Dor Hadash announces new hires
New personnel includes Karen Morris as religious school principal
Congregation Dor Hadash has hired Cantor Julie Newman for the upcoming year to succeed Rabbi Cheryl Klein as the congregation’s lay cantor and to assist its lay service leaders.
Dor Hadash will “continue to be a lay-led congregation,” stressed Ellen Surloff, immediate past president of Dor Hadash.
Newman received her cantorial ordination and a master’s in Jewish education from Hebrew College. She is the founder of Tiferet — A Jewish Spirituality Project and one of the spiritual leaders of Chavurat Shirah, an experimental minyan in Pittsburgh.
Klein announced that she would step down from her role at Dor Hadash prior to the massacre at the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27, where Dor Hadash was a tenant.
Dor Hadash has also hired Rabbi Ezra Weinberg, a Reconstructionist rabbi and a course instructor at Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey, to serve as lay cantor for this year’s High Holiday services. As in the past, the High Holiday services will be led by Dor Hadash congregants.
The congregation also has hired a new religious school principal, Karen Morris, who previously served as the principal at Tree of Life Or L’Simcha’s religious school. Last year, TOL*OLS’s religious school students joined with Dor Hadash religious school students.
Additionally, a Reconstructionist rabbi, Rabbi Shelley Goldman, has been hired for a 10-month period to serve as the congregation’s interim spiritual and organizational consultant She will be coming to Pittsburgh for a three-day weekend once a month beginning this fall.
Goldman will be co-leading services, working with the board, and providing educational sessions for the congregation.
“With the benefit of Cantor Julie Newman for the coming year, Rabbi Ezra Weinberg for the High Holidays, Karen Morris as the interim principal and Rabbi Shelley Goldman for a 10-month period, Dor Hadash sees many opportunities to try new ways to daven and learn together as we continue to strengthen and enrich our already wonderful community,” stated an email from Dor Hadash to its membership. pjc
Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
comments