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rabbi-wright

Rabbi Adam M. Wright

Rabbi, Temple Emanu-El

Rabbi Adam M. Wright

Rabbi Adam M. Wright is the spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El. He is from West Bloomfield, MI – a suburb of Detroit. Adam earned his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Religion and Judaic Studies from Wheaton College (Norton, MA).  After college, he pursued graduate studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School (Nashville, TN), where he earned a Master in Theological Studies focusing on the Ancient Near East and Early Judaism. After Adam’s tenure at Vanderbilt, he enrolled at the Hebrew Union College – JIR to begin his rabbinic training. At HUC-JIR, he earned his Master in Arts in Hebrew Letters, Master of Arts in Jewish Education from HUC-JIR’s Rhea Hirsch School of Education, and a Graduate Certificate in Jewish Non-Profit Management from HUC-JIR’s Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management. He is currently pursuing his doctorate at HUC-JIR, focusing on Contemporary Jew Hatred.

Rabbi Wright has served Jewish communities in Victorville, CA, Fountain Valley, CA, Pacific Palisades, CA, Occidental College Hillel, Tarzana, CA, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Spiritual Care Department. Rabbi Wright served on the Advisory Board for Stand with Us, San Diego, an organization committed to developing community support, instill enthusiasm and increase identification with Israel and effectively counter-public misrepresentation and demonization of Israel. Rabbi Wright served as the Associate Rabbi at Temple Solel in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California from 2014-2019.

Rabbi Wright comes to Temple Emanu-El with his wife Rachel, who is an internist and pediatrician at UAB, their daughter Lillian, and their twins, Maisie and Teddy. Rabbi Wright played four years of collegiate tennis and still relishes his time on the court. He is also an avid Detroit Red Wings fan.

To reach Rabbi Wright, please call 205-933-8037, ext 230, or e-mail
Rabbi Adam Wright

robby-wittner

Cantor Robby Wittner

Engel Cantorial Chair

Cantor Robby Wittner

Cantor Robby Wittner, Engel Cantorial Chair, is from Washington Heights in New York City. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Hamilton College. He attended the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at HUC-JIR, earning a Master in Sacred Music. After his first year was spent in Israel, he moved back to New York, where he served his childhood congregation Hebrew Tabernacle of Washington Heights for four years. It taught him some of the nuances of serving a congregation and instilled in him his great love for the German-Jewish musical tradition. He continues to expand his repertoire to all sorts of Jewish music, but will always hold a special place in his heart for German-Jewish music after growing up in a community mostly comprised of Holocaust survivors and their children.

Cantor Wittner was accompanied down South by his wife Alex. She works in PR as an account director in the tech practice at ICR, a mid-sized New York, and Connecticut-based firm. Cantor Wittner and Alex enjoy tennis, going for walks, puppies, reading together, and all cuisines.

To reach Cantor Wittner, please call 205-933-8037, ext 230, or e-mail Cantor Wittner

Rabbi Jonathan Miller

Rabbi Emeritus

Rabbi Emeritus Jonathan Miller

Rabbi Emeritus Jonathan Miller provided enthusiastic leadership for Temple Emanu-El from winter 1991 to summer 2017. Previously, he served as a rabbi at Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles and Temple Shalom in Auckland, New Zealand. Rabbi Miller was ordained in 1982 at the New York Campus of  the Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion, where he has received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity and a a Masters of Arts in Hebrew Letters.   Rabbi Miller graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies.  Rabbi Miller grew up in Wichita, Kansas, Malden, Massachusetts, and Rochester, New York, where his father, Judea Miller served as rabbi.  Rabbi Miller is married to Judith Schulman-Miller, and they have three children: Rabbi Aaron and his wife Lauren, Alana, and Benjamin.

Alison Berman

Alison Berman

Rabbi Grafman Endowment Fund Executive Director

Alison Berman

Alison Berman, Rabbi Grafman Endowment Fund Executive Director

Bio Coming Soon!

Contact Alison at (205) 397-0814, or aberman@ourtemple.org.

Elizabeth Bloch, MARE

Director of Education

Elizabeth Bloch, MARE

Elizabeth Bloch has been a professional Jewish educator for over twenty years. She has served large and mid-size congregations and holds a master’s degree in Religious Education from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion.

Elizabeth is a firm believer that creating a sense of community in each classroom, school, and synagogue-wide, alongside Jewish content, is key to long term Jewish commitment. Her goal is to create connection and bonding opportunities amongst our various communities of learners of all ages, with creative, dynamic, and inspiring learning, to provide lasting impact for Jewish living. Recognizing that when it comes to Jewish learning for meaningful Jewish living, each family’s needs differ and therefore, Elizabeth aims to guide the individual Jewish journeys of our families to meet their specific needs.

