Rabbi Ellie Shemtov FREEHOLD — Members of Congregation Kol Am are awaiting the arrival of Rabbi Ellie Shemtov as the congregation’s new spiritual leader. On Aug. 1, Shemtov will become the senior rabbi, following 13 years of leadership by Rabbi Brooks R. Susman, who now becomes Rabbi Emeritus.
Shemtov initially prepared to be a cantor and then completed her rabbinic training and was ordained at the Academy for Jewish Religion in Riverdale, N.Y. These years allowed her to function on the pulpit and in the classroom, where she has extensive experience in developing curriculum, directing a religious school, teaching in the classroom and offering special tutoring, according to a press release.
Her initial schooling took place at the Hillel Academy Jewish Day School, Perth Amboy. Shemtov also had a secular background which included earning her master’s degree in library science, and her years as head of the Moving Image Processing Unit at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
She meshed her music, Judaic and technology expertise into the design of the award-winning website, “Ellie’s Torah Trope Tutor.”
Shemtov’s most recent position was as rabbi/education director of Temple Emanu- El, Long Beach, N.Y. Her outreach activities include the founding of Beit Yosef, an organization which is developing a Jewishrooted drug and alcohol addiction treatment center in the tri-state area.
Meet and greet events have been scheduled for congregants and the community to welcome Kol Am’s new rabbi. The first open house events will be on Aug. 2 and Aug. 6 for families seeking religious school admission and membership.
The first Torah study session with Shemtov is scheduled for Aug. 1 at 10 a.m., which begins her tenure with the congregation. These activities will take place in the Kol Am sanctuary at 59 Broad St., Freehold. For further information, call 732-792- 8000.