Rabbi Alan Freedman joined Temple Beth Shalom as our first full-time Rabbi in July, 2002, following his ordination at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. In addition, Rabbi Freedman holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and an undergraduate degree from The George Washington University. Before ordination, Rabbi Freedman was a student rabbi at Temple Shalom in Quincy, Illinois, and was the rabbinic intern for two years at Rockdale Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio. Read more...

Rabbi Amy B. Cohen joined Temple Beth Shalom as our Rabbi Educator in July, 2012, following her ordination at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. Raised in Sudbury, Mass., Cohen received a bachelor’s degree in social work with a double major in Jewish history and civilization and a master’s of social work at New York University. She also earned a master’s of religious education and master’s in Hebrew letters at HUC-JIR. Read More....

Abby Gostein has served as the Cantorial Soloist at Temple Beth Shalom since January, 2004. She is a renowned published composer of Jewish liturgical music (Transcontinental Music Publications) whose compositions have been sung throughout the United States as well as internationally. Many of her pieces have been selected for presentation at Jewish liturgical music festivals and at Cantorial professional conferences, and she has produced a CD of her original compositions, entitled "Each Blessing.” Read More...

Verna Hazlewood joined the staff of Temple Beth Shalom in 2005. She returned to Texas from Weston, Florida, where she spent 6 years working for Congregation B’nai Aviv. Verna has a lovely family that includes 2 daughters, a son-in-law and 4 grandchildren who all live in Austin. She also considers all congregants of Temple Beth Shalom to be part of her extended family. Read More...  

Kelly Finkel joined the Temple Beth Shalom team in August of 2008. Prior to that, she worked at the Austin Jewish Academy for 10 years as a classroom teacher, Judaic program coordinator, and Assistant Director. In January 2007, Kelly took a break to from full-time teaching to pursue my Masters Degree in Jewish Studies, with an emphasis in Jewish Education. She has also worked for Congregation Agudas Achim since arriving in Austin in 1993 as a Religious School teacher and T'fillah leader. As Hebrew School Director, Kelly also acts as B'nai Mitzvah Coordinator and post-b'nai mitzvah studies coordinator. Read More... 

Officers

President: Lynn Katz

Vice President: Scott Blech

Vice President: Simone Deitch 

Vice President: Fred Lugo

Vice President:  Shanti Duncan

Corresponding Secretary: Barbara Waisman

Recording Secretary: Andrew Johnson

Financial Secretary: Bob Batlan 

Co-Treasurers: Seth Winik and Gay Thompson

Immediate Past President: Patti Bridwell

Trustees

1 Year Term:

Paula Bilstein

Cori Moyer

Keith Zimmerman 

2 Year Term:

Stuart Laves

Cecelia Stewart

Michelle Mellon-Werch

3 Year Term:

Scott Grossfeld

Pam Prais

Gary Rubenstein