BIO COMING SOON

Rabbi David Young
Rabbi David Young

Cantor Robby Wittner
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 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
Alison Berman, Rabbi Grafman Endowment Fund Executive Director
Contact Alison at (205) 397-0814, or aberman@ourtemple.org.

Elizabeth Bloch, MARE
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 F. Singletary
Monika Singletary, RJE
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

Dr. Jeff McLelland
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

Kathryn Pautler
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
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
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 Coggin
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


