabbis awarded Rabbi Herring the prestigious Samuel Cook Award for lifetime service in the field of youth. The Herring children and grandchildren (6!) remain active in Jewish affairs in their own communities.

Contact: Phone 480-951-9660

Raina Sinclair was born in Chicago, Illinois, the second of four children. When her father, a military officer, was stationed in Paris (France, not Texas) she had the opportunity to study piano with celebrated virtuosa, Aline Van Berentzen. Raina continued as a student at the Royal Conservatory of Belgium in Mons and obtained a premier prix de voix. Upon returning to the United States, she continued music study at the Juilliard School of the Performing Arts in New York City, followed by both music and applied art at the American University in Washington D.C.

Raina enjoyed early opportunities to perform professionally in productions that celebrated the opening of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington , D.C. in the casts of, the then, newly-mounted New York City Opera Company’s production of Handel’s Opera “Ariodante”, and famed composer Leonard Bernstein’s theater piece, “ Mass”, commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy for the opening production. The following year, Raina was a cast member in the touring company that took “Mass” to Philadelphia, and to the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. She was one of the performers on the original cast recording.

Raina has been involved as a Jewish educator in the valley for over thirty years. In 1996, Rabbi Herring invited her to become the first cantorial soloist in the history of Temple Kol Ami, where she has continued to the present day. She works with the students in the Early Childhood Center, providing music, and Judaic programming for the children, teaches in the Religious School and with B’nei Mitzvah students, officiates with the Rabbi at Shabbat, holiday and life-cycle events, and develops a variety of music and arts programming on a regular basis.

Most treasured of all project opportunities have been the creation of two sets of Torah covers (for holiday festivals and for the rest of the year), the ark valances, the holiday Torah table cover, and the cover for the Torahs when they are out of the ark during a service.

Cantor Raina and her husband Bill have lived in Scottsdale since 1974 and have four adult children and four grandchildren.

Contact: Phone 480-951-9660 ext 205—– click here to email

Bill Sinclair has been actively involved in public and religious school education since 1970.  He received degrees in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at the University of Maryland.  Bill’s career as an elementary teacher began in Maryland and continued for nearly four decades in Arizona public schools. Bill and his wife, Cantor Raina Sinclair, have been members of Temple Kol Ami since 1996 and have, since that time, been committed to the traditions, curriculum, and educational goals and objectives of the TKA community.

Bill’s experience includes numerous volunteer positions within the Phoenix Jewish community as an administrator, teacher, tutor, and educational consultant. Bill continues to serve on a variety of committees in an effort to further enhance the educational opportunities of children and adults.

Contact: Phone 480-951-9660—– click here to email

As a native Arizonan, Michael Rosenthal began his synagogue life as a young boy, and participated in all the Jewish life Phoenix had to offer. It was a time when everyone knew everyone and there were four main synagogues. Michael graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and became the Camp Director of Camp Charles Pearlstein, the SWFTY Advisor, a Temple Youth Group Advisor, the acting Administrator of Temple Beth Israel and ultimately, the founding Executive Director of Temple Kol Ami.

Michael went on from synagogue life to spend 18 years working with children with chronic illness heading organizations and projects that serve children with hemophilia and their families. Recently, Michael, returned to his roots to become the Administrator of Kol Ami once again. With 25 years of non-profit organization experience both Jewish and secular, Michael brings an understanding of people and their organizations that truly benefits our congregation.

Contact: Phone 480-951-9660 ext 200—– click here to email

Debbie Glassman has been the Director of Temple Kol Ami Early Childhood Center since June of 2006. She has taught many different age levels for almost 40 years including Religious School. In addition, Debbie has been a past Preschool Camp Director.

Debbie grew up in Wisconsin and Minnesota and moved to Arizona in 1983. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974. She is married to Steve Glassman who is also an educator. Debbie is a grandmother, and the mother of two children, Angela and Steven. One of her highest priorities is to foster a sense of community amongst the staff and families at our exceptional preschool.

Contact: Phone 480-951-5825 ext 204—– click here to email

Jennifer Samuels joined Temple Kol Ami’s staff in January 2012 after two years as a temple member and three years with the Early Childhood Center (ECC). Jen has an undergraduate degree in Communications from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. She worked previously in customer service and communications in the private sector. Jen enjoys getting to know new members and serving current members with a high level of personal service.

Jen, and her husband Ben, are native Arizonans and have three daughters.

Contact: Phone 480-951-9660 ext 202—– click here to email

Eve Goodman began at Kol Ami as the Administrative Assistant of the Early Childhood Center in 2010, and is now serving both the temple’s main office and as back up support to the ECC.

Eve has worked as an Administrative Assistant for over 20 years in several different fields. In addition, she taught Hebrew to both adults and children in a classroom setting and as a private tutor.

She loves being around children and interacting with our preschool families. Eve has lived in Phoenix since the age of 5. She is married to Darrin Goodman, and has three children.

Contact: Phone 480-951-9660 ext 223—– click here to email

Dana Kaner is celebrating her sixth year at Temple Kol Ami Early Childhood Center. She began teaching at Temple Kol Ami in December of 2006 and became the Assistant Administrator of the ECC in 2012.

Dana has lived in Arizona since the age of five. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2009 with a degree in Communications and a minor in Spanish.

Contact: Phone 480-951-5823 ext 201—– click here to email

Sheryl Griem has been the Accounts Manager of Temple Kol Ami since October 2008. Sheryl is originally from Boston, MA. and relocated to Phoenix, AZ. in 1992 with her husband Paul, an electrical engineer, and children Benjamin and Joanna. She is very active in bowling, and has served on the boards of local and state associations in MA and AZ (when she is not counting temple funds, she is counting bowling monies or coaching youth bowlers). Sheryl holds her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Northeastern University and Certificate in Accounting from Burdett College in Massachusetts.

Contact: Phone 480-951-9660 ext 206—– click here to email