Rabbi Stephen A. Hart

Born and raised on Chicago's south side, Rabbi Hart attended Chicago Sinai Congregation in Hyde Park. At a young age, he developed a strong interest in Jewish life. Through the influence of early camp experiences at Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute and the Jewish commitment of his own parents, Rabbi Hart's road to the rabbinate began with his graduation from Spertus College of Judaica in 1981 with a Bachelor's Degree in Judaic Studies. While a student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, Rabbi Hart served as student rabbi in Columbus and Director of the Cincinnati Reform Jewish High School. He received his Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters from HUC-JIR in 1985 and rabbinic ordination in 1986. Rabbi Hart served as a rabbi at North Shore Congregation Israel from 1986 to 1993.

Rabbi Hart has worked closely over the years with youth and has continued his involvement and support of Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute. He is a regular faculty member at the summer camp and serves on their Rabbinic Advisory Committee. Rabbi Hart demonstrated his tennis skills while serving as a faculty member for the camp's Maccabiah sports unit.  

Rabbi Hart is also very dedicated to Outreach. He developed North Shore Congregation Israel's nationally recognized Outreach program, helped create "Stepping Stones to a Jewish Me," and serves as a member of the National Commission on Reform Jewish Outreach of the CCAR and the UAHC. Rabbi Hart also serves on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Assocation of Reform Rabbis. 

Rabbi and his wife Mendy reside in Buffalo Grove and have two daughters, Lani and Dena.

Rabbi Matthew L. Berger

Rabbi Berger is a proud native of New England and an avid Red Sox fan. He was raised in Longmeadow, Massachusetts where his family affiliated with Sinai Temple, a Reform congregation. He enjoyed religious school and became a confirmand in 10^th grade. He played the clarinet for many years, enjoyed summer camp at the local Jewish Community Center and participated in three month-long bicycle tours.

Rabbi Berger attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. In May 2003, he was ordained as a rabbi by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati, Ohio. While at HUC-JIR, Rabbi Berger also received a Masters of Education with a specialization in Jewish Education at Xavier University. He proudly served two student congregations, Ohev Israel Temple in Newark, Ohio and Mt. Sinai Congregation in Texarkana, Texas. He is an accomplished musician and composes Jewish liturgical music with voice and guitar. In August 2004, Rabbi Berger and his beloved Ida were married in Dayton, Ohio. They are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Avi Shai, born on April 27, 2008.

Rabbi Berger enjoys any opportunity to teach about Judaism and its traditions. He believes it is a privilege to connect with individuals and families in every stage of life. He looks forward each summer to spending two weeks as a faculty member at Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI), in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Most importantly, Rabbi Berger is thankful to have found a calling in which he feels at home. He believes it is an honor to serve as an integral link in the chain of Jewish tradition and looks forward to continuing his tenure as a member of the clergy team at Temple Chai.

Cantor Scott D. Simon

A native of the northwest suburbs, Cantor Scott Simon is honored to be a member of the Temple Chai clergy. While just a high school junior, he found his calling. It was at his home congregation, Beth Tikvah in Hoffman Estates, that Cantor Simon first became drawn to cantorial studies after meeting Hazzan Shlomo Shuster of Niles Township Jewish Congregation of Skokie. Cantor Simon studied Hazzanut with Hazzan Shuster and after receiving his Bachelor of Music degree in Applied Vocal Technique from DePaul University School of Music in 1986, began work as a substitute cantorial soloist in the Chicago area.

Cantor Simon embraced formal Judaic and cantorial studies in earnest at the Jewish Theological Seminary's Year in Israel program in 1988. While in Israel, Cantor Simon also sang in the Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir and studied privately with the world famous Hazzan, Naphtalie Herstik. Cantor Simon received his Masters degree at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion-School of Sacred Music in 1994. He served as a full Hazzan in both traditional and Reform pulpits in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Patchogue and Mamaroneck, New York and West Hartford, Connecticut.

