Clergy| Educators | Administration | Board of Directors and Officers

 

 

Rabbi Taron Tachman joined Beth Tikvah Congregation in July of 2011 after serving seven years at Temple Sholom of Chicago.  Ordained in 2004 by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, Rabbi Tachman earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology at Michigan State University. He went on to earn a Master of Social Work at the University of Michigan and a Certificate in Jewish Communal Service and Judaic Studies from the Sol Drachler Program in Jewish Communal Leadership at the University of Michigan. In addition to his educational experience, Rabbi Tachman has served as the Campus Hillel Director at Eastern Michigan University.  He has also worked for the College Education Department of the Union of Reform Judaism and spent a year volunteering in Israel.

While serving at Temple Sholom of Chicago, Rabbi Tachman is perhaps best known for pioneering a groundbreaking, nationally recognized program, which for six years attracted 100-250 participants each month to Friday Night “Sushi Shabbat” events and engaged otherwise unaffiliated young people through cutting-edge social action projects and learning opportunities.  He is also known throughout the community for his widely read blogs found on Oy!Chicago and for his engaging sermons.

Rabbi Tachman is a member of the Schaumburg-Hoffman Clergy Association, on the board of the Chicago Area Reform Rabbis’ group, a member of the board of Jewish Council of Urban Affairs, and part of the Rabbinic Advisory Committee of Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute Camp.

To contact Rabbi Tachman, please call (847-885-4545) or send him an email. He would be happy to connect with you!

If you would like to send Rabbi Tachman an e-mail:

Click here to contact Rabbi Tachman 

Ilana joined Beth Tikvah Congregation as cantorial soloist in July 2007.  Ilana has a degree in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music, and years of music experience both in Israel and as the past Music Director of Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue in Northbrook, where she developed and grew innovative music programs, becoming an accomplished worship leader, ensemble director, educator, composer, and arranger. Her family, husband Mark and children Yonatan, Timna, and Tahel, share her great love of Israel and Jewish history. Ilana is very excited about sharing the blessings of music, worship, education, and communal life with our Beth Tikvah family.

Click here to contact Ilana Axel

Rabbi Emeritus Hillel Gamoran, who was Beth Tikvah's first full-time rabbi, served as the spiritual, educational and religious leader for 34 years before retiring in 1994. Rabbi Gamoran was instrumental in Beth Tikvah's achieving the reputation for having one of the finest Jewish religious schools in the Chicago area with many graduates receiving college credit for Hebrew. He also was a staunch supporter of sending our children to OSRUI, the Reform summer camp in Wisconsin. As part of his retirement gift, congregants established an OSRUI camp scholarship fund in his honor. Since retiring, Rabbi Gamoran has taught Jewish studies at the University of Washington. He and his wife, Judith, still maintain a residence in Evanston so periodically they can be seen at the temple for life cycle and other special events.

Click here to contact Rabbi Gamoran

Cantor Kohl joined the Beth Tikvah family in 1998. Cantor Kohl integrated his multi-cultural background along with his guitar playing into services and also started a part-time congregational choir, which brought a new spiritual dimension to services. Cantor Kohl, also served as Educational Director.  Together with the Rabbi, he developed a new curriculum for our religious school to meet modern Jewish educational needs. At the same time together with the religious school committee he restructured the religious school class schedule in response to the changing demographic and life style needs of the congregants.

Click here to contact Cantor Kohl