ABOUT US
OUR clergy
Rabbi Matt Cohen
216.454.1211
Rabbi Matt Cohen joined the Temple Emanu El community in July 2022. Rabbi Matt was born and raised in Beachwood, Ohio. He attended The Ohio State University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He was ordained from The Hebrew Union College, in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2012. Rabbi Matt served Congregation Ahavath Chesed – The Temple, in Jacksonville, Florida from 2012-2018 and Congregation B’nai Israel in Galveston, TX from 2018-2022.
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Rabbi Matt is an experienced guitarist and singer and has led congregational, summer camp, religious school and youth group worship experiences for nearly 30 years. In addition to his solo rabbinic work on the bema, he has created and co-led worship services with teen and adult congregational bands. He looks forward to recruiting the musical members of TEE!
Rabbi Matt is passionate about his work in the interfaith and civic community. He participated in multiple community boards, social justice initiatives, and interfaith panels in Jacksonville and Galveston. He was a mayoral appointed officer on the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission for four years and presided over the Galveston Ministerial Alliance for two years. Rabbi Matt believes that our children, youth, and teens are the lifeblood of the congregation and enjoys leading educational opportunities both within and outside of the classroom. He has served on the faculty of various URJ Summer Camps for 10 consecutive summers, taught religious school students of all ages, and has led youth trips to Washington D.C, New York City, and Alabama. Rabbi Matt believes that Jewish learning is a lifelong pursuit for Jews of all ages and delights in teaching Mussar, Jewish liturgy, Jewish ethics and values, and discovering the spiritual teachings and lessons from our Jewish sacred texts. He has a deep love for Israel and has had the blessing to lead congregations, Federation groups, and teen trips to Israel.
Rabbi Matt is a blues guitarist by trade and loves to jam with his 12-year-old son, Ayden, who is an accomplished musician. You can find their father-son jams on their Facebook page: The Cohen Fam Jam Room. When he is not with his Temple Emanu El family or jamming with Ayden, you will find him spending quality time with his wife of 22 years, Erin, of Akron, Ohio. Erin is the Regional Development Director of the Cleveland AJC (American Jewish Committee). Rabbi Matt and Erin, along with Ayden, and their two dogs, Lucille and Koa, are so happy to call Cleveland their home once again!
Rabbi Emeritus Daniel A. Roberts
Rabbi Roberts has been a leader of our congregation for over 5 decades. An expert in the field of bereavement and holds a doctorate in this area and is certified as a Fellow in Thanatology. He served on the National Committee on Teenage Suicide Prevention was a board member on the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.
He is a past president of the Heights Interfaith Council and the Cleveland Board of Rabbis. He served on the national Rabbinic Cabinet of the State of Israel Bonds and was Chair of the Task Force on Pre-Marital Education of the Central Conference of American Rabbi’s.
Rabbi Roberts has authored a myriad of chapters and books. He currently lives in Denver, Colorado.
OUR STAFF
Operations
Renee Delafranconi
Executive Director
216.454.1209
Renee has been Temple Emanu El’s Executive Director since 1997. As a member of the senior professional staff, she functions as the Chief Operating Officer providing administrative, financial and logistical support to the sacred, social, communal, educational and cultural goals and programs of the Congregation. She is responsible for management of the Congregation’s business affairs, oversees the physical plant, maintains relationships with vendors, and works closely with the Temple leadership and other senior and support staff members.
As a trained social worker, she was the Senior Associate Regional Director for the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO), Ohio Northern Region, for 8 ½ years. She received her Master’s degree from the Mandel School of Applied Social Science of Case Western Reserve University and Bachelor of Science degree at The Ohio State University. Renee is a past member of the Board of Directors for the National Association for Temple Administration (NATA). She is also the Immediate Past President of the Cleveland Area Synagogue and Temple Administrators (CASTA). In addition, Renee has facilitated sessions on leadership development throughout North America.
Renee is the mother of Temple Emanu El graduate, Codie, who is married to Alex. She enjoys reading and being with family as well as creating deep, meaningful relationships with congregants. Renee and her husband, Pierre, own Butternut Maple Farm in Burton where they produce award-winning organic syrup.
Darcy Hershey
Creative Director
216.454.1223
Darcy joined the Temple Emanu El staff in 2019 as a part-time Administrative Assistant for the Education and Early Education departments. Since then, her role has evolved into Creative Director, overseeing the Temple’s graphic design, marketing, and photography needs.
A longtime member of the Temple community, Darcy previously served as Vice President of Engagement on the Board of Trustees and chaired several successful annual galas. With her extensive background in membership and programming, she co-staffs the Engagement Committee and plays a key role in planning and executing Temple-wide events, including the gala.
Darcy holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from The Ohio State University. She and her husband, Aaron, have been Temple members since 2003 and are proud parents of Dylan and Caleb, as well as their sweet pup, Luna.
Judi Roseman
Administrative Assistant
216.454.1216
Judi has served as an Administrative Assistant at Temple Emanu El since 1994. In her role, she provides dedicated support to Rabbi Matt, coordinates the B’nai Mitzvah program, High Holy Days, manages the lifecycle database for congregants, and supports the production of the temple’s Bulletin.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Hearing and Speech Sciences from Ohio University. Outside of work, Judi enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and attending performances in the KeyBank Broadway Series at Playhouse Square. She is the proud mother of two adult daughters, Rebecca and Stacie, and a devoted grandmother to Rose, Emma, Aaron, and Izzy.