Please reach out to Elizabeth at any time as she would love to hear your story and ideas as well as share with you our educational programs while supporting your family’s Jewish journey in a more meaningful way.

Elizabeth feels blessed to be married to the love of her life – Yaacov for over thirty years and has two adult children that amaze and inspire her every day. The empty nesters have a two-year-old Beagle-mix fur baby named Jerry.

Contact Elizabeth at (205) 933-8037, ext 232, or ebloch@ourtemple.org

Monika

Monika F. Singletary

Director of Congregational Engagement & Membership

Monika Singletary

Monika F. Singletary is excited to join Temple Emanu-El as the Director of Membership & Engagement.  She comes to Temple Emanu-El after 11 years of professional work with the New Orleans and Birmingham Jewish Community Centers. Having been part of the Jewish Experiential Leadership Institute(JELI) Fellowship of Emerging JCC Leaders she was immersed in Jewish learning, leadership, and fellowship with nineteen of her JCC peers from around North America. Monika earned her BS in Business Management from Troy University and her MA in Jewish Educational Leadership through the William Davidson School at the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Contact Monika at (205) 933-8037, ext 213 or monika@ourtemple.org

Doug Hocutt

Doug Hocutt

Director of Administration and Events

Doug Hocutt

Doug Hocutt, Director of Administration and Events

Contact Doug at (205) 933-8037 or dhocutt@ourtemple.org

Danielle Barnett

Accounting & Finance Director

Danielle Barnett

Danielle Barnett, Accounting and Finance Director

Contact Danielle at (205) 933-8037, ext 244 or danielle@ourtemple.org

Dr. Jeff McLelland

Music Director

Dr. Jeff McLelland

I am so excited to serve as the new Music Director at Temple Emanu-El. Please let me introduce myself. I am the Director of Music and Fine Arts at Independent Presbyterian Church (IPC) in Birmingham. Prior to my appointment to IPC in 2000, I was Professor of Music at Mississippi College and William Carey University. I completed my music education at The University of Southern Mississippi, The Eastman School of Music in Rochester NY, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The University of Alabama.

I have served in leadership roles locally and nationally for the American Guild of Organists. Organ concert performances have taken me throughout the eastern United States and Europe, and I have accompanied and conducted choirs in various prestigious locations, including St. Stephen’s Cathedral Vienna, Salisbury Cathedral England, St. Peter’s Basilica Rome, Sagrada Familia Barcelona, and Carnegie Hall New York.

When not working, my wife Amy and I enjoy playing with our pugs, traveling to dog shows in the camper, and trying not to get into too much mischief with friends. Again, what a great opportunity it is to work at Temple Emanu-El! You have been so gracious to warmly welcome us and I look forward to serving in this amazing tradition for many years to come.

Contact Jeff at (205) 422-4421, or jmclelland@ipc-usa.org

Dr. Ralph Selig

Dr. Ralph Selig

Jewish Liturgical Music Scholar in Residence

Dr. Ralph Selig

Dr. Ralph Selig is considered to be an expert in German Jewish Liturgical music. Dr. Selig is well known not only for his collection of music, but also for his dissemination of this music through lectures, performances, and concerts throughout the world. He has mentored and collaborated with cantors all over the world, including our own Cantor Robby Wittner.

Dr. Selig is a Visiting Professor of Jewish Liturgical Music at the Abraham Geiger College in Berlin, where he focuses on Hazzanut. He is currently a Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.

Kathryn Pautler

Kathryn Pautler

Executive Assistant of Membership & Engagement

Kathryn Pautler

Kathryn Pautler, Executive Assistant of Membership & Engagement

Yahrzeits and Kaddish list
Shabbat Announcements

Contact Kathryn at (205) 933-8037, ext 235 or kathryn@ourtemple.org

Judy Edwards

Executive Assistant to the Clergy & Educator

Judy Edwards

Judy Edwards, Executive Assistant to the Clergy & Educator

Clergy Appointments and Correspondence
Religious & Hebrew School Administrator
TEEN and Confirmation Administrator

Contact Judy at (205) 933-8037, ext 230 or jedwards@ourtemple.org

Dorothy-Hall

Dorothy Hall

Administrative Assistant, Grafman Endowment Fund

Dorothy Hall

Dorothy Hall, Administrative Assistant, Grafman Endowment Fund

General Endowment Fund Information
Yahrzeit Plaques
Yizkor Memorial Book
Temple and Endowment Tributes/Contributions

Contact Dorothy at (205) 933-8037, ext 233 or endowment@ourtemple.org

Pam Coggins

Pam Coggin

Temple Tributes & Endowment Fund Bookkeeping

Pam Coggin, Temple Tributes & Endowment Fund Bookkeeping

Gift Acknowledgments
Accounts Payable and Receivables

Contact Pam at (205) 933-8037, ext 288, Direct Dial: (205) 933-8397 or pam@ourtemple.org

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