April handles all the incoming payments to Har Zion, including processing all the ACH and credit card transactions.  Have a question about your bill?  Reach out to April, and she can help.

Emily is handling all scheduling on the Har Zion Temple calendar. She is responsible for all private and organization rentals and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, including extended kiddushes. Emily handles all inside events, from our schools, constituent groups and lay leaders of the congregation. She also orders all of the food for the kitchen in addition to providing a variety of other kitchen support and supervision of kitchen staff. Emily also handles membership related items ranging from accepting potential or new member questions, updating member information, taking all RSVPs for congregational events, and being there to assist with anything a member might need. If you need help, direction and a smile at Har Zion Temple – see Emily!

Emily has also been handling our payroll and bank reconciliations for the bookkeeping office, and most recently she has undertaken the maintenance coordination of our building. She has proven to have excellent administrative skills and a thorough familiarity of HZT and she is eager to continue learning and expanding her role.

eberton@harziontemple.org
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Matthew brings 25 years of experience in facilities management and vendor relations to Har Zion Temple. He oversees the daily operations of our building, supervises the maintenance team, and coordinates with vendors to keep our facilities safe, welcoming, and well maintained. If you notice something in the building that needs attention, let Matt know. He’s happy to help and make sure it gets taken care of.

mclouse@harziontemple.org
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Whether over the phone or in person, Dawn is the first to greet you and try to help.  Whether you’re making a donation or just trying to reach other staff, Dawn is happy to take care of you.  And when she’s not greeting people, she’s helping out with a variety of administrative tasks in the front office, including all aspects of accounts payable – from placing orders, checking bills and writing checks to keeping all of our records well organized. If you need to buy something or get a bill paid – Dawn will take care of it.

dcollins@harziontemple.org
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Norman started his Har Zion marathon career as a Hebrew School teacher in the fall of 1986 after studying at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Today, he is the Director of Member Engagement and is preparing to celebrate his 40th anniversary in the hallowed halls of Hagys Ford Road.

The playlist of “Norman’s Greatest Har Zion Hits,” includes leader of Junior Congregation, Co-principal of the Har Zion High School of Jewish Studies, founding director of the Lower Merion Area Hebrew High, founder of the “Philly Friends of Paper Clips,” and storekeeper at Norman’s Candy Store!

He has been married to Debbie for over 30 years (may the Lord giver her strength). They are the proud parents of two amazing kids – Ethan (the apple that didn’t fall far from the tree as he currently works at Har Zion), and Alli. Norman believes that the foundation to every successful synagogue or school are strong relationships. Please come visit his office (directly across from the Dogole Chapel). There is a lot of candy and, at his age, he could do without all that sugar!

neinhorn@harziontemple.org
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Rabbi Ira Flax brings decades of experience and a deep personal connection to Har Zion Temple. A retired United States Air Force Chaplain who served for 26 years, Rabbi Flax also led Congregation Hesed Shel Emet in Pottstown. He was married on the Har Zion bimah and now returns to serve our community through pastoral care, life cycle events, teaching, and committee support. You can occasionally hear his engaging sermons on Shabbat.

rabbiflax@harziontemple.org

Michael is responsible to launch, implement, manage and own strategic marketing initiatives. That includes website and search engine optimization, social media, public relations, fundraising support, membership and programming efforts. He is also responsible for managing the organization’s image and reputation on social media and share Har Zion’s positive achievements both internally to members and employees and externally to stakeholders, prospective members and the community at large.

mgreenspoon@harziontemple.org
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Rabbi Haaz, ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, is committed to meeting people where they are in their Jewish practice and helping them develop comfort and vocabulary to discuss God, spirituality, and the miracles and mysteries of life. Through compassionate, skilled listening and reflection, he encourages and inspires others to discover who they are and live in alignment with their core values. Rabbi Haaz teaches and champions that every person is capable of deep Jewish learning, meaningful prayer, and significant impact. He brings unique creativity to re-envision ritual and prayer experiences to meet the needs of contemporary Jews and cultivate a heightened awareness of and thankfulness for each moment of our shared existence…
[READ FULL BIO]

rabbihaaz@harziontemple.org
610-667-5000 ext. 101

Kimber is the Director of the Noreen Cook Center for Early Childhood Education and oversees all aspects of the preschool throughout the school year. She manages the school’s teachers and staff, makes programmatic decisions, and provides the vision and leadership that guide the program’s growth and development.

