Our Affiliation
We are affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the association of Conservative congregations in North America.
Rabbi & Cantors
Our Rabbi – David Klatzker
Rabbi David Klatzker is TBS’s transitional rabbi in 2011-12. An engaging teacher and speaker, he previously served congregations in Natick, MA (where he served as Associate Rabbi to Rabbi Harold Kushner), Erdenheim, PA, and Peabody, MA. He did graduate work in Jewish history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and received a Ph.D. from Temple University, as well as a Doctor of Divinity degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary.
He has published articles in seven books and in Conservative Judaism, The Reconstructionist, Middle East Quarterly, Jewish Political Studies Review, Journal of Ecumenical Studies, Catholic Historical Review, and Union Seminary Quarterly Review.
Rabbi Klatzker has served as Rabbinic Advisor to the New England Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, President of the Peabody Clergy and Ministerial Association, and Chairman of the North Shore Rabbinical Association.
He was Co-Chairman of the Philadelphia Conservative Introduction to Judaism program, and organized an innovative, joint Reform-Conservative conversion program on the North Shore of Boston.
The Rabbi is committed to a vision of TBS that supports the needs of Jewish families at every stage of life. He studied pastoral psychology at the Philadelphia Psychiatric Center and Jewish family education at the Whizin Institute in Los Angeles. He puts his education to work in many different settings, counseling individuals and families as they face life cycle events, and working with teenagers and children.
He lives in the Bixby Knolls section of Long Beach with his wife, Randy Katz, who is TBS’s education director. They have three children, Micah, Judah and Meira. Born and raised in Los Angeles, the Rabbi is delighted that he no longer has to pretend that he likes the Red Sox or the Celtics.
I love to hear from congregants so please contact me here:rabbi@tbslb.org
Or follow me on :Twitter
Cantor – Judy Sofer
Cantor Judy Sofer is joining TBS as our part-time Cantor and b’nai mitzvah teacher/tutor She is a member of the Cantor’s Assembly and most recently served as the Cantor for the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, where she led services, officiated at life cycle events, produced and directed musicals, conducted youth and adult choirs, led a temple band for musical Shabbat services, taught Torah trope to adults, and tutored kids (more than 400!) for their b’nai mitzvah services. In addition to a fabulous singing voice, Cantor Sofer’s musical talents include playing guitar and piano. Cantor Sofer also serves as the Cultural Arts Program Coordinator for the San Gabriel Valley Jewish Federation and in that capacity she oversees numerous performing arts programs. Cantor Sofer is a talented Cantor, musician and teacher with extensive experience, and we are fortunate to have her as a member of our clergy team.
Cantor – Glenn Gelman
Rabbi Cantor Glenn M. Gelman has been associated with TBS since 1991. For over a decade Rabbi Cantor Gelman served as the full time Cantor of TBS. Rabbi Cantor Gelman has been leading High Holiday Services for TBS and conducts at least two services a month. Rabbi Cantor Gelman is a graduate of Yeshiva Ateret Tzvi Rabbinical School and also attended the Tzvi Aaroni Cantorial Institute.
Cantor Emeriti – David Kane
Cantor David Kane has served as Cantor for much of the life of our Temple. On February 18, 2009 TBS honored Yetta and Rabbi Chazzan David Kane - “Temple Honors Holocaust Survivors For Service To Community” – http://www.cjp.org/page.aspx?id=195033. The local Long Beach newspaper “Grunion Gazette” covered this story – http://www.jewishmadison.org/page.aspx?id=195033
