Temple Israel

Professional Staff

Rabbi Charles P. Sherman, D.D., has been the spiritual leader, teacher, and counselor of the congregation since 1976. Ordained in 1969 at the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, our rabbi is a Past-President of the Southwest Association of Reform Rabbis. Actively involved in all areas of Tulsa's Jewish Community, Rabbi Sherman is also a very active participant in Tulsa's interfaith activities and has become one of this city's leading clergy spokespersons.
Cantor Kari Siegel-Eglash has recently joined the Temple Israel family as its Chazzan. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, she was invested as Cantor in 2001 at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. She then served as Cantor of Temple Chaverim in Plainview, NY, before officially becoming a Tulsan in 2004. The Cantor's greatest love is for Jewish music and culture; she strives to constantly enrich and renew the musical life of the Temple. From Shabbat and Holiday services to the classroom, her love for Judaism and teaching infuses all that she does here at Temple Israel.
Maura Pollak and her husband Michael moved to Tulsa in 1981, have raised their three sons here and celebrated all their life-cycle events at Temple Israel. Maura holds a Master’s degree in Special Education and is currently working on a Master’s degree in Community Counseling. She taught in the Temple Religious School for fifteen years and taught Aleph Hebrew here one year as well. She also taught for ten years at Heritage Academy, being the Judaic Studies specialist during the last six years of that time. Maura is looking forward to living the Jewish year with the Pre-K through Sixth Graders in our Religious School.
Linda Spiegelberg and her husband Frank have called Tulsa home for the last thirty years. Both of their children celebrated their B’nai Mitvah as well as their Confirmations at Temple Israel. Having a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education and in Elementary Education, Linda enjoyed being a faculty member as well as Interim Director (twice) at Heritage Academy. Her love of children and her desire to hold them to a high standard of education will certainly carry over to her position as Interim Midrasha Director for this coming year.
Jeanne Jacobs is our Membership/Volunteer/Program Coordinator, and her roots in Temple Israel run deep, her family having belonged to the congregation since she was six years old. Jeanne and her four sons became B'nai Mitzvah and were confirmed in our congregation. She has taught on our faculty and served in many capacities in Temple Israel's lay leadership including terms as Sisterhood President and as President of the Congregation. She has been our part-time Program Coordinator since 1990 and has been on our full-time staff since July of 1995.
Cantor Harry Sebran, our Cantor Emeritus, has for 30 years been the skilled and beloved teacher of our young people. Role model and sensitive counselor, Cantor Sebran remains an integral and important part of our Temple Family.
TEMPLE ISRAEL SUPPORT STAFF Jo Ann Hill, Administrative Assistant Jennie Weems, Accountant Jim Newhall, Building Superintendent James Wright, Building Superintendent Assistant Eliot Glaser, Organist/Accompanist Susan Woitte, Librarian Patti Elliott, Youth Group Advisor