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May 16, 2003/Iyar 14 5763, Vol. 55, No. 38
Chai hires fourth rabbi
LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor
Temple Chai of Phoenix has hired a fourth rabbi.
Rabbi Mari Chernow will be ordained May 25 by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles and will begin at Temple Chai on July 1.
Chernow will be involved in all aspects of temple rabbinic work, said temple president Louis Hoffman. She will lead services, handle pastoral work and lead certain committees and groups.
Temple Chai currently has two full-time rabbis - Rabbi William Berk and Rabbi Peter Levi, and one part-time rabbi, Rabbi Lisa Tzur.
"We grew from one to two rabbinic positions when we were fewer than 600 member families," Hoffman said. "We have since grown to around 1,150 families."
The board felt that the workload on the rabbis was becoming extreme, Hoffman said. "We want to preserve our rabbis' abilities to lead our community in a creative and fresh way."
Chernow graduated magna cum laude from University of California San Diego with a major in psychology. She has a master's degree of Hebrew Letters from HUC-JIR's Los Angeles campus and has training in outdoor leadership, grief support, aged support and youth groups.
"Rabbi Chernow impressed us with her energy, enthusiasm and knowledge of Judaism, as well as a remarkable poise and maturity for someone just out of school," Hoffman said. "We think she will be a fine addition, will be quickly accepted by our temple's families, and will make a wonderful contribution to synagogue life."
"I'm so excited to be a part of the Temple Chai team," Chernow said. "It's really a dynamic, exciting place and I'm thrilled to be able to be there and learn there and teach there."
Chernow will move from Los Angeles to Phoenix in June.
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