Steven Kushner, Rabbi


Rabbi Steven Kushner has served as the spiritual leader of Temple Ner Tamid since its inception in 1980. In that time he has been instrumental in developing adult education, interfaith, social action, outreach, family programming, and even a klezmer band as integral elements of the synagogue.

Outside of Temple, Rabbi Kushner has established himself both within the Jewish and general communities. In May of 1995 Bloomfield College, upon whose faculty Rabbi Kushner served from 1983 to 2003, honored him with a Doctor of Laws honoris causa degree. A past president of the New Jersey Association of Reform Rabbis, the Coalition of Religious Leaders of New Jersey, and the MetroWest Conference on Soviet Jewry, Rabbi Kushner has also served on the Ethics Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and as the Editor of the CCAR’s national Newsletter. Currently Rabbi Kushner is a member of Reform Judaism’s Commission on Worship, Music and Religious Living, he chairs the Beth El Memorial Park Foundation of the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest, and is a Trustee of The Blue Card, a unique charity that provides emotional and monetary assistance to Holocaust survivors and their families.

Ordained in 1977 at the Cincinnati campus of the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Kushner was awarded a Doctor of Divinity from HUC-JIR in March of 2002. He holds a Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters from HUC-JIR and a Bachelor of Arts from Wayne State University in Detroit. Rabbi Kushner has also received Certification in Pastoral Counseling from the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health in New York City.

Rabbi Kushner loves to study Torah, watch Preston Sturges films, and root for the Detroit Lions (which, he admits, is not always fun). He is married to Marilyn Kushner, Curator and Chair of the Department of Prints, Photographs and Architectural Collections at the New-York Historical Society. Together they are the proud parents of Stephanie, Daniel, Aviva and Hannah, and the grandparents of Lauren and Jamie. They live in Montclair.



EMAIL: rabbi@nertamid.org

Meredith Greenberg, Cantor


Meredith Greenberg is currently a student at the Academy for Jewish Religion, working toward investment into the cantorate in 2009. She comes to us from Temple Sinai Bergen County in Tenafly, New Jersey, where she has been serving as a cantorial intern since 2005. Rabbi Bruce Block of Temple Sinai recommended her with effusive praise, calling her an “absolute treasure” with “an inspiring voice.” Cantor Rikki Lippitz of Oheb Shalom in West Orange is particularly taken with Meredith's neshamah, or soulfulness. Our own Ronni Pressman, a former classmate of Meredith’s at the Academy, says of her, “She takes worship to a new level.”

Meredith grew up in Hollywood, Florida and attended her senior year of high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. She has a Bachelor of Music in Voice from the Manhattan School of Music. She has performed professionally as a soprano soloist, taught theory and aural skills, led seders at the 92nd Street Y, and for a few years even co-owned a catering and opera company called Divas’ Delite Inc. with her spouse, Leora Perlman.

As a spiritual leader at Ner Tamid, Meredith seeks Lahavot Eish, ‘to spark the fire’ within each of us, by creating meaningful davening experiences through music and prayer.

Meredith and Leora live in Maplewood with their two sons, Gilad, age 4, and Nadav, age 2.

EMAIL: cantor@nertamid.org

Iris Schwartz, Director of Education

Iris Schwartz, Director of Education of Ner Tamid's Religious School since 1996, has been involved in the fields of Jewish education and communal work in different capacities since 1975. She served as Religious School Principal at Beth Am Temple, Pearl River, New York from 1991 through 1995. Since 1990 she has won six Creative Teaching Awards from the Rockland County Center for Jewish Education Resources. Iris has also won the 1997 Hoffman Award for Programming and the 2001 Hoffman Award for Curriculum from the Jewish Education Association of MetroWest. Additionally, Iris won the 2000 Gamoran Curriculum Award from the National Association of Temple Educators and the 2005 Communicate Award from the Union for Reform Judaism. Iris was the Co-Chair of the national CAJE 32 conference in August 2007. Since coming to Ner Tamid Iris has introduced numerous creative programs for children and families including Ten Minutes of Torah, mitzvah programs, and historical recreations.

In addition to earning an M.S.W. from Rutgers University in Community Organization and Administration, Iris has a Masters degree in Jewish Education from the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies. She is currently a candidate for a doctoral degree in Jewish Education at Gratz College. She has studied at the Hebrew Union College (N.Y.), the Rockland Center for Jewish Educational Resources, the JES of Bergen County, the JEA of MetroWest, CAJE, and the Middle East Research Program of Emory University. After earning her Master of Social Work degree Iris worked in the Bronx with the Jewish elderly and was the Program Director of the Mid-Westchester YM-YWHA in Scarsdale.

EMAIL: ischwartz@nertamid.org

Arlene Sherman, Director of Shoresh Pre-School


Arlene Sherman has over 26 years of experience in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. After obtaining her certification in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland, she was a third grade teacher before she began her career as an early childhood educator. She spent most of her working years at the JCC Metro West in West Orange. Her last position there was as Assistant Director of the early childhood program that served more than three hundred children. She developed curriculum, supported and assisted teachers, worked with parents on the coordination of events, managed the summer camp program, and marketed the program to prospective families. Some of her honors include the Chai Award, recognition for 18 years of excellence in Early Childhood Education, and a Brill Fellowship to an international training program in Israel.

Arlene has been described as a highly organized, self-motivated and collaborative worker. We know from Ner Tamid members who have worked at the JCC and/or enrolled their children in the early childhood program that Arlene has exceptional rapport with toddlers, families and staff. She shares our vision for a loving and Jewish environment of learning through play, and she looks forward to creating strong ties between the pre-school and the Temple.

