Our Clergy - Temple Concord Syracuse
Rabbi David Katz
Katz was ordained in 1981 and awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College in 2006. He has 40 years in the rabbinate, including service to eight congregations as an interim rabbi. He has authored numerous articles and is the co-editor of Reading Between The Lines: New Stories from the Bible. He served on committees that developed Mishkan T’filah, the newest Reform Judaism prayer book, published in 2007, that is used in synagogues throughout North America. Katz also developed the “Moments” Engagement Program, a way of organizing synagogue life to assure successful attendance at every program, service and event.
Katz has served on the boards of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and National Association of Temple Educators and as president of the New York Area Reform Rabbis. He has garnered multiple honors, and awards from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion for scholarship, community service and human relations. Katz also holds degrees in theatre from Northwestern University.
Katz, a native of Rochester, and his wife, Nancy, an artist, appreciate the natural beauty and resources of Upstate New York. Their daughter, Emily, is executive director of “Justice for Kurds” and founder of Hampstead Rose, a consulting firm specializing in international cross-cultural projects. Their son, Dr. Benjamin Katz, is a harpsichordist and composer.
Rabbi Katz can be contacted at rabbidavidkatz18@gmail.com.
Cantor Kari Siegel Eglash
Cantor Kari Siegel Eglash joined Temple Concord in July 2014 and serves as both cantor and direct or of education. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, she was ordained in 2001 from Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion.
Cantor Eglash served two congregations before coming to Temple Concord: most recently, for 10 years at Temple Israel in Tulsa, OK and before that, Temple Chaverim in Plainview, NY. While studying for her Master’s theses, Cantor Eglash enrolled in the Weinreich Summer Yiddish Program at Columbia University where she indulged in her love for all things Yiddish. Cantor Eglash’s journey to the cantorate took her from Beloit College, where she earned her BA in history, to Tata, Hungary, where she taught English to high-school students, to five years in the business world of investment and finance. Through all of these experiences her, love of Judaism, history, teaching, history, and music remained strong and led her to her true calling—the life of a cantor. She, her husband Joe, their daughter, Ari, and son Judah, are so happy to be a part of this very special Temple Concord community.
Cantor Kari can be contacted cantoreglash@templeconcord.org.
