Rabbi Jeremy Barras

Rabbi Jeremy Barras is a native of Wilkes-Barre, PA. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a Religious Studies Minor at Connecticut College, where he also competed on the men’s tennis team. Rabbi Barras spent one semester of his junior year studying abroad at Tel Aviv University. Rabbi Barras began his studies at the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in 1998. He subsequently spent one year in Jerusalem, and four years in Cincinnati, OH, where he was ordained as a Rabbi. Rabbi Barras also earned a Masters Degree in Administrative Education and Jewish Education at Xavier University in conjunction with HUC-JIR. In 2002, he was awarded the Ferdinand Isserman Prize awarded to the senior rabbinical student who, in the judgment of the faculty of the Hebrew Union College, contributed the most toward the development of community relations. Before being ordained, Rabbi Barras served as a student rabbi for congregations in Grand Forks, ND, Valparaiso, IN, and Cincinnati, OH. Since 2002, Rabbi Barras has served as Associate Rabbi at Temple Beth El in Charlotte, NC. While in Charlotte, Rabbi Barras served as a board member of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), the Superintendent’s Interfaith Advisory Board of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and remains a member of the Youth Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). Rabbi Barras is married to the light of his life, Jodi Gant Barras. This past year they celebrated the birth of their first child, Ella Sophia Barras. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf and tennis, fantasy football, reading, studying Talmud and spending time with his puppy, Tango.

Cantorial Soloists

Joseph and Lynn Goldovitz have been performing music together for more than 35 years. Their unique vocal blend is energetic and yet has the feel of the very familiar. Although they sing and play the music of many Jewish composers; the greatest influence has always been the music and teaching of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach ztz'l. Some of the highlights of their career include performing three consecutive years at the International Klezmer Festival in Tzefat, Israel and for the Jewish Renaissance Foundation at the Governor's Mansion in Princeton, New Jersey. In addition to continuing as performers, they have recently begun to serve as Cantoral Soloists in Florida area Synagogues. They are also members of the Guild of Temple Musicians. Joseph and Lynn currently reside in DeBary, Florida and perform locally as well as throughout the USA. Their latest CD "Back to Basics" is a collection of songs by Rabbi Carlebach and other composers such as Rabbi Shmuel Brazil and Rabbi Hillel Pallai.

Religious Education Director

Dale Cohen has been working in the field of Jewish Education for 17 years. A graduate of both the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and Columbia University, she earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies and minored in education from the Seminary. She also earned a B.A. in Political Science from Columbia University. She earned her masters degree in upper elementary education from Southern Connecticut State University. She has taught children of all age groups secular as well as Judaic Studies and the Hebrew language. She truly loves to be working in the field of Jewish Education because Dale feels that it is her mission as a Jew to imbue children with the best Jewish Education possible. It is imperative for children to understand and develop their Jewish identities. Dale is a member of the National Association of Temple Educators.

President

Linda Sweet was raised in Miami Beach Florida and has been a resident of Ft. Myers for over thirty two years. She is the proud mother of Steven, Laurie and Kara and is blessed with three grandchildren...Maddy, Sara and Jake. Linda has actively served on boards and committees to improve public school education, to increase awareness of the arts and to support and raise funds for local charitable organizations. She is a long time member of Temple Beth El and is the chairperson for the First Annual Distinguished Nurse Recognition Award Program, The Rose of Care - a community project sponsored by Hadassah.