Nancy Friedman, Youth Choir Director 

Nancy Friedman has worked for more than thirty-five years in the field of Jewish music. Her experience includes teaching music in Jewish day schools, preschools, Hebrew schools and Sunday schools as well as directing youth choirs. Nancy is also a cantorial soloist who currently divides her time between B’nai Yehuda Beth Sholom and Temple Beth-El of Munster, Indiana. In addition, Nancy is the music teacher for the elementary grades at the Montessori Children’s Schoolhouse in Hammond, Indiana. Nancy has served on the staff of two URJ camps including four summers at Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute. Nancy especially enjoys her work with the children at BYBS as music teacher for the United Religious School and youth choir director. 2009-2010 marks her 25th year in these two positions.

Jim Mollin, Music Director 

Jim Mollin, Music Director of B’nai Yehuda Beth Sholom, is a talented and experienced musician who taught music at Serena Hills School in Flossmoor, Illinois for 39 years and has served as Music Director for various synagogues in Northwest Indiana and the South Suburbs of Chicago since 1973. In addition, Jim is the conductor, keyboardist, and often the arranger for our congregation’s very own medico-musical ensemble, The Klezmedics.

Although Jim retired as a school music teacher in 2009, he continues to teach music as an adjunct faculty member at Prairie State College and frequently serves as music director for theatrical productions and performances throughout Northwest Indiana.

As well as teaching music and directing performances, Jim teaches Hebrew and trope, and has helped many students prepare for their Bar or Bat Mitzvahs.

Jim’s wife, Gae Mollin, is also a musician and retired school principal. They have two sons, Ben and Eric, and a grandson, Lathan.

Cathy Burnett, Office Manager

Cathy Burnett manages the temple office. Her duties include answering the telephones, keeping congregants up-to-date about temple events, coordinating with temple board members and officers, working with the United Religious School teachers and students on events and projects, assisting Rabbi Harari as necessary, and handling the bookkeeping for the temple. Cathy majored in Business and Finance at De Paul University. Her background includes working as a Banking Officer in a large downtown bank, Vice President of Marketing for an investment management company and managing a steel construction company. She has worked at B’nai Yehuda Beth Sholom since 2006.

Officers and Directors 2013-2014

Executive Committee Officers

President: Penny Shnay — through June 2015

Vice-Presidents:

Tommie Gbur — through June 2014
Carole Fefferman — through June 2014
Ruth Friedman — through June 2015
Gary Schwarz — through June 2015

Treasurer: Jerry Tenny —through June 2014

Secretary: Barbara Schwarz remains through June 2014

Sisterhood Co-Presidents: Carole Fefferman and Gayle Weil

Board of Directors

 Term Expiring in 2014:
Alan Narter (Parliamentarian), Jill Sevelow, Jerry Shnay, Renee Stahl, Chuck Stone

Term Expiring in 2015:
Bonnie Mosbacher, Boaz Rafalovitz, Ernie Ratowitz, Barry Sturm

Term Expiring in 2016:
Barry Bayer (Legal Adviser), Michael Miller, David Rader

Voting Past Presidents

Immediate Past President: Judy Lohr

Past President: David Epstein

Past President: Gayla Cahan

Rabbi Harari    Rabbi Dreyfus     Rabbi Wolkow

Why we belong

History