Our Senior Rabbi, James A. Gibson, is dedicated to the vibrant and dynamic exploration of the Jewish heritage. Rabbi Gibson was ordained at the Cincinnati campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1983. His special interest is teaching, whether through informal discussion groups or through formal lecturing in his role as adjunct faculty at Chatham College. With concerns encompassing the broad range of issues faced by our congregants, from youth to senior adults, Rabbi Gibson believes "it is the personal relationships that support the mission and values of our Temple Sinai family of families." He has also made special efforts in the area of interfaith relations through dialogue and involvement with the African-American community, the Muslim community, and a broad set of Christian groups. Chairman of the Jewish Unity Project of the United Jewish Federation, Rabbi Gibson was named Vectors (formerly Jaycees) Man of the Year in Religion in 2002. From officiating at life-cycle events to programming, from teaching to song-leading with his guitar to providing spiritual support, Rabbi Gibson stands ready to help make real the hopes and dreams of our Temple Sinai family.
Our Assistant Rabbi, Ezra N. Ende, comes to Temple Sinai from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem. In addition to his rabbinic studies, he holds a B.A. and a teaching certificate from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an M.A. in Jewish Educational Leadership from the Schechter Institute for Jewish Studies. While Rabbi Ende was a student at HUC-JIR, he served as Rabbi for the TALI schools in Jerusalem, student rabbi for Kehillat “Mevakshei Derech” in Jerusalem and Congregation Tsur Hadassah. He worked as an educational advisor on army bases and also led discussion on the weekly Torah portion with special needs adults in the Elwyn Hostel in Jerusalem. Rabbi Ende has experience working with children as an educational guide for American youth programs in Israel. He has provided enrichment courses for teachers, as well as educational programs for adults and youth. Rabbi Ende is excited to work with Temple Sinai’s Religious and Hebrew School faculty and students and to get to know the members of our community.
Our Director of the Meyer Sivitz Lifelong Learning Initiative, Rabbi Ronald B.B. Symons, is an innovative Torah teacher, committed to text-based, exciting and meaningful learning that leads to intellectual, spiritual and socially responsible Jewish living. He is a lover of Jewish learners and Jewish learning, and strives to bring the two together in all possible circumstances.
Ron was ordained as Rabbi by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), New York, in 1994. He holds a BA degree in Judaic Studies and Hebrew from the State University of New York at Albany; an MA in Hebrew Literature from HUC-JIR, New York; and an MS degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Pace University, White Plains, NY. His studies included one year of undergraduate work at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the first year of Rabbinic School at the Jerusalem campus of HUC-JIR. Rabbi Symons’ studies and experiences earned him the title of Reform Jewish Educator (RJE) granted by the academic, professional and congregational institutions of the Reform Movement. In the summer of 1999, he was included as one of 21 "Heroes of Jewish Education" in a national survey by the Jewish Forward. Ron is a graduate of the Day School Leadership Training Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary and the AviChai Foundation. He was fortunate to be trained by the Mandel Foundation in their Teacher Educator Institute. His work through the Melton Center of the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Progressive Association of Reform Day Schools has provided him with opportunities to collaborate with talented educators on curriculum development and institutional advancement around the country.
Our Cantorial Soloist, Sara Stock Mayo, has taken a lead role in expanding the music program at Temple Sinai since joining the congregation in 2003. After instituting the “Mostly Musical” Shabbat services, Sara helped develop the Congregational Band, inviting interested members of Temple Sinai to come together as a group and participate in the popular monthly musical services. She also serves as Temple Sinai’s Musical Director, helping to coordinate the Intergenerational Choir, which includes congregants of all ages; supervising the music program for the Religious School, and directing the Kids’ Choir. In addition, she leads Tot Shabbat services for preschool-age children, and also works with the Cultural Arts Committee to plan special arts-related events. Previously, Sara served as Cantorial Soloist of Congregation Kolot Chayeinu in Brooklyn, New York. She has also organized youth choral activities for the School for Advanced Jewish Studies here in Pittsburgh. Temple Sinai feels very privileged to enjoy her voice week in and week out, as well as the love of Jewish music that infuses everything she does.
Go to Rabbis' Remarks for our Rabbis' monthly Bulletin columns, plus High Holiday sermons.
Go to President's Column for our President's monthly Bulletin columns.
Go to Cantorial Notes for our Cantorial Soloist's occasional Bulletin columns.
