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Steven Kushner, Rabbi Rabbi Kushner loves to study Torah, watch Preston Sturges films, and root for the Detroit Lions (which, he admits, is not always fun). He is the proud parent of Aviva and Hannah, and lives in Montclair.
Meredith grew up in Hollywood, Florida and attended her senior year of high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. She has a Bachelor of Music in Voice from the Manhattan School of Music. She has performed professionally as a soprano soloist in both Jewish and secular musical genres and venues, taught theory and general music in New York City schools, and for a few years even co-owned a catering and opera company called Divas’ Delite Inc. with her spouse, Leora Perlman. As a spiritual leader at Ner Tamid, Meredith seeks Lahavot Eish, ‘to spark the fire’ within each of us, by creating meaningful davening experiences through music and prayer. Of primary concern to Cantor Meredith is that she be involved in as many aspects of Synagogue life as possible. You can find Cantor Meredith on Friday morning’s as she leads the Shoresh Preschool community in Shabbat prayer, song, and celebration, teaching adult education of all levels, leading monthly Rosh Chodesh chavurot, teaching the Synagogue’s children both individually as they prepare for Bar/Bat Mitzvah and as a broader community, in weekly song leading and Sunday morning tefilla for the entire Synagogue community, leading the TNT Choir during High Holiday worship and throughout the entire year, on the Bima leading services and inspiring our community with her energetic, soulful, and enthusiastic approach to prayer, comforting mourners and other members in the congregation in need, and of course celebrating the Simchas of life, with the entire Ner Tamid Family. Meredith has a very active family of her own as she and her partner Leora live in Maplewood with their two sons, Gilad, age 5, and Nadav, age 3. If you spot their boys running through the Synagogue’s halls and spaces, eating challa and cookies, Cantor Meredith asks that you please tell them to slow down and finish chewing!! To read a feature article about Cantor Greenberg in the New Jersey Jewish News, click here.
Iris Schwartz, Director of Education of Ner Tamid's Religious School since 1996, has been involved in the fields of Jewish education and communal work in different capacities since 1975. She served as Religious School Principal at Beth Am Temple, Pearl River, New York from 1991 through 1995. Since 1990 she has won six Creative Teaching Awards from the Rockland County Center for Jewish Education Resources. Iris has also won the 1997 Hoffman Award for Programming and the 2001 Hoffman Award for Curriculum from the Jewish Education Association of MetroWest. Additionally, Iris won the 2000 Gamoran Curriculum Award from the National Association of Temple Educators and the 2005 Communicate Award from the Union for Reform Judaism. Iris was the Co-Chair of the national CAJE 32 conference in August 2007. Since coming to Ner Tamid Iris has introduced numerous creative programs for children and families including Ten Minutes of Torah, mitzvah programs, and historical recreations.
Arlene Sherman, Director of Shoresh Pre-School Arlene has been described as a highly organized, self-motivated and collaborative worker. We know from Ner Tamid members who have worked at the JCC and/or enrolled their children in the early childhood program that Arlene has exceptional rapport with toddlers, families and staff. She shares our vision for a loving and Jewish environment of learning through play, and she looks forward to creating strong ties between the pre-school and the Temple.
Cathy Lawrence, Associate Cantor EMAIL: clawrence@nertamid.org
Beth Berns, LCSW, JFS Synogogue Social Worker, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who holds a MSW from New York University (NYU) as well as an MBA from NYU. Beth is a Jewish Family Service of MetroWest (JFS) consultant as well as a private clinician. Beth began her career in the mental health field working on an inpatient psychiatric facility in NYC. She has worked with a variety of clients including those who have depression, anxiety, or alcohol/drug addiction. For 6 years prior to working at Ner Tamid, Beth ran parenting programs and facilitated support groups for new mothers at Temple B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills. Previous to her social work career, Beth worked in Finance at JP Morgan. In addition to her work at Ner Tamid, Beth has a private practice in Chatham. Since joining Ner Tamid, Beth has run a variety of support groups, parenting programs, and networking groups. Beth also meets with individual congregants, couples and families to help with any problems or concerns they may be experiencing. Beth comes to Ner Tamid as part of an initiative of the Jewish Family Service of MetroWest. Funding has been provided through a grant from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey.
Peri Smilow This coming year Peri will continue her enrichment of the Ner Tamid community by leading our B'yachad High Holy Day family service on the mornings of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Amy and Jeffrey Kagan, Youth Group Advisors Amy and Jeffrey Kagan have been involved in the Reform movement for most of their respective lives, encompassing youth group, camp, Israel and education. Amy discovered youth group late in her high school career, but spent seven summers at Camp Harlam, serving as Assistant Unit Head in 1999 and Athletic Director in 2000. Between those summers, she participated in the very first Birthright Israel trip. Following her graduation from the University of Rhode Island, she served for four years as the Director of NFTY’s Garden Empire Region (GER), as well as Director of Youth and Informal Education. Amy also served as the Junior Youth Group Advisor at Oak Park Temple outside of Chicago. Jeffrey found youth group during high school, attending the first NFTY Convention in 1983. After spending two summers at Kutz Camp, he served on the CFTY regional board. Two more summers at Kutz on staff and two summers at Harlam followed. After graduating from Indiana University, he served for 14 years as Senior Youth Group Advisor at Oak Park Temple (plus two more as Junior Youth Group Advisor there), receiving Life Memberships from both NFTY-CAR (Chicago) and from NFTY and Oak Park Temple’s Youth Advocacy Award. He has taught at NFTY Convention and at Kutz, where he and Amy met. Amy and Jeffrey live in Westfield with their new daughter, Sophie, and their crazy dog, Karlee.
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| 936 Broad Street | Bloomfield, NJ 07003 | P 973-338-1500 | F 973-338-4486 | info@nertamid.org | |||||||||||||||||
 Affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism |
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Meredith Greenberg has been the Cantor of Temple Ner Tamid since July 2008. She was ordained in May 2009 by the 
Arlene Sherman has over 26 years of experience in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. After obtaining her certification in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland, she was a third grade teacher before she began her career as an early childhood educator. She spent most of her working years at the JCC Metro West in West Orange. Her last position there was as Assistant Director of the early childhood program that served more than three hundred children. She developed curriculum, supported and assisted teachers, worked with parents on the coordination of events, managed the summer camp program, and marketed the program to prospective families. Some of her honors include the Chai Award, recognition for 18 years of excellence in Early Childhood Education, and a Brill Fellowship to an international training program in Israel.
Cantor Cathy Lawrence has a B.A. in Music from Rutgers and a Master's degree in Voice and Opera from Mannes College of Music. After a few years of performing in operas, concerts and recitals, Cathy’s career changed when she had twin sons. She went on to graduate from the 
