Rabbi Gary Pokras
rabbipokras@templejudea.org |
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A native of Connecticut, Rabbi Gary Pokras holds a deep love for and commitment to Judaism.
Ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion's New York City Campus,
Rabbi Pokras and his family enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to join and
serve the Temple Judea community in 2002.
Rabbi Pokras brings an unusual background and set of skills to Temple Judea.
Before entering the rabbinate, he was a professional guitarist specializing in Classical and Jazz music.
Music continues to be a central part of his rabbinate.
His other areas of interest include liturgy, education, organizational theory and change management.
He currently serves as a rabbinic mentor for students at HUC-JIR NY and on the ethics committee of Doylestown Hospital.
Rabbi Pokras previously served as Associate Rabbi at Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo NY, where he was also
on the faculty of SUNY Buffalo and founded a Jewish-Christian-Muslim Mitzvah Day in response to 9/11.
Rabbi Pokras holds Bachelors Degrees in Economics and Guitar from Northwestern University,
and Masters Degrees (magna cum laude) in Guitar Performance and Music Theory from The Meadows School for the Arts;
Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
In addition to music, Rabbi Pokras enjoys cycling and the martial arts.
However, his greatest joy comes from celebrating life with his wife Shauna and children Stephanie and Marshall.
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Steve Weintraub
Religious School Director
stevew@templejudea.org
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Steve Weintraub joined Temple Judea as Education Director in
1988. He has been a principal with the Hebrew Sunday School Society
and Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia, as well as Congregation
Shir Ami in Newtown, Pennsylvania. He is former President of the
Principals' Council of the Delaware Valley and former chair of the
Principals' Council of Philadelphia.
Mr. Weintraub holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary
Education from Northwestern University and a Masters Degree in Educational
Administration from Temple University. He also has a teaching
license from Gratz College and a level E license in Jewish
Education. He currently holds Pennsylvania
teaching certification in Mathematics and Computer Science and
is certified as a Secondary School Principal and Assistant
Superintendant. He has taught Mathematics and Computer Science
in Philadelphia public schools since 1973.
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Sheryl Milstein
Nursery School Director
sherylm@templejudea.org
| | Sheryl Milstein
has been the director of Temple Judea Nursery School
since June 2000. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early
Childhood Education from Temple University, as well as a Jewish Education
teaching certificate from Gratz College.
Sheryl came to Temple Judea with more than 20 years experience
teaching children from pre-school through kindergarten at various private
schools throughout the Philadelphia area as well as 12 years
teaching third, fourth and fifth grade religious school.
She and her husband Scott live in Holland, PA with their daughter Jennifer
and son Josh. Sheryl is most excited by the growth and feeling of
community at Temple Judea Nursery School and Kindergarten and looks
forward to inviting your family to join this wonderful, warm Jewish
environment.
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Assistant Religious School
Director
marneg@templejudea.org
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Marne Gladstone is our Assistant Religious School Director in charge
of curriculum and staff development. She brings an enthusiastic love of teaching and learning to her work.
Since joining the Temple Judea staff in 1990, she has taught everything from 2nd to 10th grades.
Currently, she chairs the Religious School Curriculum Committee.
Marne holds a Master's Degree in Education with additional graduate credits from
Penn's NESS/PLN program, a teaching license from Gratz College, and has been awarded
a Feinstein Fellow in American Jewish History.
Before becoming the Assistant Religious School Director at Temple Judea, she became a Creative Memories Consultant
and part-time stay at home mom, taught high school English at local high schools and now holds
a tenured position in Hamilton, NJ as a Gifted and Talented Enrichment teacher at Nottingham High School.
Marne and her husband Adam live in Horsham with daughters Julia and Michelle and son Joshua.
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