Education
Eileen Sadowsky
Education Director
216.454.1214
Eileen Sadowsky came to TEE in 2019 as Educator Director and is passionate about Jewish education that meets the needs of all students. She is responsible for developing engaging learning programs that promote content learning AND help build community among students and staff. She feels strongly about ongoing professional development, both for the teaching staff and herself, and loves to reflect on and talk about what works best for the students at TEE. Eileen appreciates the opportunity to get to know students individually as she is responsible for preparing religious school students to become a B-Mitzvah.
Eileen’s background includes graduate degrees in Religious Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) and in Management of Human Services from Brandeis University. She also holds a certificate in Educational Leadership from the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute and HUC-JIR. Before working in Jewish Education, Eileen worked in the public school system as an occupational therapist. When not at work, Eileen loves to play outside either bicycling or hiking.
Beth Mann
Youth & Family Program Director
216.454.1220
Beth Mann is the Youth & Family Program Director at Temple Emanu El, a role supported in partnership with the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland (JEC). With extensive experience in both formal and informal Jewish education, Beth has served Reform congregations, BBYO, and the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to strengthening connections, building leadership, and nurturing vibrant Jewish community life.
Beth is deeply passionate about ensuring a strong future for the Reform movement by fostering meaningful relationships, empowering young leaders, and creating spaces where every individual feels a sense of belonging.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Judaic studies from the University of Cincinnati. Beth and her husband, Phil, are proud parents of two adult children, Michael and Morgan. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, crafting, and spending time with her family and large extended family— including their two dogs, Bailey and Dixie.
Preschool
Eleanor Gulling
Early Childhood Education Director
216.454.1308
Eleanor joined Temple Emanu El in 2017, initially providing part-time classroom support while pursuing her post-secondary education. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s in Social Science Administration from Case Western Reserve University. As a Licensed Social Worker, Eleanor brought compassion and dedication to her role as a home care case manager with Hospice of the Western Reserve.
Now serving as the Early Childhood Education Director, Ellie leads the design and implementation of a rich, developmentally appropriate learning experience for children from 6 weeks old through pre-Kindergarten. Her leadership is grounded in a commitment to creating a warm, engaging, and supportive environment where every child can thrive.
Eleanor dedicates her free time to creating the best possible life for her fur baby, Audrey.
Mary Beth Laurienzo
Assistant Preschool Director
216.454.1215
Mary Beth brings over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, blending her deep classroom expertise with her current role as an administrator at Temple Emanu El Preschool. Prior to stepping into leadership, she spent a decade as a dedicated pre-K teacher at a local childcare center, where she championed play-based learning and thoughtfully crafted lesson plans that inspired curiosity and creativity. Her passion for early literacy remains a cornerstone of her work, as she continues to foster a love of reading throughout the school community.
Mary Beth holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and a certification in trauma-informed care. She is a lifelong learner, continually expanding her knowledge through professional development, educator collaboration, and hands-on experience. Her administrative approach is rooted in empathy, experience, and a commitment to creating a nurturing, inclusive environment for children and staff alike.
Outside of school, Mary Beth is a proud bibliomaniac with an ever-growing book collection. She’s been competing in pinball tournaments for over a decade, enjoys recreational figure skating, and finds joy in creative crafting with her Cricut. Her vibrant personality and passion for early childhood education make her a dynamic and inspiring leader within the preschool.
OUR BOARD
Executive Board
Pamela G. Richards, President
Michelle Nozik Bogomolny, Vice-President
Susan Freimark, Vice-President
Hermine Krasny Ostro, Vice-President
David Silverman, Secretary
Trustees and Reps
Michelle Bailin, Trustee
Elliot Davidson, Trustee
J.B. Davis, Trustee
Andrew Felber, Trustee
David Kaufman, Trustee
Debe Levin Klotzman, Trustee/Education
Representative
Laura Edelman Leventhal, Trustee
Jennifer Mills, Trustee
Nelson Pitlor, Trustee
Joanna Radov, Trustee
Ashley Walker, Trustee
Harlan Ullman, Brotherhood Representative
Emma Maszir, Preschool Representative
Richard Horvitz, Life Trustee
Past presidents
Mitchell Cronig, Immediate Past President
Adam Abrams, Past President
Dennis Hershey, Past President
Ruth Hurwitz, Past President
Susan Krantz, Past President
David Sperling, Past President
Judy Uram, Past President
OUR
VISION
Temple Emanu El is an inclusive, caring community that encourages individuals to discover what it means to be Jewish today and inspires our youth to become the leaders of tomorrow. We empower our congregants to explore their passion for Judaism, lifelong learning, and social action within and beyond our walls.
OUR
MISSION
Temple Emanu El strives to make the practice of Judaism in integral part of its congregants’ lives.
OUR
HISTORY
In the summer of 1947, a new congregation was formed to fulfill a long felt need to have a Reform presence in the Heights area. With the sponsorship of the Union of American Hebrew Congregation (now renamed the Union for Reform Judaism), and direct assistance from The Temple-Tifereth Israel and Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, Temple Emanu El was created.
Dr. Alan S. Green, who was associated with a congregation in Texas, was named rabbi and was to grace our pulpit for thirty years. Irvin Bushman became the first cantor, serving in that capacity from 1947 to 1983. When Religious School Principal Sophie Herman was hired, she became the third pillar of the triad of incredible leadership...​​​