Our kehilah was founded and led by members of the community rather than a Rabbi. One of those members went on to become Rabbi Jessica Shimberg who served as our spiritual leader for Shabbat services, holiday celebrations, and educational programs for many years. As discussed in our history, in 2020 we returned to our lay-led roots.
This is not uncommon in Reconstructionist and Renewal communities. According to Jewish Journal, “Since its inception, Reconstructionism has emphasized the importance of empowering lay leadership and looks at rabbis more as educators and consultants than as pulpit heads.” We currently follow this model, inviting guest Rabbis and rabbinic students to join us as often as we are able. Recent guests have included Reconstructionist Rabbinical College students as high holiday service leaders, workshops with Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, and consultations with Rabbi Maurice Harrice and others at Reconstructing Judaism.
While many members in the kehilah would love to hire a Rabbi, including the lay leaders who would grow all the more from partnering with someone in such a capacity, we are currently led by a collection of voices who proudly represent the diversity of our membership. These leaders have benefitted from the work of Rabbis whose work is read, shared, and discussed by our worship design team. In 2020 we received a grant for lay leadership development from Jewish Columbus which furthered the education of a handful of folks in the community including some of our most active current leaders who include but are not limited to:
Joanie Calem grew up in a Jewish home that was primarily focused on social action and the responsibility of participating in tikkun olam. She learned about liturgy and prayer during the 22 years that she lived in Israel. Joanie has a deep love and appreciation for the Hebrew language and music, and being able to put music and Hebrew together in prayer is one of her deepest joys. Read more about Joanie on her website.
Louise is a Central Ohio native who deeply values the intergenerational community of Kehilat Sukkat Shalom. Growing up in a multi-faith home, Louise appreciates the openness of the Reconstructionist and Renewal movements to a variety of wisdom sources. Louise surprised herself by stepping up to share in leading services, and has found the experience to be very rewarding. An educator by profession, she loves learning about Jewish traditions and guidance and sharing the grounding they bring her with others.
Jodi Kushins was born and raised in the New York metro area where she spent many years deeply immersed in the Conservative movement, including a decade at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires as a camper and staff member. An educator by trade, Jodi is a lifelong learner passionate about the intersections of Judaism, ecology, and art. She furthers this work as an urban farmer @ Over the Fence Urban Farm where the kehilah meets for festivals throughout the year.
Mollie works part-time as a psychotherapist and spends the rest of her time mothering an amazing little boy. Growing up, Mollie’s parents instilled her with a strong sense of Jewish heritage. Traveling and studying a variety of cultures and ideas, led her to question what is important to her and why. Mollie finds freedom in Sukkat Shalom which supports her wrestling with prayer translations simultaneous to feeling at home within familiar rituals, living out Jewish values and practices at the same time as she embraces and nurtures an intercultural family. Mollie brings a love of music to her leadership, particularly chanting through which she feels connected to those who came before her. She feels, “a part of their energy comes alive when I take a breath and begin to chant the Shabbat blessings.”
Cheryl grew up in a Reform family in Dayton and began studying Hebrew in fourth grade. She was active with Hillel at Ohio University and served on their governing board. Cheryl also spent a year living on an Israeli kibbutz and taking classes through Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. She was introduced to the Mussar tradition through a grant from JewishColumbus and continues to take classes from The Mussar Institute, Pardes, and the Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning. Cheryl developed an early love for Torah study and enjoys facilitating the Kehilah’s Torah study group and sharing Mussar concepts.
MORE BIOS COMING SOON!!