Rabbi Steven Moskowitz

Message from Rabbi Moskowitz

rabsam@tilb.org

Rabbi Moskowitz was born in New York City, where he attended Central Synagogue. His father was a lawyer; his mother helped to set up the Jewish Museum there. Rabbi Moskowitz graduated from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and then from Lewis and Clark Law School also in Portland. Prior to rabbinic school, he was a lawyer and spent seven years working for the City of Portland, first as a deputy city attorney and then as an Assistant to the Mayor. Subsequently, he went into private practice, where he primarily represented cities and school districts around the state of Oregon.

In addition to having worked as a lawyer, Rabbi Moskowitz also worked for two years as a daycare teacher. While in Portland, he served on a number of Jewish Federation committees as well as on the board of trustees of Congregation Beth Israel. He related to us that he felt very honored to serve as the lawyer for an organization of Holocaust survivors in the establishment of a Holocaust memorial in Portland, which will be dedicated this August. Before being ordained at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles last May, he taught B'nai Mitzvah students in Tarzana.

Rabbi Moskowitz and his wife, Ana, were both members of their synagogue in Portland, which is where they met. During their year in Israel (the first year of rabbinic school), Ana studied with a scribe and learned the art and tradition of Hebrew calligraphy. They have five children.

Rabbi Laureate Wolli Kaelter

Rabbi Wolli Kaelter, Rabbi Laureate of Temple Israel, was born in the Free City of Danzig, the youngest son of Rabbi Robert Kaelter and his wife, Feo. He received a classical humanistic education there and began his studies for the rabbinate at the liberal rabbinical seminary in Berlin. In 1935 he was invited by the Hebrew Union College of Cincinnati to continue his academic work there. Ordained in 1940, Rabbi Kaelter has served congregations in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Arkansas. In 1953, he joined the staff of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and became the founding director of the Camp for Living Judaism at Saratoga, California (now Camp Swig).

In 1955 he assumed the pulpit of Temple Israel of Long Beach, California where he served until his retirement in 1979. His ministry was marked by bold experimentation in synagogue programming, which has found wide recognition especially in the area of worship and education.

Rabbi Kaelter served on the faculty of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religious, California School, where he taught Homiletics and Practical Rabbinics, directed the Student Rabbi Program and served as coordinator of the Synagogue Services at the School.

Cantor Marvin Finnley
finnley@pacbell.net

Stephen M. Bascove
Executive Director
Message from Stephen Bascove
smb@tilb.org

Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where at age (13) Stephen joined his first Jewish organization, AZA, (Alef Tsadeek Alef) the youth organization of B’nai Brith. Stephen went on to become President of his chapter some three years later and that was the beginning of his commitment to Jewish communal service. Stephen’s affiliation with Jewish organizations continued as he matured. He participated in the Federation of Jewish Agencies (FJA), B’nai Brith Foods Trade Lodge and served as a member of the Board of Directors and Membership Chair for the newly constructed Northeast Jewish Community Center in Philadelphia.

However, some of his proudest moments and fondest memories occurred in early 1970. Stephen was one of a handful of men who founded a small Conservative Synagogue in Philadelphia, the Bustleton-Somerton Synagogue. Stephen was elected the synagogue’s first President, becoming the youngest president of a Conservative Synagogue in North America at age twenty-five. Stephen continued to serve as President for 3 1/2 years during which time land was purchased and the Synagogue constructed. In 1975 he was honored by Yeshiva University for "advancing the spiritual and cultural heritage of Judaism," another milestone in his life. The plaque that was presented over thirty years ago proudly hangs on the wall in his office at Temple Israel of Long Beach.

Most of the Bascove family relocated to Florida in 1990, where they embraced the Reform movement and joined Temple Solel in Hollywood, Fl. Within a few months Stephen was elected to the Board of Directors and served proudly for six years. During that time he chaired a myriad of committees, including House, 25th Anniversary, Cantor Choral, Kinder Group, Family Retreat, and Membership. His wife Tracey also served on many committees and was elected Sisterhood Co-President 1999-2000.

Prior to accepting the position of Executive Director of Temple Israel of Greater Miami, Stephen was Deputy (Assistant) Executive Director & Operations Manager of Temple Beth El of Boca Raton, the ninth largest reform Temple in North America. He served in that capacity just short of two years.

Stephen has dedicated his entire adult life to the Jewish communities of Philadelphia, Pa., Hollywood and Boca Raton, Fl. and now Long Beach, Ca. as a dedicated lay leader and Jewish professional.

He served in the United States Army Reserve’s 851st Transportation Corps. from 1963-1971. Stephen considers his biggest accomplishment being the proud father of four children, Zachary, Phyllis, Eric and Evan and the glowing grandfather of Samantha.

Sharon Amster Brown, RJE, MAJE, MAJCS
Educator

Message from Sharon Amster Brown

sab@tilb.org

Sharon Amster Brown was born in Texas and grew up in Dallas, Chicago, and Orange County, California. She attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she received a degree in Communication Disorders and Speech Science. Motivated by her experience as a religious school teacher and unit head at various Jewish summer camps, Sharon began her studies at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. There, she completed the Joint Master’s degree program in Jewish Education and Jewish Communal Service in 2000. While in graduate school, Sharon worked at the Westside Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles and Temple Beth Sholom of Santa Ana. She is now the Educator of Temple Israel of Long Beach, where she has served for the past five years. In 2004, Sharon received the distinguished Reform Jewish Educator title, awarded to educators who have served the Jewish community with distinction for at least four years. In addition to her work at the temple, Sharon enthusiastically serves on the Board of Directors for The Women’s Division of the Long Beach Jewish Federation, as well as The Orange County Bureau of Jewish Education. She is also currently involved with the local Jewish Educator’s Association and will be co-chairing the national conference for the National Association of Temple Educators in January 2006. Sharon and her husband Adam live in Long Beach and are the proud parents of daughter Johanna, her little brother Brandon, and new baby Sadie or "Lady" Sadie..