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  • Meet
    Our Team

Meet Our TeamTemple Jeremiah2025-04-14T09:49:38-05:00
  • Executive
    Director

  • Director of Congregational
    Learning

  • Executive Director Emerita

  • Director of Congregational
    Learning Emerita

  • Temple
    Staff

  • Executive
    Director

Danny Glassman

Executive Director
danny@templejeremiah.org

Danny Glassman has been Temple Jeremiah’s Executive Director since November 2012. Before coming to Jeremiah, he served as the overnight camp director and conference center director at JCYS Camp Henry Horner in Ingleside, IL.

Danny has his bachelor’s degree in social science from National Louis University and holds a Master of Jewish Professional Studies from the Spertus Institute of Learning and Leadership. He is a member of the National Association of Temple Administrators (NATA) where he serves as Vice President of Professional Development. Danny was awarded the Myron E. Shoen Service to Community Award from NATA in December 2017 for his work creating partnerships between Temple Jeremiah and multiple organizations working with developmentally disabled populations. Temple Jeremiah welcomes these individuals into the community each day as greeters and office volunteers.

Danny is an active member and past president of the Chicago Area Synagogue Administrators (CASA) the local branch of the NATA. He is also still very much active in the camping community serving as an accreditation visitor for the Illinois section of the American Camp Association.

When he’s not working or in class, he is with his wife, Krystal, and their children, Eden and Levi.

  • Director of Congregational
    Learning

 

 

Matt Rissien

Director of Congregational Learning
matt@templejeremiah.org

Matt Rissien has been the Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Jeremiah since July 2021.

Matt grew up in Overland Park, KS and moved to the Chicagoland area in 2012. Before joining Temple Jeremiah, Matt had over 6 years of experience as Director of Young and Young Family Engagement at Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook, two years as the Midwest Managing Director at IsraelLINK/StandWithUs, and many Hebrew school teaching opportunities around the Chicagoland area. He also has a Masters in Jewish Professional Studies from the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership.

After graduating from the University of Kansas (Go Jayhawks), Matt spent a year working at a Jewish boarding school in Greensboro, NC called the American Hebrew Academy. Following that year, he moved to Chicago where he met his wife Brittany just a week after moving! Brittany being a middle school teacher, they both continue to share a love for education and a passion for Judaism and Tikkun Olam.

Since moving to Chicago in 2012, Matt has been honored with multiple awards from the community. He was honored to have been named one of JUF’s 36 under 36 top Jewish Professionals in 2014 as well as the LEAD award recipient in 2018 for being voted the top Jewish Youth Professional in the Chicagoland area. Matt also sits on the national board for JTEEN (Jewish Teen Engagement Network), the Israel Committee for JUF’s Young Leadership Division, and the Midwest Israel Bonds New Leadership committee.

Matt enjoys interacting with the students and ensuring that everyone of all ages loves being a part of the Temple Jeremiah community. Please feel free to reach out to Matt with any questions about J-Quest, education programs, or just to say hello!

  • Executive Director Emerita

 

 

 

 

 

Fern Kamen, FTA

Executive Director Emerita 
ferniemae@gmail.com

Fern Kamen has been the Executive Director Emerita for several years. Fern came to Jeremiah in 1980 as Executive Director and oversaw the rapid growth of our community. During her time as Executive Director, she oversaw numerous programs and projects including two capital campaigns and complete renovation of our building which made all of our spaces accessible.

Fern Kamen served two terms as president of the National Association for Temple Administration (NATA) and also served as an executive board member of NATA. Fern is a past national board member of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and past president of the Chicago Association of Temple Administrators (CATA). In addition, she chaired the Leadership Service Awards and Consulting Service, a joint venture of NATA and the URJ.

  • Director of Congregational
    Learning Emerita

Anne M. Lidsky, Ph.D., RJE

Director of Congregational Learning Emerita
anne@templejeremiah.org

Dr. Anne Lidsky, Ph.D., R.J.E., has served as Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Jeremiah since 1980. She was bestowed the title of Director of Congregational Learning Emerita upon her retirment in June 2021.

Anne received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Northeastern Illinois State University and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University. She taught in Chicago for several years and was a religious and Hebrew teacher for twelve years at Temple Emanuel and Am Shalom. Anne was principal at Temple Beth Israel and Director of Counseling at Solomon Schechter Day School in Skokie.

Anne and her husband, Jerry, lived in Israel for three years, 1972 – 75 and remain ardent supporters of Israel, loving the people and the land. Whenever possible, Anne travels back to Israel, either with family or as staff on teen trips.

Since Anne joined Temple Jeremiah, she has been active in the Chicago area Jewish community, creating meaningful, caring relationships that not only have enriched her life, but have enriched our Center for Learning at Temple Jeremiah. She is currently serving on the Rabbinic, Educator, Cantor Advisory committee for OSRUI, and has been on the camp faculty since 1981. In 1990, Anne received her Reform Jewish Education certification, the highest degree of recognition that an education director can receive at the national level under the auspices of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ).

She was chosen as one of the 1998 recipients of the Covenant Foundation Award designed to honor outstanding Jewish educators. The Covenant Foundation Award is the most prestigious award that a Jewish educator can receive in the United States or Canada.

Anne and Jerry live in Northbrook and have two married daughters/sons-in-law and five beloved grandchildren.

  • Temple
    Staff

Professional Staff

Leslie Landman

Director of Philanthropy
leslie@templejeremiah.org

Meredith Levinson

Communications Coordinator
meredith@templejeremiah.org

Florence Garmoos

Controller
florence@templejeremiah.org

Cindy Lieb

B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator
cindy@templejeremiah.org

Juan Carlos Sanchez

Facility Manager
juancarlos@templejeremiah.org

Rabbi Deborah Gardner Helbraun

Hebrew Coordinator
rabbidebbie@templejeremiah.org

Anne Richtman Kaplan

J-Quest Executive Assistant
anne.kaplan@templejeremiah.org

Jill Nutkis

Executive & Development Assistant
jill@templejeremiah.org

Karen Krosnick

Executive Assistant to the Clergy
karen@templejeremiah.org

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Northfield, Illinois 60093

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MAIN PHONE: 847.441.5760

SCHOOL: 847.441.0202

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