Meet Our Staff and Clergy
Morris Zimbalist
Rabbi 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 embrace every synagogue member's religious and spiritual journeys with warmth, compassion, and kindness. Rabbi Zimbalist has advanced Congregation Beth Judea’s involvement in Israel education and advocacy; interfaith and tolerance dialogues with the local Christian and Muslim communities; inclusion initiatives for all people seeking to engage with the congregation irrespective of cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges; and strategic planning to ensure a vibrant future for the congregation and for the member on their Jewish community in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.
Rabbi Zimbalist was one of the founding rabbis and educators of jCo-Op, the newest collaborative Hebrew High School program in the northwest suburbs, meeting the needs of students from both Congregation Beth Judea and Congregation Beth Am. He also serves as the treasurer of the Community Mikveh for the Conservative Movement in Wilmette. In addition, Rabbi Zimbalist is one of 22 Conservative rabbis in the world certified by the Joint Bet Din of the Conservative Movement as a Messader Gittin – one who can help facilitate Jewish divorce, including writing the writ of divorce itself.
Prior to moving to Chicago, Rabbi Morris Zimbalist served for five years as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Synagogue Initiative Director for AIPAC. As part of the regional team, Rabbi Zimbalist engaged rabbis and synagogues of all denominations from southern New Jersey through northern Virginia in pro-Israel political activism. At that time, he also assumed the pulpit of Bet Chaverim Congregation as its first rabbi and launched the first religious school for the congregation. Rabbi Zimbalist was also privileged to serve in the pulpit of two congregations in New York, totaling 14 years.
Rabbi Zimbalist earned his Bachelor’s degree from Boston University in psychology with a minor in political science, and he has published articles on genetic links to mental illness and adoption within the Jewish community. 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.
Gil Ezring 847-634-0777
Hazzan Ezring HazzanEzring@bethjudea.org
CANTOR GIL EZRING took the pulpit as Beth Judea's new Cantor on July 1, 2018
With an extensive background and passion for music in its varying styles, Cantor Gil Ezring constantly strives to engage people in singing. He has taught music in public schools, congregational schools, and summer camps.
Before entering the H.L. Miller Cantorial School at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), he was a founding member of Rock HaRuach, a Jewish rock band based out of Charlotte, NC. In collaboration with the Rabbi of Temple Israel in Charlotte, he created the Rock HaShanah and Rock HaShabbat services, rock services for Rosh Hashanah and Shabbat evening, which were led by Rock HaRuach.
Howard Lifshitz 847-634-0777
Rabbi Emeritus RabbiLifshitz@bethjudea.org
RABBI EMERITUS HOWARD LIFSHITZ came to Congregation Beth Judea in 1981. He and his wife, Gail, live in Buffalo Grove.
Rabbi Lifshitz attended Brandeis University where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and attended the Rabbinical School of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City where he was ordained in 1973.
Rabbi Lifshitz has received an honorary doctorate from the Jewish Theological Seminary in recognition of his more than 25 years in the Rabbinate and has been honored by Beth Judea for his more than 30 years as spiritual leader of the congregation. The Jewish Theological Seminary of America has awarded him the Simon Greenberg Award for Outstanding Rabbinic Service.
Roger Weisberg 847-634-0777
Hazzan Emeritus HazzanWeisberg@bethjudea.org
CANTOR EMERITUS ROGER WEISBERG and his wife, Audrey, came to Congregation Beth Judea in 1987.
Cantor Weisberg graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and after studying music composition at Boston's Berklee College of Music he entered Cantorial School in New York in l976 and was ordained as Cantor in l980. Cantor Weisberg has served several terms as President of the local chapter of the Cantors Assembly and has also been on the Executive Council for the national level of the organization. He has also been Vice President of the Chicago Milwaukee Association of Synagogue Musicians and an active member of the American Conference of Cantors. In May of 2005, Cantor Weisberg a Doctor of Music degree from the Hebrew Union College in New York, marking 25 years of distinguished service as a full-time Hazzan.
Anna Besser 847-634-0777
Education Director Abesser@bethjudea.org
ANNA BESSER joined Congregation Beth Judea in 2006 to become its Education Director. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Rutgers University and her Master's in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. From an early age, Anna has been deeply involved in Jewish education. She is committed to making sure every child who enters Congregation Beth Judea's Religious School leaves with a desire to continue their learning and skills they can apply anywhere.
Mrs. Besser is an experienced educator, having been the Education Director at Beth El Synagogue in Omaha, Nebraska and Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Des Moines, Iowa. In addition, Anna was the camp director at Park Slope Day Camp in Brooklyn, NY; youth director for USY and NFTY and a group leader for teen tours to Israel. Anna has also spent much time in the classroom teaching Hebrew and Jewish Studies. Mrs. Besser was born in Russia and is fluent in Russian.
Anna resides in Vernon Hills with her husband, Michael, and their children Robbie, Miriam and Sarah.
Lisa Neiman 847-634-0777
Executive Director Lneiman@bethjudea.org
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.
Marc Sender 847-634-0777
Youth Director youthdirector@bethjudea.org
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.
Marc graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern Illinois University with a degree in elementary education and multiple endorsements in middle school education. Marc has taught in public school since 2013, teaching grades 3, 5, and currently grades 7 and 8. Marc's responsibilities at Beth Judea include coordinating the three youth programs; Kadinkers (3rd-5th grade), Kadima (6th-8th grade), and USY (9th-12th grade). In addition, he also serves as a teacher for the Gimel (5th grade) and Dalet (6th grade) students.
Marc currently resides in Vernon Hills with his wife Shira, their three children (Lauri, Teddy, and Naomi) and their two dogs (Harper and Strudel). Marc’s whole family (minus the dogs, of course) are regularly seen around Beth Judea and look forward to continue spending as much time as they possibly can over the coming years around Beth Judea. So much time, in fact, that Marc likes to refer to Beth Judea as his second home.
