Etz Chaim Staff

Rabbi David Abrahams

Rabbi David Abrahams has been serving Congregation Etz Chaim as its religious leader since August 1999. He began as a pararabbinic fellow prior to his enrollment in Rabbinical Seminary International in 2001; he was ordained in New York City in June of 2003.

Prior to coming to Etz Chaim, Rabbi Abrahams spent 20 years teaching religious school at congregations in Illinois and Ohio as well as in Rochester. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Jouralism, where he took a number of religion courses as electives and had a strong Conservative religious education growing up in Freeport on Long Island.

While living in the Midwest Rabbi Abrahams, in addition to teaching, served for many years as president and board member of Temple Sholom in Sterling, IL, where he developed his affinity for small, intimate congregations.

It was a milieu in which there was a high percentage of interfaith couples who were dedicated to raising their children Jewish, and he brings that perspective to Etz Chaim, where all family members feel welcome because they are welcome. As a result, both our religious school and our services reflect the warmth accorded to the children of all our members, as they represent our hope for the Jewish future.

Rabbi Abrahams’ mother was a convert to Judaism. Born of a Jewish father and Lutheran mother, Beverly Abrahams converted to Judaism to marry his father, Morton, in 1951. It is Rabbi Abrahams’ way of honoring his mother by agreeing to officiate Jewish wedding ceremonies for interfaith couples who are committed to raising their children as Jews.

It’s a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly. “I turn down more weddings than I perform,” he notes, “because as a general rule, I don’t co-officiate with Christian clergy, and I do insist that the couple be sincere about raising their children Jewish.

“There are those,” he adds, “who view intermarriage as a step toward assimilation. But it does not have to be that way. You can have two traditions under one roof, provided that the children in these families have a clear religious identification. When the parents are willing to choose Judaism for their children, I am willing to make sure that there is a chuppah for their kiddushin and nissuin, while the adult partners retain their own religious practices, and encourage each other to maintain a God-centered home in the tradition that best suits their beliefs. At Etz Chaim, the example of the children who have grown up in our congregation and retain their connection to Judaism is a source of comfort for all our members.

“By keeping the doors open to the interfaith couple willing to raise Jewish children, we ensure the doors are open to future generations of Jews.”

Cantor
Hannah Freundel

Hannah is a soprano from Buffalo, New York currently studying music education and classical voice as a Sophomore at the Eastman School of Music. During her time at Eastman Hannah has had the privilege of participating in various choral and recital performances.

This past summer Hannah spent three weeks at an opera program in Arona, Italy called Si Parla, Si Canta where she had the opportunity to perform in various opera scenes, and a masterclass. Hannah is very excited to begin singing at Etz Chaim.

Cantorial Soloist Emeritus

Ellen Lerner

I Grew up partially in Rochester but mostly in Columbus, Ohio where I also volunteered in the professional choir at Temple Israel during High School. I first joined a temple choir in elementary school in Columbus. Ohio. I returned after my marriage to Robert to Rochester. I joined the TBK volunteer choir and was with them for years.

My time in the TBK choir under encouragement from Martha Birnbaum and before that with the first ordained female Cantor, Barbara Ostfeld- Horowitz and finding new vocal coaches, helped my progress. Then about 22 plus years ago, I got a call from Congregation Etz Chaim that their soloist for the high holidays had to make other plans and I was asked to sing at a shabbat service; That was the beginning of years of becoming the cantor soloist at Congregation Etz Chaim.

My education was in nursing but I took private voice lessons for many years including at Eastman School of Music community. i also belonged to a few choirs and was part of the start of the Rochester Jewish Chorale now in its 33rd year. I also played some flute and a little piano. Music was always a big part of my life.

I have enjoyed singing at Congregation Etz Chaim and appreciate the support I have received from Rabbi Abrahams and the congregation. It is my home away from home! Singing is where I find my spirituality and hope I have imparted this to our congregation.

Board Members