Mark Schiftan, Senior Rabbi

Rabbi Mark Schiftan arrived at The Temple–Congregation Ohabai Sholom—on July 1, 1999. He came to The Temple from an historic urban congregation in San Jose, California known as Temple Emanu-El. Having served as rabbi there since 1994, Mark led the congregation’s revitalization. His previous congregation shared the same name: Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco, California. Rabbi Schiftan served there from 1987 until 1994. Over the course of his years there, Mark was Assistant, Associate and finally Acting/Interim Rabbi, during a time of major transition, for a congregation of 1600 members.

Rabbi Schiftan received his Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude from San Francisco State University. Hebrew Union College of Los Angeles awarded Rabbi Schiftan’s Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters, and he was ordained at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He has developed community service and community relations projects in both Temples Emanu-El, while guiding both congregations from classical to mainstream and contemporary Reform modes of worship. Rabbi Schiftan is responsible for staff supervision and management while fulfilling the full range of pulpit, pastoral, educational and communal duties.

Read Rabbi Schiftan's Rosh Hashannah 2011 Sermon

Read Rabbi Schiftan's Blog from Israel February, 2011

Read Rabbi Schiftan's Blog from Israel September, 2005

E-mail Rabbi Schiftan at rabbischiftan@templenashville.org

Shana R. Mackler, Associate Rabbi

Rabbi Shana R. Mackler was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, June 2004. She also earned her Masters of Arts in Hebrew Letters from HUC in 2003. A native of Florida, Rabbi Mackler is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Florida, where she earned a B. A. in Jewish Studies. Before entering rabbinical school, Rabbi Mackler taught full-time second and third grade Hebrew and Judaica at the Hebrew Day School of Central Florida.

As part of her studies at HUC, Rabbi Mackler served congregations in Ishpeming, Michigan, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and Natchez, Mississippi. She was also the intern for two summers at the Congregation of Liberal Judaism in Orlando, Florida. During her final year at HUC, Rabbi Mackler earned the prestigious Simon Lazarus Memorial Prize for academic achievement, the Robert L. Adler Prize for outstanding leadership and the Rabbi Morris H. Youngerman Memorial Prize for the best sermon preached in the chapel.

Rabbi Mackler has completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education, working as a chaplain intern at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital. She has taught elementary, middle and high school students, as well as college and adult learners, and has helped create innovative curricula for B’nai Mitzvah and Post-Confirmation programs. Rabbi Mackler is delighted to be in Nashville and at the Temple.

Read Rabbi Mackler's Blog about The Temple - Sherith Israel Trip to Israel. Dec 16th - 21st, 2009

E-mail Rabbi Mackler at rabbisgmackler@templenashville.org

Randall Falk, Rabbi Emeritus

Rabbi Randall Falk is a highly respected and much beloved spiritual leader for our Temple. He served as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Ohabai Sholom from 1960 until 1986. Born in Little Rock Arkansas, and married to the former Edna Unger of Cleveland, Ohio, Rabbi Falk served Congregation Anshe Hesed in Erie, Pennsylvania prior to coming to Nashville.

Randall Falk serves as Adjunct Faculty member for Vanderbilt University’s Divinity School. Rabbi Falk is a member of the North American Board of the World Union of Progressive Judaism. He was president of the Nashville Council of Community Services, the Nashville Association of Rabbis, Priests and Ministers, Vice President of the Covenant Association for Human Rights and Commissioner of the Metropolitan Action Commission.

Rabbi Falk has been honored for his caring involvement in the life of our community and our nation. The recipient of honorary doctorates from The University of the South and from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Falk was named Clergyman of the Year by the Religious Heritage of America, Nashville Chapter, and was the recipient of the Human Relations Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Nashville Chapter, and an award of the same name from Metropolitan Nashville Human Relations Commission.

E-mail Rabbi Falk at rabbifalk@templenashville.org

David Davis, Rabbi Laureate

Rabbi David Davis served as Rabbi of the Temple from 1997-2001, at which time he was named Rabbi Laureate. Rabbi Davis joined Vanderbilt University as a member of the Administration and Faculty and served in that capacity until 2005. Previously, Rabbi Davis served as Associate Vice President for University Relations and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of San Francisco. During that time he also continued his work, begun in 1977, as Director of the Swig Judaic Program at that university; he also maintained a practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist.

The President of USF, Jesuit Fr. John Lo Sciavo, calls David a “one-man ecumenical movement”. His colleagues applaud his “bridge building,” his work to bring understanding among diverse groups and individuals. As early evidence, during his seminary days, his leadership in a nationwide seminary civil rights movement was recognized by President Johnson with an invitation to the signing of the Civil Rights Act.

Prior to university work, Rabbi Davis served as Chaplain of San Quentin Prison for eight years, and as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael, California (1970-76), Associate Director of the National Federation of Temple Youth in New York (1967-70) and Assistant Rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Worcester, Massachusetts (1965-67).

Rabbi Davis established the first chair in Judaic Studies at a Catholic university in the United States and was the first Rabbi to occupy a full-time position in the theology department of an American university. Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, New York, honored him with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity in 1990.

