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Clergy and Staff

Rabbi Chayva Lehrman (she/her)

Rabbi Chayva Lehrman was thrilled to join Congregation Am Tikvah in the summer of 2023. She grew up in the Bay Area, where she was a Diller Teen Fellow, an intern at the San Francisco Jewish Community Federation, and an involved member of Congregation Beth Am. Rabbi Chayva studied Linguistics and Middle Eastern Studies at Wellesley College and subsequently spent several years working in the U.S. House of Representatives and USAID. She was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (LA), where she also received a Masters in Jewish Nonprofit Management from the Zelikow School.  

Contact me at rabbi@amtikvah.org or (415) 664-7374

Listen to some of Rabbi Chayva's sermons by clicking here. 
Read previous Dispatch messages from Rabbi Chayva here.

Rabbi Danny Gottleib
Rabbi Emeritus

“There are many institutions in Jewish life that make use of Jews, but it is only in the synagogue that Jews are made, their souls nourished, and their identities fashioned.  The synagogue is a place of connection—to the men, women and children who become an extended family, and to the Holy One of Blessing.”                           

– Rabbi Danny Gottlieb

Rabbi Gottlieb received his ordination from the Leo Baeck College in London, England.  He is a graduate of the 4th Rabbinic Cohort of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, and is a recipient of the RJE (Reform Jewish Educator) degree from the Reform Movement’s Joint Commission on Jewish Education.

Cantor Linda Semi
Cantor Emerita

Cantor Semi served one of our legacy congregations – B’nai Emunah –from June 1991 until she retired in 2017, returning even after that to conduct services, life cycle events, and tutor b’nai mitzvah students. She holds a degree in music education from Syracuse University, a certificate of completion in Cantorial Studies from the University of Judaism (incorporated into the American Jewish University in 2007), and was inducted into the Cantors Assembly in 1997.

Cantor Semi is the first female in a family of cantors and she incorporated many of her family melodies into her pulpit services. While her formal training capitalized on her soprano voice with art song and operatic aria emphasis, Cantor Semi’s style was greatly enriched from mentoring by Cantors Josef Cycowski, z’l, and Allan Michelson, z’l.

Talya K. Brass (she/her)
Executive Director

Talya grew up in San Francisco and has an academic background in religious studies and biological anthropology. She was an active member of the synagogue before taking this position. She enjoys hiking, macrame, and spending time with her family.

Samantha J. Martin (she/her)
Office Manager & Youth Education Administrator

Samantha, who goes by Sam, has been in the Bay Area for over 15 years. She became a part of the SF Jewish community when her daughter, Eleanor, start preschool in 2019 at JCC Brotherhood Way. She loved the community so much that, when a position opened up at Am Tikvah, she jumped at the chance to give back. It also doesn't hurt that she works next door to Brandeis, where Eleanor is now in 2nd grade. She enjoys knitting, crocheting, and weaving, and occasionally does things not related to yarn.

Cantor Barry Reich (he/him)
Youth Educator

Before coming to Am Tikvah, Cantor Barry served for several decades at Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame as cantor, B'nai Mitzvah and t’filah teacher, and choral director. He received his education first at the Yeshiva HaMaarav in LA and later received a Bachelor of Music the SF Conservatory of Music. He received his ordination as Hazzan from the Cantors Assembly of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). Since 2006 he has worked as a chaplain for San Mateo County and in 2021 received a Doctor of Music honoris causa from JTS. Cantor Barry lives in Pacifica, has two daughters, Rona (Max) and Bonnie, and one grandson.

Fernando Diaz (he/him)
Facilities Coordinator

A Bay Area Native, Fernando grew up in Santa Clara and loves to spend time with his family and friends. He enjoys singing, trips to parks and Sea Bright Beach where he and his partner play fetch with their pup Jupiter. He has years of experience in Customer Service, Property and Facility Management. 

Anna Bleviss Whitlatch (she/they)
Teacher & Childcare Coordinator

Anna was born and raised in San Francisco with four younger brothers. Teaching is Anna’s passion and she has known she would be a teacher since the age of six. She became a Bat Mitzvah within the community and has remained an active member of the shul since childhood. Anna has served as the childcare coordinator for as long as she can remember, she has been a teacher at Am Tikvah's religious school for the past several years. She majored in Child Development and has held teaching positions at multiple pre-schools and art studios. Anna now teaches glass arts at a nearby high school. She is an artist, loves reading, spending time with friends, going to see live local music, and hanging out with her two dogs. 

Anndo Davis (she/her)
Administrative Assistant

Anndo was born in Dublin Ireland, raised in Nebraska, and spent time in Colorado before moving to San Francsico.  She joined the synagogue staff in February 2020 working three days a week.  Last fall she decided to retire but enjoyed the community and staff so much that she still comes into the office one day a week.  She assists with emails, office work, billing, payments, and helping members as needed.  Anndo spent her business career in the technology sector, focusing on Customer Experience and Contact Center solutions.  Her work in sales and consulting helped Fortune 500 businesses find ways to improve customer experience.  She also worked on Business Development, Vendor/Partner management, and Training.  On a personal note, Anndo loves to golf and is a big fan of the San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors.

 

Nitza Agam (she/her)
Judaic Studies & Hebrew Educator

Nitza grew up in New Jersey and immigrated to Israel after graduating high school. She grew up speaking Hebrew because her Israeli American parents instilled in her a love for the language and for the country. She lived in Israel for seven years and attended Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, majored in Theatre Arts and English Literature, taught English, and participated in a theatre company in Jerusalem. When Nitza moved to San Francisco, she received her MA in English Literature and Comparative Literature from SF State. She met her lovely husband, Ofer, and their two children are fantastic adults who have also been Jewish educators (David and Orr). Nitza is a veteran Jewish educator at various schools and congregations in the Bay Area. She has had the pleasure of bringing her love of Hebrew, Jewish Studies, and creative, collaborative approaches to education to many communities. As a writer and poet, Nitza’s most recent publication is an anthology of women's essays, poetry and art about creativity titled "The Lemon Tree: Artists' and Writers' Personal Journeys of Creativity." (2022) She can't wait to begin teaching at Am Tikvah.

Jennifer M. Levine (she/her)
Hebrew Educator

This is Jenn's third year teaching Hebrew to Am Tikvah youth. She has worked in Jewish education for twenty years and has a doctorate in educational leadership with a focus on disability justice and inclusion. She has been an educator at many institutions throughout the Bay Area, including Temple Israel of Alameda, Midrasha, and JCC of the East Bay. She lives in Alameda, has two grown children, and enjoys riding her bike.

Emmanuelle Davis (she/her)
Teacher

Emmi grew up in the legacy community and is excited to teach the children of Am Tikvah School. 

Jonathan Walsh-Wilson (he/him)
Audio Visual Contractor

Robin Tauber (she/her)
Kiddush & Food Artist

Robin Tauber is native to San Francisco and a lifelong member of the synagogue. She has an arts background in many different media. She enjoys making the Am Tikvah Kiddushim festive and beautiful. 

Adam Safford (he/him)
Arrangements

Adam is a longtime community member. He likes travel, collecting national passport stamps and pressed pennies. He enjoys keeping the Jewish calendar and maintaining the Am Tikvah building. He enjoys walking around Lake Merced, delivers for Uber eats, and delivers Irving’s Challah to community members on Fridays. 

Wed, November 20 2024 19 Cheshvan 5785