Renee Higer, Executive Director
Kate Milgrom, Education Director
Julie Rosenthal, Preschool Director
Andrea Rubin, Membership and Marketing Director
Ina Yablonsky, Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant
Judi Roseman, Bulletin Editor/Administrative Assistant
For contact information, please visit the Contact Us page.
Renee Higer, Executive Director, began working at Temple Emanu El in 1997. She oversees the temple's finances, supervises the support staff and membership director, and insures that the building is maintained. She was also the point person for the relocation project.
Renee is a trained social worker with eight and a half years experience at the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, Ohio Northern Region. She received her BS at The Ohio State University and her Master's degree from the Mandel School of Applied Social Science of Case Western Reserve University.
Renee is a past president of the Cleveland Area Synagogue and Temple Administrators and is a member of the National Association of Temple Administrators where she has chaired various committees for their national conventions. In addition, Renee has facilitated sessions on leadership development throughout North America.
Kate Milgrom, Education Director, started at Temple Emanu El in 2009 as both a teacher in the religious school and Youth Director. In 2011, Kate was appointed to the position of Education Director. Kate has an undergraduate degree in Jewish Studies and Hebrew from The Ohio State University and is pursuing an MA in Jewish Studies with an Advanced Certificate in Jewish Education through Gratz College. Kate was awarded the 2011 Libbie Braverman Award for teaching from the JECC. Kate is committed to strengthening kehillah (community) in the religious school as well as working with every child to uncover their connection to lifelong Jewish learning.
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Julie Rosenthal, Preschool Director, attended The Ohio State University where she earned a BS in Early Childhood Development in 1987. She then taught at OSU's Child Care Center for two years.
Julie returned to Cleveland in 1989 and worked as a teacher at Temple Emanu El until 1993. She then was the head teacher in the childcare center of Menorah Park for the Aging for two years. In September 1995, Julie was appointed preschool director at Temple Emanu El and has been here ever since. In addition, Julie joined the staff of Alexandria School in 2008 to teach Creative Play to students studying to become nannies.
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Andrea Kushnick Rubin, Membership and Marketing Director, returned to Cleveland from Philadelphia in 2006. In Philadelphia, Andrea worked at the University of Pennsylvania as the Director of Business Administration for the university’s writing programs. Andrea earned her MBA in Marketing at Temple University and her BA from Lehigh University. She was active in the Philadelphia chapter of Hadassah where she helped to found a new group aimed at involving younger women. In Cleveland, Andrea started a social, educational and support group for Jewish families with adopted children called Stars of David. Andrea is happy to be a part of the warm, close-knit, Jewish community that Cleveland and Temple Emanu El have to offer.
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Beth Mann, Youth Director, Beth has a bachelor’s degree in Judaic Studies from the University of Cincinnati. She has worked in formal and informal Jewish education in Reform Congregations as well as working for BBYO and the Union for Reform Judaism. Beth has dedicated her life to build strong connections and leadership within the reform movement. For the past 7 years Beth has worked as the NFTY NEL Regional Advisor. Beth is dedicated to ensuring the future of the reform movement by building community, dedication and a sense of belonging among the people she works with.
Lee Haas, Librarian, has worked at Temple Emanu El since March 2001. Her responsibilities include selecting and purchasing new books, videos, CD's and audiocassettes, maintaining the library catalogue, keeping accurate circulation records, and working with religious school teachers and classes. Lee also answers reference requests, assists patrons in the use of the library, promote the library through programs, bulletin articles, displays, etc., and does general library maintenance and administration.
Lee earned her Master's of Library Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She worked for two years in the reference department of the University of Cincinnati Library in the 1970's. From 1993 until 1999 she managed libraries in four synagogues, the Jewish Community Center, and a Hebrew day school in Nashville, Tennessee. Upon moving to Cleveland, Lee worked for a year in the library of Siegal College before coming to Temple Emanu El.
Ina Yablonsky, Bookkeeper, started in September 1989 as a Temple Emanu El employee. Ina first came to Temple Emanu El as a part-time assistant in the Religious School. Previously, she worked at National City Bank. As bookkeeper, Ina has also become our computer troubleshooter and website technician.
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Judi Roseman, Communications Associate and Administrative Assistant, began working at Temple Emanu El in 1994. Judi is the support staff person for Rabbi Denker, Rabbi Roberts and Cantor Yomtov. She also creates and edits the monthly Temple Emanu El Bulletin. Judi is our B'nai Mitzvah coordinator. Judi earned a BS in Hearing and Speech Sciences from Ohio University.
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