Celebrating Rabbi Jamie Gibson

Temple Sinai celebrated the beginning of Rabbi Jamie Gibson’s 30th year with a Musical Weekend featuring Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller, distinguished professor of cantorial arts at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music.

The Temple Sinai Intergenerational Choir and the Homewood Baptist Choir perform at the Jamie & Friends Concert on Saturday, Nov. 4. (Photo by Susan Straus)

Friday evening’s Shabbat service and dinner were followed on Saturday evening with Jamie & Friends, a concert attended by more than 300 people, which featured area cantors and soloists, the Temple Sinai Intergenerational Choir and Band and the Homewood Baptist Choir.

“The Teens” perform at the Jamie & Friends Concert. From left: Sarah Bett, Dillon Hvizdash, Joey Breslau and Jacob Epstein. (Photo by Suzie Hauptman)

Since joining Temple Sinai as senior rabbi in 1988, Gibson has helped to shape the congregation as one that embraces inclusion, inspiration and innovation. Thirty years later, he has steered the congregation through change and innovation while extending his influence and leadership beyond Temple Sinai to gain respect from the Jewish and interfaith community.

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Cantors Laura Berman and Benjie Ellen Schiller perform at the Jamie & Friends Concert. (Photo by Susan Straus)

He also is a voice for the United Reform Judaism movement.

From left: Performing “A-lei Ei-lai,” or “Come Up To Me,” are Rabbi Paul Tuchman, Rabbi Yair Lehrer, Cantor Michal Grey-Schaeffer, Rabbi Sara Perman, Rabbi Cheryl Klein, Cantor Laura Berman, Rabbi Jeff Meyers, Rabbi Jamie Gibson and Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller at the piano, not pictured. (Photo by Susan Straus)

Rabbi Jamie Gibson and friend Andy Leo perform at the Jame & Friends Concert. (Photo by Susan Straus)