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Rabbi
Rabbi Briskin incorporates his passion for justice work, spiritual growth, and community building into his rabbinate. His leadership has strengthened congregations through new initiatives that help build community through service, advocacy, study, and prayer. His work is focused in the synagogue but has been applied to his service to the URJ/Religious Action Center Commission on Social Action (2012-2017), the Board of Governors for HUC-JIR, (2019-2022) and as a long-time faculty member at URJ Camp Newman in Santa Rosa, California and URJ Camp Harlam in the Poconos.
Rabbi Briskin currently serves as the clergy chair of the Bucks County Kehillah, represents Shir Ami and the URJ on the Jewish Community Relations Council Advisory Committee, and is a Rukin Fellow for 18Doors, an organization committed to empowering interfaith families to engage in Jewish life.
Rabbi Briskin enjoys cycling, collecting fine wines from California and Oregon, traveling, rooting (sometimes obnoxiously) for all Boston sports teams, and a good glass of bourbon. He lives in Newtown with his wife, Karen and they are the proud parents of Ezra and Avi.
Cantor
Executive Director
Now serving as the Executive Director of Shir Ami, Brent channels his passion into every aspect of his leadership. He believes wholeheartedly that the youth are not just our future—they are our builders. He is devoted to crafting enriching experiences for the young families of Shir Ami, ensuring they have the foundation to create the vibrant community of tomorrow.
Brent now resides in Ewing, NJ, with his partner Eric, where they spend their free time discovering cute towns, great restaurants, and taking every opportunity they can to see a Broadway show.
Rabbi, Director of Religious School
Early Learning Center Director
Director of Youth Engagement
Engagement Coordinator
A lifetime New Yorker, Natalie, her husband Clifton Cino, and their daughter Mariel (a very happy member of Shir Ami’s ELC), enjoy their spare time together and playing with their golden retriever mix, Arlo (Guthrie). All the Cinos love being Bucks County residents, exploring and learning all the area has to offer, and growing fruit trees and vegetables in their home garden.
Rabbi Elliot Strom, is the Founding Rabbi and now Rabbi Emeritus of Shir Ami. Born and educated in Toronto, he graduated summa cum laude from York University in 1972. A product of the Reform youth and camping movements, Rabbi Strom was a long-time song leader and youth educator. He then attended Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati where he was ordained in 1977 and became a rabbi at Anshe Emeth Temple in New Brunswick, NJ.
Rabbi Strom came to Shir Ami in 1979 and, together with a bright and energetic lay leadership, helped build Shir Ami from the ground up--starting a religious school, youth groups, b. mitzvah programs, a community mikveh (one of only two located within Reform synagogues in the United States), a robust social action agenda and an extensive adult education program. He was also instrumental in building and fundraising for Shir Ami’s original synagogue structure and each successive addition to the building.
Over the years, he completed a curriculum in marriage and family therapy at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote extensively for many publications, served on many Boards of Directors, and completed a novel entitled Rabbi, Run. Rabbi Strom enjoys music, theater, sports, reading, his “second home” in Manhattan and
especially his wife Susan, their children Adam & Cathy and Rabbi Josh & Tali and their grandchildren Emma, Justin, Jonah, Gabriel and Caleb.
MARK ELSON
Cantor Emeritus
Cantor Mark Elson served as Shir Ami’s Cantor from 1985-2018, and was also the Director of Religious Education from 1985-2002. He received his Cantorial Ordination from the HUC-JIR School of Sacred Music in 1977 and continued his studies toward a Master’s Degree in Religious Education and Principal’s Certification. He came to Shir Ami after serving as Cantor and Education Director of Temple Anshe Sholom in the Chicago area.
Cantor Elson loved creating and nurturing opportunities for musical participation through the Makheilah (children’s choir), Adult Choir, SHIR KLEZ! band and congregational singing. In addition to his leadership of the musical life of Shir Ami, he was devoted to the pastoral needs of our members, and was active for many years in bringing educational and special musical programs to our synagogue, as well as leading our choirs and band in community events.
Cantor Elson was active on Boards and Commissions of the URJ, the National Association of Temple Educators, the American Conference of Cantors and the Delaware Valley Cantors Council.
Cantor Elson and his wife, Barbara, enjoy being close to their two children and three grandchildren when in Pennsylvania, and staying warm in Florida during the cold months of the year. He enjoys travel, theater, golf and good bourbon.
