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Key People at CJCN
 Rabbi Seymour Rossel is best known throughout the Jewish world as the author of more than thirty books, including Bible Dreams: The Spiritual Quest, A Child’s Bible, When a Jew Prays, When a Jew Seeks Wisdom, A Thousand and One Chickens, Managing the Jewish Classroom, and A Congregation of Learners. In addition, he has edited nearly 300 books, having worked with nearly every distinguished Jewish author of our times.
Before coming to CJCN, Rabbi Rossel was Director of Pathways Foundation, an advocacy program for Jewish teens and Jewish dreams. Prior to moving to Houston with his wife, Sharon L. Wechter, he served the American Reform movement on the national scene: as Director of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) Press, Director of the URJ Department of Education, Director of the Joint Commission on Reform Jewish Education, and Academic Coordinator of the School of Education of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, NY. He is the former Executive Vice-President of Behrman House Publishers, Inc., and the former President of Rossel Books. He also has a strong background in organizational work, having served as an officer and board member for the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE) and the National Association of Temple Educators (NATE); and on the board of the Jewish Book Council. Rabbi Rossel is a founding member of CAJE and served as Chairperson for its two international conferences, CAJE 13 and CAJE 21, both held at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
As speaker, author, and editor, Rabbi Rossel is listed in Who's Who in the Eastern States, Contemporary Authors, The International Authors and Writers Who's Who, as well as Who's Who in World Jewry. He holds the Bonei HaNegev award for excellence in Jewish Education and served as an ex-officio member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. He lectures widely on dreams, Bible, Jewish history, education, and values; and conducts teacher, board, and congregational workshops and retreats in communities throughout North America. Rabbi Rossel maintain his own web site, which includes essays and two full-length books, at www.Rossel.net. Read his words to the congregation here. To send him an EMail, click here.
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Rabbi Emeritus Robert S. Sharff, D. Min., came to CJCN in August of 1981. Born in Chicago and reared in Los Angeles, Rabbi Sharff received his education at UCLA and the Los Angeles and Cincinnati campuses of Hebrew Union College and was ordained in 1974.
 Prior to arriving at CJCN, Rabbi Sharff served the Liberal Synagogue of Baton Rouge, LA. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Ministry at the Graduate Theological Foundation of Notre Dame University in 1990. During his tenure, he served as president of the Southwest Association of Reform Rabbis, president of the Houston Rabbinical Association, and president of the Northwest Assistance Ministries. Since his retirement, he and his wife Linda have remained in the congregation and in the community as a constant and inspiring presence. |
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Jane Kliakh andler joined Congregation Jewish Community North as Cantorial Soloist in August 2007. Born in Korosten in the Ukraine, she completed music school with honors, specializing in the violin. Her family emigrated to Israel in 1990, where Jane finished high school and attended Tel-Aviv University, studied opera singing, and graduated in Economics in 1998.
Jane’s many migrations in the Diaspora began after her marriage in 1996 to scientist and educator, Igor Kliakhandler. In 1998, they moved to Berkeley, California, where Igor accepted a post doctoral position. Igor’s next posting was in Chicago, where their daughter Elizabeth was born in 2001, and where Jane studied music and opera singing, giving occasional performances.
In September 2001 Igor took a Professorial position in the Department of Mathematics at Michigan Technological University (MTU) in Houghton, Michigan. Jane studied at MTU, completing her Master of Science in Economics in 2004.
In Houghton, Michigan, Jane served as Cantorial Soloist for Temple Jacob, while also performing several times each year for Studio North Opera. In 2006 (and again in 2007), she attended the Reform movement’s Mifgash Musicale for Temple musicians at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. All along, her love for Cantorial singing increased and she received encouragement from her congregation, the staff of the Mifgash Musicale, and others who heard her.
Jane and Igor arrived in Houston on January 1, 2007, where Igor took a position in an energy trading company. Jane immediately renewed her Cantorial studies, this time with Cantor Vadim Tunitsky of Temple Emanu El. When Cantor Tunitsky heard that CJCN was interviewing Cantorial candidates, he recommended Jane for our pulpit. We thank Cantor Tunitsky and welcome Jane Kliakhandler (who invites you to call her simply “Cantor Jane’) to CJCN.
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 Director of Education Jodi Buck has twenty years of experience in communal and educational environments involving staff supervision and training, as well as planning child-oriented programs and teaching in the classroom. She formerly served as an Assistant Director of Education at Congregation Beth Israel of Houston and as a program coordinator at the Houston Jewish Community Center. Jodi is a graduate of University of Texas, where she obtained her degree in education. To send an EMail to her, click here. |
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Clergy and Staff