Cantor Simon has brought a variety of Jewish prayer music to Temple Chai and enjoys teaching our students and composing for our adult and youth choirs. He is a passionate force behind the Chicago Area Jewish Youth Choir Retreat and the highly acclaimed Song Quest Jewish song writing program. Cantor Simon is a member of the American Conference of Cantors, the Cantors Assembly and the Chicago Milwaukee Association of Cantors. 

He lives in Mundelein with his wife Gail, a professional Jewish educator, and their three children, Nadav, Haggai and Lily. 

Jeff Kondritzer, Ph.D., Director of Education

Jeff Kondritzer was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended the University of Cincinnati and Hebrew Union College, but left to attend the University of Wisconsin and summer sessions at the University of Michigan. He earned a B.A. in History and an M.A. in Comparative Literature. 

After teaching at Western Illinois University, Jeff went to Israel to teach in Kiryat Shemona and Tzfat. When not dodging bombs in the Northern Galilee, he taught English and shared his love of basketball with 12 year old Israeli students. After returning home, he taught Hebrew at the JEA in Indianapolis and then came to the Chicago area where he worked at Oak Park Temple and Emanuel Congregation. 

Dr. Kondritzer's philosophy of education is to keep it simple and make it fun. When not working or watching basketball, Dr. K enjoys teaching, reading, art, the symphony, opera and theatre.

Larry Glickman, Executive Director

Larry Glickman is honored to be serving Temple Chai as Executive Director. Larry comes to Temple Chai after serving as Executive Director of Congregation Beth Shalom, a Reconstructionist syngagogue in Naperville, and Congregation Kol Ami, a Reform synagogue in downtown Chicago. 

Larry began his career in the Jewish community as the advisor of Congregation B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim youth group and as the Principal of the BJBE religious high school program. During this time, Larry became Executive Director of the Czech Torah Network and wrote "Religion and Rock & Roll," a high school curriculum for the Community Foundation for Jewish Education.

Throughout his career as a temple administrator, Larry has been involved in the National Association of Temple Administrators and its local counterpart, Chicago Area Temple Administrators, for which Larry is proud to serve as Vice President. 

Larry lives in Buffalo Grove with his wife Lynn, an elementary school principal, and his daughters, Eliana and Sophie.

  Emily Caulfield, Director of Youth & Informal Education

Emily comes to Temple Chai from Sugar Land, TX where she recently received a Bachelors degree in Religious Studies with a minor in Jewish Studies from the University of Kansas. While at the University of Kansas, she served as the Hillel president and was active in student government. 

She worked at Congregation Beth Torah in Kansas City as a Hebrew teacher and a senior youth group advisor for four years. She has been a camper at two URJ camps, and a staff member at three.  Emily grew up in the North American Federation of Temple Youth-Texas Oklahoma Region and served on the Regional Board.  She is excited to join the Temple Chai community and looks forward to getting to know all of our students and their families.

  Cathy Schwartz, Director of Member Services

Cathy is excited to be our Director of Member Services.  She grew up on the south side of Chicago, attending Bowen High School before moving to Skokie and transferring to Niles North High School. After graduating from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Special Education, she worked as a Special Education consultant for 5 years before starting a family.

Cathy got involved with the Northwest Suburban Jewish Community Center of Chicago first as a founding board member, over 25 years ago. While serving on the board, a staff position became available and she started life as a Jewish professional, serving in many capacities, most recently as the Regional Director of Development and Marketing.

Always active in the community, Cathy served two terms as a school board member in District 23, ORT chapter President and representative to the Buffalo Grove Chamber of Commerce.

Cathy lives in Wheeling with her husband Chuck. They have three children, Jason, Blair and Daniel. 

                                                                                       
  Deborah Greenswag, Facility & Event Coordinator

Deborah was born and raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago.  She attended the University of Iowa and received a BA in Journalism.  She worked as a Graphic Designer for many years until changing careers after raising her children and becoming an Event Planner.