Congregation Beth Shalom is a progressive Conservative synagogue that has been serving the metro Detroit Jewish community for almost 60 years. We are a diverse community, proud of the open, welcoming environment we have created, which is reflected in our mission:
To celebrate Jewish life as an inclusive and intimate community through learning, prayer, shared experiences, and social action within the framework of Conservative Judaism.
Beth Shalom attracts members from the surrounding neighborhoods of Oak Park, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Royal Oak and Southfield, as well as others in our widespread community. Our religious services are warm, spiritual and inclusive. A variety of services, from traditional to creative-themed to alternative formats, offers options that appeal to the different tastes of our members. We welcome all visitors to join our Beth Shalom family in experiencing any of our religious services. We also invite you to join us for the many holiday celebrations, family and social events we hold throughout the year.
Rabbi Robert Gamer will officially join Congregation Beth Shalom as its rabbi on June 1, 2010, but will make occasional visits until then. Rabbi Gamer joins us from Congregation Beth Judea in Long Grove, Illinois, where he has been associate rabbi since 2002. He is a native of Oak Park, Michigan. Rabbi Gamer is a graduate of the University of Michigan and earned a Master’s degree in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He received his ordination from JTS in 2002.
Rabbi Gamer is married to Wendy Miller Gamer, who received her Master’s degrees from JTS and Columbia School of Social Work. They have three children: Maya, 7, Oz, 5, and Aryeh, 2.
“Cantor Sam” Greenbaum came to CBS in 1973 from Portland, Oregon, where he was affiliated with Congregation Shaarie Torah. While there, he was commended for his involvement in Jewish communal affairs by being elected “Man of the Year” by the senior citizens organizations.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, he is a graduate of the Cantors Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Along with his cantorial and pastoral responsibilities, he works with religious school students to train for the B’nai’B’not Mitzvah, teaches adult education classes, conducts youth and adult choirs and serves as youth director for the synagogue.
He is a regular speaker and performer for Jewish organizations. Cantor Greenbaum has practiced as a certified mohel since 1974. He is a member of the Cantors Assembly of America and has served as President of the Tri-State Region Cantors Council and the Cantors Council of Detroit.
Our Ritual Director, Rev. Sammy Semp, joined CBS in 1982. He coordinates and supervises, in conjunction with the Rabbi and Cantor, all matters pertaining to ritual and synagogue services. Rev. Sammy is our Ba’al Koreh (Torah Reader), reads the Megillah on Purim, blows the Shofar, and conducts parts of the services during the High Holy Days. He is also involved in visiting the sick in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisting members with special life events.
Rev. Sammy (as he prefers to be addressed) has held teaching, administrative, and counseling positions at Camp Ramah in Canada, Congregation Beth Tzedec Religious School and the United Synagogue Day School in Toronto, Canada, and Beth Israel Synagogue and Religious School in Michigan. For many years, he was also the Grade 7 teacher in our CBS Religious School. During his years in Jewish education, he prepared and compiled his own educational materials on subjects that included Israel, the Holocaust, the Bible, and Jewish morals and ethics. That helped him become a recipient of the Schochet Family Outstanding Teacher’s Award in Detroit.
Rabbi David A. Nelson, a native of Bridgeport, CT and a graduate of Brandeis University, came to Beth Shalom as its spiritual leader in 1972. After being ordained by The Jewish Theological Seminary in 1967, he spent two years serving the Jewish community in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He has been active in the community at large, taking special interest in chaplaincy programs such as Beaumont Hospital, Detroit Police Department, Michigan State Police and Oakland County’s Sheriff Department. His warmth and informality are hallmarks of his rabbinate.
Rabbi Nelson has served as President of the Conservative Rabbis of Metropolitan Detroit, President of Michigan Branch of Rabbis, a member of the Rabbinical Assembly of America, President of the Michigan Region of the Rabbinical Assembly, and Chairman of the Rabbinical Assembly’s Member Committee. On the Jewish communal scene, Rabbi Nelson has been the director of the Michigan region’s United Synagogue of America, a board member of Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Jewish National Fund, Jewish Association for Residential Care, the Fresh Air Society, the Hebrew Free Loan Association, the Jewish Community Council, and Jewish Federation Apartments.
In the ecumenical sphere, Rabbi Nelson has been active with the Detroit Round Table of the National Conference of Christians, Muslims and Jews.
Bosmat Dovas, a native of Israel, is Beth Shalom’s Director of Education. In her role, she is bringing innovative programming to Beth Shalom’s Center for Jewish Learning – the renamed religious school – with the goal of enriching our children’s understanding of Judaism and their knowledge of Modern Hebrew along with learning prayer, Torah and holidays (see the Religious School link for more information).
Bosmat holds a degree in developmental psychology from Wayne State University. She has worked with many religious schools in Michigan since 1994, teaching Hebrew at the Frankel Jewish Academy, presenting several courses for the Alliance for Jewish Education, and winning enthusiastic reviews from Beth Shalom parents and students alike for her classes in our Religious School.
Susan has been the director of our growing Gan Shalom Preschool and Parenting Center since2006and has brought many innovative and exciting programs and activities to The Gan. With extended hours (7 am – 6 pm Monday – Friday), a small teacher to child ratio and a unique bilingual Hebrew-English program, Susan has fostered a caring, loving, safe environment for infants and toddlers to learn and grow Jewishly.
