Rabbi and Education Director, Rabbi Alison B. Kobey

Rabbi Kobey joined us in July 2009. She comes to Or Chadash with extensive pulpit, chaplaincy and community activitism experience. She served Temple B'rith Kodesh in Rochester, NY as Associate Rabbi and Director of Life Long Jewish Learning from 2000-2009. She oversaw the TBK religious school, the Rochester Kollel, as well as participating in many other rabbinic duties, such as counseling and life cycle events. Rabbi Kobey was active in the Rochester community and served on many local and state boards. Rabbi Kobey attended Tufts University and Hebrew Union College.

Rabbi Kobey loves the strong combination of rabbinic duties with educational duties because "learning is a life long continuum. As rabbis, we provide roots for Jewish learning and then strive to build upon those foundations. There is no endpoint along the path of learning. Thus, my job helps promote Jewish learning as a life long process." Moreover, she notes that two of the trends within American Judaism include a return to Jewish learning and a return to synagogue activity. "My job combines both pieces and then supports greater growth within Jewish spiritual life as a whole."

Rabbi Kobey notes that one challenge of responding to the new hunger for learning is to provide entry points for people of different ages and backgrounds and involvement that fits a variety of needs. "We want to provide numerous opportunities which will reach out to all people and help them enhance their own connections to Judaism."

Religious School Administrator, Jen Strelser

Jen Stelser became our Religious School Administrator in July 2009.  You know her as a past President of the Board of Directors of Congregation Or Chadash, as well as a Board Member. She also capably led the Religious School Committee for several years and she has taught Religious and Hebrew School classes.

Music Teacher, Roxanne Schueller

Roxanne Schueller became part of the Or Chadash community as its music teacher in September, 2004. When she was 15, Roxanne joined a Jewish youth group. It was there that she first experienced the strong feelings of community and spirituality that singing with others engenders. Jewish music became a touchstone for her. As she says, it strengthens, inspires and embraces her and Roxanne wants to bring this to the Or Chadash community in any way that she can think of---and parents, teachers and the children and teens can think of. Her desire is for everyone to share their interests and enthusiasms with her!

Roxanne will be drawing material from a variety of sources, including traditional melodies, camp and youth group songs, and songs from the current Jewish Rock scene. She looks forward to singing with the children of Or Chadash!

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