E-mail Rabbi Davis at rabdd@yahoo.com

Bernard Gutcheon, Cantor

Since Joining The Temple in 1983, Cantor Gutcheon has become the musical spirit of our congregation. He has received extensive vocal training with some highly acclaimed professionals, including Cantor Arthur Koret of the Hart School of Music, William Metcalf of the New York City Opera and Andrew Foldi of the Metropolitan Opera. This experience has made him not only The Temple’s musical leader but one of the mid-South’s most well respected Religious musicians.

The Cantor designs and conducts all scheduled services with an emphasis on Congregational participation. His new and innovative structure for worship has been well received and is very popular. Additionally, he developed the Temple Choir, Volunteer Choir, Junior Choir, and the Professional Quartet. He also created our current Bar/Bat Mitzvah study program and works hand in hand with the students during their preparation for this lifecycle event.

Cantor Gutcheon has a Bachelor of Sacred Music Degree, Cantorial Investiture and Certification, Double Teaching Certificate and is a certified Reform Jewish Educator. He studied at the Hebrew Union College for Sacred Music, the Chayim Greenberg College and Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He received his Chaplain’s training at Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital where he served for 3 years.

E-mail Cantor Gutcheon at cantorgutcheon@templenashville.org

Lynda Gutcheon, Temple Educator

Lynda brings to The Temple excellent background and training in Jewish education. She holds degrees in both Special Education and Jewish Education and concentrated her interests in these areas for twenty years.

Ms. Gutcheon is responsible for the complete operation of the Religious schools grades Nursery through Post Confirmation, including Hebrew school. She also develops family programs, youth programs, and coordinates our adult education program.

Under Lynda's direction, The Temple Religious School received its National Accreditation in 1998, which makes it one of the fifty Religious Schools nationally out of a thousand to have obtained this status. Lynda’s enthusiastic energy and creative abilities bring exciting opportunities to our learning community.

E-mail Mrs. Gutcheon at lyndagutcheon@templenashville.org

Nancy Richardson, Director of Membership & Programming

After years of volunteering at the Board and Executive levels, Nancy began her position as Director of Membership & Programming in September, 2008. Her love of Reform Judaism and her lay experience in membership, worship, education, and administration guide her professional commitment to every member of The Temple family. Your relationship with Nancy begins before you join Temple, as you discuss the particular programs and involvement for your meaningful Temple membership.

Before moving to Nashville in 2002, Nancy and her family lived in Rochester, NY, where Nancy led the preschool "Hands-on-Holidays" program, taught third graders in religious school, tutored children for bar/bat mitzvah, and led monthly Young Family Shabbat Services. She served for four years as VP of Membership and established the Mitzvah Connection, Temple Sinai's Caring Community. She also completed the Florence Melton Jewish Studies Adult Program.

Nancy received her BA in Government from Cornell University and her MA in Public Policy Studies from the University of Chicago. Prior to her work at Temple, she was Project Coordinator for two research studies at Vanderbilt's Peabody College. She is proficient in Spanish, and she dabbles in American Sign Language. Nancy and her husband, Michael, have three children.

Read Nancy's blog from the 2009 PDRJ Conference and URJ Biennial.

Email Nancy at nancy@templenashville.org

Erin Hirsch Zagnoev Development Director

Erin Hirsch Zagnoev has been named the first Development Director of The Temple. Under this newly created position, Erin is responsible for coordinating all fund-raising activities, including endowment and planned giving, the annual giving campaign, resource development and volunteer training.

Prior to joining The Temple, Erin served as Vice President of Donor Services and Manager of Women’s Philanthropy for the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. As the leader of Donor Services, she created and was the primary implementer of the new Donor Services efforts, enhancing positive donor relations. She also worked in partnership with the annual giving campaign team in achieving an annual goal of $15.4 million. Erin was with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta for six years where she began as Campaign Associate and received several honors and awards, including the Extra Mile Award, the Pinnacle Award, and Employee of the Month.

Erin holds a master’s of business administration in non-profit management from the University of Judaism, Lieber School of Graduate Studies in Los Angeles, Calif., with a bachelor’s of arts degree in communications from the University of Arizona. Erin grew up at the Temple and is excited to be part of the Temple’s professional team.

Email Erin at erin@templenashville.org

Corye E. Nelson, Director of Temple Preschool

For the past 10 years, Corye Nelson served as director of Westminster School for Young Children’s Toddlers and Two’s Program as well as director of Westminister Presbyterian Church’s nursery program.

She holds a bachelor’s of science degree in childcare administration and childhood psychology from Belmont University.

Corye is an active member within the early childhood industry, showing a passion for leadership in early childhood education. As a board member of the Nashville Area Association for the Education of Young Children, Nelson serves as chair of its Accreditation Committee. As a board member of the Tennessee Association for the Education of Young Children, she serves on its Finance Committee and is chair of its 2012 Conference Committee.

She is also a member of the Southern Early Childhood Association. Nelson also serves as a continuing education speaker at early childhood conferences on topics ranging from communicating with toddlers to room arrangement. Her community involvement includes holding parenting classes at the Tennessee Prison for Women.

“As director of The Temple Preschool, it is my honor and my duty to inspire and educate teachers and parents to communicate effectively with children, and provide them with activities that they can master as well as those that can challenge them.”

Email Ms. Nelson