Susan earned her Master of Education from Wayne State University. She has served as program director, early childhood administrator, preschool and elementary teacher. Susan is the recipient of numerous awards including the Metro Parent Award, Cantor Award for Judaic education and the Golden Apple Award.
About Us
Congregation Beth Shalom is a progressive Conservative synagogue that has been serving the metro Detroit Jewish community for almost 60 years. We are a diverse community, proud of the open, welcoming environment we have created, which is reflected in our mission:
To celebrate Jewish life as an inclusive and intimate community through learning, prayer, shared experiences, and social action within the framework of Conservative Judaism.
Beth Shalom attracts members from the surrounding neighborhoods of Oak Park, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Royal Oak and Southfield, as well as others in our widespread community. Our religious services are warm, spiritual and inclusive. A variety of services, from traditional to creative-themed to alternative formats, offers options that appeal to the different tastes of our members. We welcome all visitors to join our Beth Shalom family in experiencing any of our religious services. We also invite you to join us for the many holiday celebrations, family and social events we hold throughout the year.
Clergy
Educational Staff
Professional Staff
Executive Officers
Our Clergy
Rabbi Robert Gamer
rabbigamer@gmail.com
Rabbi Gamer is married to Wendy Miller Gamer, who received her Master’s degrees from JTS and Columbia School of Social Work. They have three children: Maya, 7, Oz, 5, and Aryeh, 2.
Cantor Samuel L. Greenbaum
perfectnow@excite.com
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, he is a graduate of the Cantors Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Along with his cantorial and pastoral responsibilities, he works with religious school students to train for the B’nai’B’not Mitzvah, teaches adult education classes, conducts youth and adult choirs and serves as youth director for the synagogue.
He is a regular speaker and performer for Jewish organizations. Cantor Greenbaum has practiced as a certified mohel since 1974. He is a member of the Cantors Assembly of America and has served as President of the Tri-State Region Cantors Council and the Cantors Council of Detroit.
Rev. Sammy Semp
cbs@congbethshalom.org
Rev. Sammy (as he prefers to be addressed) has held teaching, administrative, and counseling positions at Camp Ramah in Canada, Congregation Beth Tzedec Religious School and the United Synagogue Day School in Toronto, Canada, and Beth Israel Synagogue and Religious School in Michigan. For many years, he was also the Grade 7 teacher in our CBS Religious School. During his years in Jewish education, he prepared and compiled his own educational materials on subjects that included Israel, the Holocaust, the Bible, and Jewish morals and ethics. That helped him become a recipient of the Schochet Family Outstanding Teacher’s Award in Detroit.
Rabbi David A. Nelson
Rabbi Emeritus
rabbi@congbethshalom.org
Rabbi Nelson has served as President of the Conservative Rabbis of Metropolitan Detroit, President of Michigan Branch of Rabbis, a member of the Rabbinical Assembly of America, President of the Michigan Region of the Rabbinical Assembly, and Chairman of the Rabbinical Assembly’s Member Committee. On the Jewish communal scene, Rabbi Nelson has been the director of the Michigan region’s United Synagogue of America, a board member of Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Jewish National Fund, Jewish Association for Residential Care, the Fresh Air Society, the Hebrew Free Loan Association, the Jewish Community Council, and Jewish Federation Apartments.
In the ecumenical sphere, Rabbi Nelson has been active with the Detroit Round Table of the National Conference of Christians, Muslims and Jews.
Educational Staff
Bosmat Dovas
Director of Education
bdovas@congbethshalom.org
Bosmat holds a degree in developmental psychology from Wayne State University. She has worked with many religious schools in Michigan since 1994, teaching Hebrew at the Frankel Jewish Academy, presenting several courses for the Alliance for Jewish Education, and winning enthusiastic reviews from Beth Shalom parents and students alike for her classes in our Religious School.
Susan Gartenberg, M.Ed.
Director of Gan Shalom Parenting Center and Preschool
sgartenberg@congbethshalom.org
Susan earned her Master of Education from Wayne State University. She has served as program director, early childhood administrator, preschool and elementary teacher. Susan is the recipient of numerous awards including the Metro Parent Award, Cantor Award for Judaic education and the Golden Apple Award.
Professional Staff
Steven Weiss, Executive Director
execdir@congbethshalom.org
Mara Starr, Office Manager
mstarr@congbethshalom.org
Esfir Nozhnik, Bookkeeper
enozhnik@congbethshalom.org
Sheryl Kaminer, Administrative Assistant/Tributes
skaminer@congbethshalom.org
Executive Officers
President
Joshua Adler aa1992@wayne.edu
Executive Vice President
Mandy Garver mandygar4680@yahoo.com
Vice President
Gail Elkus gailbike@comcast.net
Vice President
Lori Hessenthaler eisenbergspilman@aol.com
Vice President
Jodie Krasnick jkrasnick@krasnick.com
Treasurer
Nancy Glen nancyaglen@aol.com
Secretary
Alissa Pianin apianin@comcast.net
Immediate Past President
Richard Emmer richardemmer@hotmail.com