Rabbi Eric J. Siroka has been the spiritual leader of Temple Beth-El since July 2006. Rabbi Siroka previously served the Or Chadash congregation in Flemington, New Jersey, for six years. Rabbi Siroka and his wife Debra, a professional Jewish educator, have two children -- son Benjamin was born in 1998, and daughter Vered arrived in 2001.
A native of Medfield, Massachusetts, Rabbi Siroka is a product of the Reform movement. Raised in a suburb of Boston, he and his family were involved in the Jewish community, especially at Temple Beth David of Westwood, where he received his initial Jewish education. Beginning there, Eric developed a life-long dedication to the values and principles of liberal Judaism. An active participant in the Temple's religious school and youth group, Rabbi Siroka also spent 11 seasons affiliated with the URJ Joseph Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Rabbi Siroka earned a B.A. in History from American University in Washington, D.C. in 1989, receiving the Jane and Jerrold Goodman Scholarship Award for Excellence in Jewish Studies. During his undergraduate years, he also remained active within the Reform movement, working in several program areas, especially NFTY -- the youth division of the URJ. A student leader, Rabbi Siroka was elected Hillel president, and then president of the University's College of Arts and Sciences.
Between graduation and entering rabbinical school, Rabbi Siroka worked for Rashi, the Boston Area Reform Jewish Day School. He then earned a master's degree from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. Always interested in the history of Reform Judaism, he wrote his thesis on the founding of the Reform movement in France. Rabbi Siroka was granted rabbinical ordination in June, 1995. Subsequently, Development of the Liturgy of the Union Liberale Israelite, an article gleaned from his thesis, was published in the scholarly Journal of Progressive Judaism, in its 1997 issue. Upon ordination, Rabbi Siroka joined the UAHC (now URJ) Outreach Department as its head of affiliation programming. He then served Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford Corners, New York, during a time of explosive growth in that community. In that capacity, he had the broad opportunity to be involved in all areas of congregational life, and particularly enjoyed the variety of teaching occasions with children, adults, and the wider community. Throughout his career, Eric has been active in a number of rabbinical and community organizations, cultivating important friendships with many professional and volunteer colleagues.
Rabbi Siroka has varied interests, ranging from baseball to jazz, impressionism to collecting toys, and awe for great guitarists. He reads widely in Jewish and general history, loves exploring the topic of ritual practice, and is fascinated with synagogue architecture and leadership development. He maintains an ongoing academic interest in Bible, Theology, and Jewish History. Most significantly, Eric and his family are excited to share their enthusiasm for Jewish life, creating lasting and meaningful relationships with the people in the greater South Bend community.
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Sarah Krevsky is currently a second year cantorial student studying at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion's School of Sacred Music in New York City.
Sarah was born and raised in Wyndmoor, PA (a suburb of Philadelphia). She graduated in 2008 from Brandeis University with a Bachelor's Degree in Near Eastern & Judaic Studies and Music. During her time at Brandeis, Sarah volunteered at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center (a geriatric center in Boston) and taught first grade for three years. Although she knew she wanted to become a cantor since she was a young teenager, the special relationships she developed through her work in
both the nursing home and through teaching helped to solidify her decision to become a cantor. Sarah both loves singing and connecting to people through music.
Sarah is looking forward to getting to know the Temple Beth-El community and singing with you!
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Posi Tucker is currently in her third year as Religious School Administrator at Temple Beth-El and states, "I love working with our Rabbi, students, families and our beloved teachers. Our faculty is top-notch, very dedicated and committed to a rich and spiritual religious education."
Posi is also in her 34th year as Director of Guidance at the Elkhart Area Career Center, a career-tech center for 11th and 12th grade students. She also taught 2 years in the Broadcasting program at her school. Posi also did a stint as a sports broadcaster for the NBC and CBS affiliates in South Bend for 8 years and has taught elementary school.
Posi has four children and 10 grandchildren who, she tells us, "are the apple of my eye."
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