Rabbi Morris Zimbalist
RabbiZimbalist@bethjudea.org
(847) 634-0777
Rabbi Morris Zimbalist is the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Judea in Long Grove, Illinois. Through his leadership and vision, Rabbi Zimbalist has partnered with lay leaders to advance Congregation Beth Judea’s commitment to Israel education and advocacy; interfaith and tolerance dialogues; inclusion initiatives for people of all abilities; and strategic planning to ensure a vibrant future for the congregation and the greater Jewish community in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.
Rabbi Zimbalist is a member of the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the Rabbinic Advisory Board for Rabbis United – a division of StandWithUs dedicated to providing rabbis with the necessary tools to educate and advocate for Israel and raise awareness of the dangers of anti-Semitism and is a delegate on the Kol Yisrael slate for the 39th World Zionist Organization Congress. He also serves as a certified Messader Gittin of the Conservative Movement – one who can help facilitate Jewish divorce, including writing the writ of divorce itself. Rabbi Zimbalist is past-member of the Executive Committee of the Chicago Board of Rabbis and past-treasurer of the Community Mikveh.
Prior to moving to Chicago, Rabbi Morris Zimbalist served as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Synagogue Initiative Director for AIPAC. In this role, Rabbi Zimbalist developed strategies to engage rabbis and synagogues of all denominations from southern New Jersey through northern Virginia in pro-Israel political activism. He also served for 14 years as a congregational rabbi in New York. Rabbi Zimbalist has published several articles that have appeared in Arutz Sheva, the Daily Herald, and in The Blogs of the Times of Israel, as well as in the anthologies Remember and Do Not Forget and When We Turned Within.
Rabbi Zimbalist earned his Bachelor’s degree from Boston University in psychology with a minor in political science. He earned his Master’s degree and rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in 2002. He resides in Buffalo Grove with his wife and two children.
Rabbi Micah Cowan
rabbicowan@bethjudea.org
(847) 634-0777
Originally from Rockville, MD, Rabbi Cowan’s deep, personal roots in Conservative Judaism serve as the pillars of his love of tfilah, tradition, and community that he brings to the Beth Judea community. He graduated in 2019 with bachelor’s degrees in Bible and Linguistics from The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) and Columbia. Before returning to JTS for rabbinical school, Rabbi Cowan was a JDC Jewish Service Corps Fellow working with the Jewish community in Budapest, Hungary and worked in logistics for USY. He has spent much of his time in the Jewish workforce dedicated to working with youth as is evident in his committed work for USY, Ramah, and BBYO Hungary. As a rabbinical student, Rabbi Cowan interned at Synagogue Emanu-El in Charleston, SC, at the Conservative minyan at Columbia/Barnard Hillel, and as a chaplain at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. He received ordination and a master’s degree in Bible from JTS in 2026. Rabbi Cowan is a certified shochet (kosher slaughterer) of birds through the Sacred Slaughter and former Nachshon graduate fellow.
Outside of his dedicated time to the CBJ community, he is on the leadership team for an Israeli dance camp, Gvanim, an avid attendee of Israeli dance sessions in the Chicagoland area, a Trader Joe’s enthusiast, collector of Playbills from Broadway shows, and a proud uncle to three young nephews.
Lisa Neiman
Lneiman@bethjudea.org
847-634-0777
Lisa Neiman has been Beth Judea’s Executive Director since July 1999. Lisa began her career at the synagogue in 1993 as an Administrative Assistant after graduating from Illinois State University. Her commitment to Jewish education has been demonstrated by her teaching Alef classes for four years in Beth Judea’s Hebrew School, as well as working as a youth advisor for two years in Beth Judea’s USY.
Lisa’s responsibilities include directing all synagogue administration, coordinating the use of the synagogue’s facility, managing day-to-day affairs and being available to assist all congregants in any aspect required. Lisa is a member of the North American Association of Synagogue Executives.
Lisa resides in Long Grove with her husband, Jason, and their daughters Jordyn and Lindsey.
Melissa Mesa
mmesa@bethjudea.org
847-634-0777
Melissa Mesa brings over 20 years of experience in education, Jewish communal life, and program leadership to her role as Education Director at Congregation Beth Judea. Known for her warm, inclusive, and relationship-centered approach, Melissa is passionate about creating meaningful Jewish learning experiences that fosters a strong sense of belonging for children and families. She previously served as Education Director at Temple Kol Ami in West Bloomfield, MI, where she led all aspects of the religious school and family programming in close partnership with clergy, staff, and lay leadership. Melissa holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Florida Atlantic University and a Bachelor’s degree in Judaic Studies from the University of Miami.
Melissa also brings extensive experience in experiential education and large-scale program management through her time as Director of JCC Day Camps of Metro Detroit. She is known for supporting educators, building strong relationships with families, and creating environments where every learner feels seen, supported, and inspired. Melissa is excited to join the Beth Judea community and looks forward to building connections with its families, students, and staff. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Daniel, their children, Elan and Jordana, and their three dogs.
Marc Sender
Youthdirector@bethjudea.org
847-634-0777
Marc Sender is someone who is very well versed in all the workings at Congregation Beth Judea. Having been a product of the Congregation Beth Judea Religious School himself, graduating in 1996, he has been involved with numerous facets of the synagogue nearly his entire life. Marc has considerable knowledge of our youth program as well having been an active member of the youth organization himself while growing up. Since returning from college Marc served as a Youth Advisor at Beth Judea for three years while also beginning teaching in the religious school. Marc has now been teaching at Beth Judea for over 10 years and has been serving as the Youth Director since 2010.
Sara Reid