Temple Clergy : Scroll Down to View All Clergy Profiles

Rabbi Elyse Frishman Email: rabbifrish@barnerttemple.org Our spiritual leader, Rabbi Elyse Frishman, envisions a congregation filled with mutual respect and appreciation for one another’s gifts, a community that values ethical behavior and social justice and educational and worship experiences that inspire us to live on a higher plane. She teaches adult classes, as well as tenth, eleventh and twelfth graders, and works closely with our Bar/Bat Mitzvah students and families. All life-cycle events are personal and meaningful. She and Cantor Leon Sher collaborate to offer transformative Shabbat and holiday opportunities. She leads the congregation on issues of social justice. She and our lay leadership share a sacred partnership in the work of the congregation. Rabbi Frishman is the editor of the Reform movement’s new prayerbook, Mishkan T’filah, serving Reform congregations nationally. She was ordained in 1981, and has been with us since 1995. She is married to Rabbi Daniel Freelander, Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism, they have two sons and a daughter. Read the Rabbi's monthly message in the Barnert Bulletin

Rabbi Joel Soffin - Social Action Scholar in Residence Email: rabbisoffin@barnerttemple.org Our Social Action Scholar-in-Residence is Rabbi Joel E. Soffin, who came to Barnert Temple after serving as the spiritual leader of Temple Shalom in Succasunna, New Jersey, for 27 years. From October 2006 to April 2007, while Rabbi Frishman was on sabbatical, Rabbi Soffin served as our full-time rabbi. Rabbi Soffin has a passion for social action and tikkun olam projects, combined with a search for spirituality and holiness in life. He served as a member of the Commission on Social Action of the Reform Movement for 15 years, and was also the creator of the Reform Movement’s Adult Mitzvah Corps. Members of Barnert Temple will have the opportunity to participate in future social action projects with Rabbi Soffin, as well as experience his creative and challenging teaching style. Rabbi Soffin resides in New York City with his wife, Sandy. Read the Rabbi's monthly message in the Barnert Bulletin

Cantor Leon Sher Email: cantorsher@barnerttemple.org Cantor Leon Sher joined the Barnert Temple clergy in September 2007. He received his Master of Arts in Sacred Music and cantorial investiture from the School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 2003. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Judaic Studies from Brandeis University and a Masters Degree in Computer Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Cantor Sher has been composing, arranging, performing and teaching Jewish music since his early teen years. His works are sung nationally, including the familiar pieces “Heal Us Now” and “Makom Shelibi Oheiv” (“The Place that My Heart Holds Dear”). He has conducted the renowned HaZamir National Jewish High School Choir on the stages of Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer Music Hall, and has been involved yearly with the North American Jewish Choral Festival. He has served as a Music Director and Song Leader at URJ Camps Kutz and Harlam as well as at Hava Nashira, an annual conference for Jewish song leaders. The nationally recognized singing group Beged Kefet includes Cantor Sher’s voice, compositions, and arrangements, some of which he co-wrote with his wife Beth who also performs with the group. Beged Kefet is a unique Jewish singing group that donates all proceeds from performances and recording sales to Myriam’s Dream, Inc. an organization dedicated to aiding the elderly and disabled around the world. Cantor Sher has performed on the stages of Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer Hall with Debbie Friedman, the National Zamir Chorale and with HaZamir, a national choir of Jewish high school students, which he co-directed. Along with his wife, Beth, he is a member of Beged Kefet – a unique Jewish singing group that donates all proceeds from performances and recording sales to Myriam’s Dream, Inc., to help the elderly and disabled around the world. Read the Cantor's monthly message in the Barnert Bulletin Listen to Cantor Sher      Adonai_Adonai      Avinu_Malkeinu      Heal_Us_Now      Mi_Shebeirach      Vshinantam