EMAIL: asherman@nertamid.org

Cathy Lawrence, Assistant Cantor


Cantor Cathy Lawrence has a B.A. in Music from Rutgers and an M.M. in Voice and Opera from Mannes College of Music.  After a few years of performing in operas, concerts and recitals, Cathy’s career changed when she had twin sons. She went on to graduate from the Academy for Jewish Religion and was invested as cantor in 2003.  She served the Temple of Universal Judaism in New York City the three years prior to her ordination and was the cantor at Temple Sinai in Stamford, Connecticut for the past four years.  Among other duties at Sinai she worked one-on-one with b’nai mitzvah students, organized a class for seventh graders in which they taught each another, and created and directed a volunteer youth band. Several of her students went on to become b’nai mitzvah tutors. At Ner Tamid Cantor Lawrence will tutor our large class of b’nai mitzvah students in tandem with Cantor Natov. Her open and easy-going personality, musical talent, cantorial training and affinity for seventh graders make her a huge asset to our program. Cathy lives in Manhattan with her husband and sons. 

EMAIL: clawrence@nertamid.org

Beth Berns, Social Worker


Beth Berns received her graduate degree from NYU’s School of Social Work and began her career in the mental health field working on an inpatient psychiatric facility in NYC. Soon after she started a family and moved to New Jersey, Beth became an active volunteer in her children’s pre-school, public schools, synagogue, as well as an active participant in UJA activities. For the past 6 years, Beth has facilitated support groups for new mothers at Temple B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills. As Beth leaves behind her legacy of programming at TBJ, she looks forward to beginning a new chapter of supportive social work in her new role at Temple Ner Tamid.

Beth comes to Ner Tamid as part of an initiative of the Jewish Family Service of MetroWest. Funding has been provided through a grant from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey.

EMAIL: bberns@nertamid.org

Jake Adler, Youth Group Advisor


Jake Adler became actively involved in SNoTTY (Temple Ner Tamid’s senior youth group) in 1998, during his freshman year of high school, and served as Religious and Cultural Vice President for the following three years. Jake attended Earlham College, where in addition to receiving a degree in fine art photography, he served for two years as head of the Jewish Student Union, had major roles in two theatrical productions, hosted a radio show, and served as a peer advisor to the Committee for Justice in the Middle East. After graduating in May of 2007, Jake spent the summer running the challenge course at OSRUI, an Union for Reform Judaism camp in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. In January of 2008, after a two-month internship helping with final preparations for the URJ Biennial in San Diego, Jake accepted a full-time job at the Union's national office as administrative assistant for the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism.

Jake enjoys outdoor/experiential education, cycling, and extraordinarily long walks. He hopes to attend Hebrew Union College in the near future.

EMAIL: jadler@nertamid.org

Peri Smilow


Peri Smilow, Ed. M., is a nationally recognized singer/songwriter, educator and community organizer. Her music has been heard throughout the US, Canada, England, Singapore and Israel. In addition to her work as a contemporary Jewish music composer and entertainer, Peri spent many years as a non-profit entrepreneur - founding and then running educational non-profit organizations serving low-income youth during after-school hours. Peri has also served as an educational consultant specializing in non-profit management, curriculum design, community service learning and intergenerational programming. Peri holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Peri has released three recordings of original contemporary Jewish music including Songs of Peace and Ashrey. Her most recent recording Peri Smilow and The Freedom Music Project: The music of Passover and the Civil Rights Movement features an electrifying 18-voice choir of young Black and Jewish singers celebrating the freedom music of their traditions. The Freedom Music Project is the subject of several feature stories broadcast nationally on NBC and ABC TV, National Public Radio's Weekend All Things Considered and internationally on Voice of America radio. Peri Smilow and The Freedom Music Project was nominated Best Gospel Album of the Year (2002) by the Just Plain Folks Music Awards.

This coming year Peri will continue her enrichment of the Ner Tamid community by leading our B'yachad  High Holy Day family service on the mornings of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Peri is married to NY1 television reporter Budd Mishkin - beloved former songleader of Kutz Camp and Beatles devotee. They share their love with daughter Allie and C.C. the cat.

EMAIL: SignoftheD@aol.com

Sándor Szabó, Accompanist / Choir Director


A native of Hungary, Dr. Sándor Szabó (pronounced "Shandor") has master's degrees in organ performance and sacred music from Westminster Choir College. In addition, he earned a DMA in piano performance at Boston University. He holds the Fellowship Certificate from the American Guild of Organists and is a member of Phi Beta Delta, an honor society for international scholars as well as Pi Kappa Lambda, a national music honor society. Currently he is the Minister of Music/Organist at the Glen Ridge Congregational Church, a position he has held for the past six years and will continue to hold. He is also Director/Conductor of the Glen Ridge Community Choir and Orchestra and Choral Director of the Oratorio Society of New Jersey.

Sándor lives in Glen Ridge and is the father of three young children. In his twenty years as a church musician he has learned the importance of maximizing the potential of everyone involved, from the youngest members in children's choirs to trained musicians in the adult choirs and instrumental ensembles. He views service in a religious community not simply as a job, but rather as an expression of his faith and the fulfillment of his gifts.

Sándor plays organ at all of the High Holy Day services. Throughout the rest of the year he provides piano accompaniment at Erev Shabbat services and works with Cantor Greenberg and the choir on special musical services. He welcomes any musicians from the congregation to contact him about playing an important part in worship at Ner Tamid.

EMAIL: sszabo1266@aol.com

back to top