If you have any questions or concerns about the preschool, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kimber. She is happy to help and looks forward to getting to know each family throughout the year.

khamilton@harziontemple.org
610-667-5000 ext. 115

Descended from performing vaudevillian grandparents on one side, and off-the-boat Eastern European orthodox Jews on the other, Cantor Randy Herman seemed destined to integrate the worlds of musical performance and Judaism.

After growing up in Grand Rapids, MI, and attending the University of Michigan, he worked briefly as an actor before pursuing music full time. As a pianist/singer/songwriter, he performed live and in the studio in a wide variety of contexts, both in the U.S. and abroad.

cantorherman@harziontemple.org
610-667-5000 ext. 102

Although Jane has retired, she is still helping us out part-time with preparing the Bulletin, Book of Remembrance and various pieces for the synagogue and Sisterhood programming.

jfetscher@harziontemple.org
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Among his many duties Dr. Levine leads the morning and evening minyanim, reads Torah, provides day-to-day kashrut supervision for the synagogue, teaches in our Gesher BMitzvah training program and tutors our BMitzvah students, and offers Shabbat teachings from the bimah. Dr. Levine celebrates the beginning and the ending of Shabbat with the NCCECE and enhances our Adult Education program with his scholarship and enthusiasm.

elevine@harziontemple.org
610-667-5000 ext. 103

Jo has recently joined the Har Zion staff after two years at the University of Pennsylvania Hillel. She will be offering her skills to the clergy, ritual administration, and communications. Please come say hello – she looks forward to meeting everyone and becoming part of the Har Zion community!

jmatta@harziontemple.org
610-667-5000 ext. 111

As our Executive Director, Gavi spends his time working with the accounting and administration staff, helping the senior staff and lay leadership, and serving the congregation, trying to make Har Zion Temple the best it can be. When you have a problem and are not sure where to turn, his door is always open. You’ll find him striving to solve problems: from equipment or technology issues, to improving organizational dynamics, to interfacing with staff, lay leaders, congregants and vendors.

gmiller@harziontemple.org
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Cynthia Olster serves as the Director of Har Zion Day Camp, bringing 16 years of experience as an educator in the School District of Philadelphia and Abington School District. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Scranton and a master’s degree in Special Education from Saint Joseph’s University, along with experience at several day and overnight camps. Cynthia believes camp provides children with a special opportunity to build independence, confidence, teamwork, and social-emotional skills beyond the classroom. She and her husband, Scott, whose own camp journey began at Har Zion, have four children.

colster@harziontemple.org
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Michele is the Marketing Communications Manager at Har Zion Temple, where she leads campaign management and content strategy across email, website, and social media. With three years of marketing experience, she specializes in digital analytics, market research, and community engagement. Michele is passionate about connecting our synagogue’s message with the community it serves!

mphan@harziontemple.org
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Dr. Schatz manages the day to day operations of the K-7 religious school at Har Zion Temple.  He supervises the teachers and assures that curriculum is selected, implemented, and assessed.  His goal is for our children to learn of our sacred tradition and attain skills to function in the Jewish home, synagogue and community.  Dr. Schatz brings decades of experience as an educational leader in synagogue, community-based, and experiential Jewish education settings to his role at Har Zion.

mschatz@harziontemple.org
610-667-5000 ext. 104

Rabbi Shawn oversees Jewish education in all its forms at Har Zion Temple.  Learning is his passion and he hopes to share this love of all Jewish learning with you and your family.  This includes religious school, youth group activities, adult education and more.  Whether you want to study in small groups or in a class formal or informal, academic or otherwise – the Lifelong Learning team is happy to try and help you meet your learning goals.

rabbishawn@harziontemple.org
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