HOME   CLERGY   EDUCATION   GET INVOLVED   MEMBERSHIP   CALENDAR   CONTACT

 
Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer
Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer joined Temple Shearith Israel in 2008 after serving congregations in Syosset and Brooklyn, New York. He was ordained from the Hebrew Union College in 2003 after completing his studies at the New York and Jerusalem campuses. He graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Tufts University.

Rabbi Eisenkramer was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where he discovered his love of fly fishing. He now fishes the streams of Connecticut and New York, and writes about religion and fly fishing on his blog, The Fly Fishing Rabbi, www.flyfishingrabbi.com . Rabbi Eisenkramer's writings have appeared in Reform Judaism Magazine and Trout Magazine.

Rabbi Eisenkramer, his wife, Marcela Betzer, and their twin children Naomi and Jonah, live in Ridgefield.

To contact Rabbi Eisenkramer: CLICK HERE

     
Cantor Deborah Katchko Gray

Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray grew up in a distinguished family of cantors. She is a fourth generation cantor and the second woman to serve a Conservative congregation.

A graduate of Boston University, her studies with Elie Wiesel convinced her that continuing in this family tradition was the best response for Jewish survival. Elie Wiesel said of her, ''If a teacher had but one student, you- it would be Dayenu!''

Since 1999 Deborah has served Temple Shearith Israel and is active in the national and international community. She teaches and shares through Scholar in Residence programs, Limmud International, The European Academy of Jewish Liturgy, and the Clergy Task Force of Jewish Women International.

Her recordings include Kindersongs, Jewish Soul, A Sacred Spirit, TSI Music Shabbat, Katchko-3 Generations of Cantorial Art and Passover Seder Songs. The Cantors Assembly Spirit Series has used her recordings in the Spirit of Israel, Hanukkah, Children's Music, and Jewish Weddings. The TSI Adult Choir singing '' Shalom Rav'' was chosen for the Spirit of Shalom in the series. Deborah's '' Yerushalayim Shel Zahav'' was chosen for The International Jewish Songbook by Tara Publications.
Her book, Katchko 3 Generations of Cantorial Art is part of Hebrew Union College's cantorial school curriculum.

Cantor Katchko-Gray is member of the Cantors Assembly and Founder and Past President of the Women Cantors' Network. She is chair of the CT Region of the Cantors Assembly, co-founder of CT Cantors Connect, and Associate Member of the American Conference of Cantors as well as the Ridgefield Clergy Association.

Deborah's story is included in the book, The Invisible Thread- A Portrait of American Jewish Women. Her archives are housed in the American Jewish Archives as well as the National Museum of American Jewish History where two items are part of the permanent collection.

She is an amateur cellist with the Danbury Community Orchestra and voice student of Margaret Astrup, chair of voice at Western Connecticut State University. She loves to do huck embroidery and teach others how to make an heirloom tallit using Swedish Weaving. The temple published a book of her work in honor of her 10th anniversary at temple, ''Jewish Huck Embroidery.''

Deborah is the mother of four sons. She is married to Dr. F. Scott Gray of CT Family Orthopedics and the Danbury Foot and Ankle Center.

Elie Wiesel said of her, ''Listen to her. Debbie will enable you to hear and feel the exquisite yet melancholy beauty of Jewish melodies that must never be forgotten.''

http://www.oysongs.com/deborahkatchkogray

www.cantordebbie.com

To contact Cantor Katchko-Gray: CLICK HERE

 
     
Rabbi Emeritus Jon R. Haddon, D.D.
Rabbi Jon R. Haddon was invested at the Cantorial School of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1972 and was ordained a Rabbi in 1980. He was a Cantor in Rye, NY, and the first director of the School of Sacred Music at HUC. He has also served pulpits in White Plains, NY, and Newington, Connecticut. Rabbi Haddon is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the American Federation of Cantors, the Rabbinic Council of The Jewish Federation and the Pastoral Advisory Committee of Danbury Hospital. Rabbi Haddon is a former president of the Ridgefield Clergy Association. He is also the founder of the WREF radio program, "Moments of Inspiration," and has written for many local newspapers. His article, ''The Need to Teach Goodness,'' appeared in the Readers Digest in November, 1998. Rabbi Haddon served Temple Shearith Israel from 1987 - 2008. During that 21 year period membership rose from 65 families to nearly 300 at the present time.

To contact Rabbi Haddon: CLICK HERE

   

 

46 Peaceable Street • Ridgefield, CT • 06877
203.438.6589