Congregation Emanuel | Clergy | Reform Judaism Hudson Valley

Rabbi Yael Romer

Rabbi Yael’s rabbinic leadership emphasizes Spirituality, Sacred Community, and Tikun Olam. These pillars of Judaism are her life’s work.

Rabbi Yael has served Congregations in New Jersey, Canada, New Hampshire and Israel. She maintains her American and Israeli citizenship. She was the third female Congregational rabbi in Israel and served a Congregation in the Northern Galilee for 10 years where three of her five children were born.

Today you will find Rabbi Yael in shul, in her study, teaching, serving in the Hudson Valley community, outdoors on a mountain top, or by the river. She encourages you to join her weekly and on holidays for all and any of these Jewish moments.

Rabbi Yael Romer has been the spiritual leader of Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley since 2001. She completed her BA from Brandeis University in 1983, her MA of Hebrew Literature from HUC-JIR in 1986, received “Smicha” rabbinic ordination from HUC-JIR in 1988, earned a Doctor of Divinity in 2016, and was certified as a spiritual director in the Bekhol Levavkha Spiritual Directors training program in 2017.

Today Rabbi Yael lives in Rhinebeck with her husband and is the proud mother and grandmother of five extraordinary adult children and their partners, one delicious grandchild, and her Newfoundland Moose and rescue cat Clea. She serves the Congregation as full time Senior Rabbi, and maintains a Spiritual Direction Private Practice in her studio in Rhinebeck.

Rabbi Yael Romer, DD (she/her)
rabbiyael@cehv.org
845-338-4384 (study)

Rabbinic Intern Jack Sherratt

Jack Sherratt is a third-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and currently serves as CEHV’s Rabbinic Intern. Jack is also a master carpenter, seasoned beekeeper and aspiring scribe. He lives on the Lower East Side of Manhattan with his daughter Frankie, Frankie’s other parent Jeffrey and their ridiculously handsome cat, Pinky Velvul. Jack has a deep affinity for upstate NY. Prior to beginning his rabbinical school career Jack worked as a psychologist specializing in advocacy for LGBTQ homeless youth.

Jack will be joining us two times a month throughout the 5782 calendar year; participating monthly in Friday night and Saturday services and working at CEHV monthly on a Tuesday or mid-week day to visit and engage with our community. He will also be working with our Committee on Spiritual Practice, The Food Access and Equity Initiative, and shadowing and partnering with Rabbi Yael as she accompanies members of the community with sick visits, b-mitzvah mentoring and participating in various life-cycle experiences with our congregants.

Jack Sherratt
jack.sherratt@huc.edu

Cantorial Soloist Alexandra Schleuderer

Alexandra Schleuderer is an accomplished, versatile soprano soloist whose previous experience has included operatic and choral work as well as sacred music. Alex looks forward to returning home to Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley and sharing her gifts while strengthening her roots in Judaism. Alexandra holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music, cum laude, from SUNY at Oneonta. Other education includes the Bel Canto Institute, in Florence, Italy and Crittenden Opera Studio in Boston, MA.

Alexandra Schleuderer (she/her)
cantor@cehv.org
845-338-4271 x 109

Cantor Emeritus Bob Cohen

Cantor Bob Cohen is steeped in Pete Seeger’s belief that everyone can sing. He integrates that into services notable for their warmth, joy, and participation. His own extraordinary journey has led him from the New World Singers in the Village to cantorial work at Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley. Cantor Bob has also been very active in the broad Interfaith Community in Kingston. Enjoying retirement, Cantor Bob can still be found singing with his Congregation at services.

Religious School Director Jonathan Billig

Jonathan Zvi Berman Billig (he/they) is one of those American/Turtle Island Jews whose favorite learning environment growing up was Hebrew School. He holds a Masters of Science from Antioch University, New England, and B.A.s from The Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University. He has designed programs, trained teachers, and coordinated departments at The Bronx Botanical Garden, Wave Hill, and New Hampshire’s Mount Monadnock. He also co-designed and led the “Synagogue In the Woods” program for Temple Beth Shalom, Mahopac, and has joyfully taught Hebrew school for a gaggle of synagogues throughout the Northeast.