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Kol Emet Leadership
Professional Staff
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Rabbi Howard Cove
Senior Rabbi
rabbicove@kolemet.org
215-493-8522 ext. 101
Howard K. Cove serves as the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Kol Emet
of Yardley, PA. A 1989 graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical
College, Howard served for 4 years as a student rabbi at Adath Tikvah
Montifiore in Philadelphia, and 7 years as the Assistant Rabbi at
Temple Sinai in Dresher, PA. Howard received his B.S. in Elementary
Education from Temple University in 1981.
In addition to his congregational responsibilities, has also participated
in CJEEP, the Catholic-Jewish Education Program sponsored by the
Steven Spielberg Foundation. This cooperative effort between the
Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the American Jewish Committee helps
promote better understanding between high school age students in
the areas of religion and faith. Howard has also served as the Rabbinic
Chaplain of the Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
“As a rabbi, I try to meet a person with whom I am working
with, in the words of the Torah, ba’asher hu sham (where he
or she is), in whatever they are experiencing, wherever they are.
I attempt to offer a connection to torah, Israel and G-d; to our
shared tradition; to community and to one’s own spiritual
resources.”
“I am committed to a partnership with fellow congregants
in order to create a synagogue community that is friendly, compassionate
and serious about Judaism. I hope that we can help one another do
the best we can with our lives – the right way, the caring
way.”
“I am a Rabbi because I want to make Jewishness come alive
for the people in my community. To have the children and adults
fall passionately for all or a part of Jewish life. I want to be
a source of strength, inspiration and hope to anyone walking through
the doors of Kol Emet, Jew or non-Jew.”
“I became a Rabbi because I committed myself to never giving
up searching and yearning for G-d. I am a Rabbi because I know that
this world is full of miracles, and that for every pain, there is
beauty and goodness, and for every loss there is love, and for every
wasted moment there is wonder.” |
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Rabbi Susan P. Schein
Associate Rabbi
rabbischein@kolemet.org
215-493-8522 ext. 112
Rabbi Schein serves as the Associate Rabbi of Congregation
Kol Emet. She has been with the congregation since 2002.
Much of Rabbi Schein’s time and energy is devoted to teaching
adult education classes, the Heh class in the religious school,
and B’nay Mitzvah students. She leads Shabbat and holiday
services throughout the year and serves as our High Holy Day cantor.
Committed to life-long Jewish education, Rabbi Schein played an
active role in creating Kol Emet’s Adult B’nay Mitzvah
program. She also has worked with lay leaders to establish Kol Emet’s
Caring Committee. Rabbi Schein is passionate about helping congregants
search for and find meaning along their Jewish paths.
Rabbi Schein graduated from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
in 2003. She holds an M.A. in German Literature from Washington
University in St. Louis and a B.A. with Honors in Political Science
and German Language from the University of Rochester.
While in rabbinical school, she worked at several congregations,
including Mishkan HaAm--The Westchester-Riverdale Reconstructionist
Group in New York and Mishkan Shalom in Philadelphia. As a chaplain,
she has worked for the Jewish Family and Children’s Service
of Greater Philadelphia and has served at the Hospital of the University
of Pennsylvania and at the Philadelphia Geriatric Center. Rabbi
Schein also was Hillel Director at Bucknell University and Program
Director at the St. Louis Hillel Foundation.
It has been Rabbi Schein’s good fortune to have lived in
Israel during different periods of her life: six months in Safed
with the work-study program “Livnot U’Lehibanot,”
a year at the Hebrew University, and another year at the Conservative
Yeshiva in Jerusalem. One summer she studied Jewish texts in the
Catskills with the Lubavitch-sponsored “Ivy League Torah Study
Program.” Rabbi Schein has lived, worked, and studied in Germany,
has completed two Outward Bound courses, and has bicycled across
the United States. She cares deeply about animals and the environment,
and, for fun, she juggles.
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Carrie Shames-Walinsky
Educational Director
cwalinsky@kolemet.org
215-493-8522 ext. 103
My first religious school experience was in an old, dark and moldy
building in New York City. We all sat, hands crossed, petrified
to share or speak, 2 hours a day, 5 afternoons a week. It was then
I thought to myself, there has got to be a better way! And so, 10
years later, when I chose my profession, I committed myself to improving
the plight of Jewish education for children. Since then it’s
been a learning experience every year. Just when I think I've seen
it all, there is another issue or idea evolving.
Throughout the years, I have committed the school, and style of
teaching, to retain 4 very important values. The first is to treat
every child with dignity and respect. The second is to use every
moment in school as a teaching moment. The third is to combine fun,
creativity and hands on experience within our school. And the fourth
is to constantly listen to parents and students and adapt to meet
the needs of our community.
My education includes graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Rutgers University.
I have also studied abroad at Tel Aviv University, and I attended
graduate school at the Jewish Theological Seminary and Gratz college.
My employment experiences have always been at synagogue schools
where I have been a teacher in preschools and religious schools
and held directorships in both Early Childhood and Religious education.
Personally I have lived, studied, traveled and worked in Israel.
I am married, and have 4 children who keep me very busy with ice
hockey, wrestling and soccer. In my free time I enjoy family time,
and design and painting Ketubot (Jewish marriage contracts).
Working at Congregation Kol Emet has been a dream come true. Because
the Reconstructionist Movement is so open and flexible, I am able
to use my creativity and enthusiasm to educate students of all ages.
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Bob Frey
Executive Director
bfrey@kolemet.org
215-493-8522 ext. 113
Bob has spent many years working in the social services field,
including 20 years in the field of Jewish Communal Service.
A lifelong resident of the Philadelphia/Bucks County region, Bob
graduated from Temple University with a degree in Psychology in
1972. After a successful career as a Center Director and Program
Director for people with disabilities with the City of Philadelphia,
Department of Recreation, Bob crossed the river and began his career
with the Jewish Community Center of the Delaware Valley in Ewing
in 1987. He held various positions there, ranging from the Physical
Education and Aquatics Director to Camp Director, Program Director,
and for the past 13 years, the center’s Executive Director.
Bob developed a passion towards providing programs for people with
disabilities during his years with the Department of Recreation.
He continues to direct the Carousel Recreation and Socialization
Program for People with Disabilities which he and his staff began
18 years ago. He has been recognized by the Philadelphia Kiwanis,
Variety Club and Summerdale Youth Club as Person of the Year. He
has served on several boards including the Board of Rabbis of Princeton
Mercer Bucks and the Mercer County Legal Commission on Aging.
“The warmth of the staff, board and congregants attracted
me to Kol Emet. I enjoy utilizing the administrative, facility management
, and programmatic skills that I have learned and developed during
my career to help our congregation continue to grow and develop.
I look forward to sharing the exciting future of Kol Emet with our
congregants and staff.”
Bob resides in Newtown with his wife Toby, a special Education
teacher with the city of Philadelphia for over 37 years. They are
extremely blessed that their four children, seven grandchildren.
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Officers
Board of Directors
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