Daniel A. Kripper, Rabbi

Rabbi Daniel Kripper previously served as a pulpit rabbi of South American congregations and at Beth Shalom Congregation, Bermuda Dunes, California.

Deeply committed to Jewish education, particularly in the area of teachers training, he has directed schools and youth programs and is involved with religious, social, educational, and cultural aspects of the community. He developed congregational Havurah projects and innovative Adult Education programs. Explorer of the healing potential of the Jewish tradition, focused on Pastoral Counseling, he introduced to the community healing services that are dedicated to providing spiritual care to those in need.

While living in Argentina he served as an Assistant to the late Marshal T. Meyer, Chancellor and founder of the Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano.

He received the Doctor of Divinity honoris causa from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America for his outstanding dedication to the Jewish cause.

He has developed expertise in teaching adults and young people, introducing people to the wisdom of Judaism.

Deeply committed to fostering and maintaining a strong relationship between the Jewish community and other faith communities, Rabbi Kripper participated in several International Interfaith Conferences in Montreal, Haifa and Seville, and organized the International Conference sponsored by the ICCJ (The International Council of Christians and Jews) in Montevideo,Uruguay.

He is Member Rabbinical Assembly of America and of The Pittsburgh Rabbinic Association.

Publications

Gesher Hachayim: A manual for the bereaved, published by the Congregacao Israelita Paulista and the Associacao Religiosa Israelita, Brazil.

La Muerte, el duelo y la esperanza: Essays on bereavement from a Jewish perspective. Nueva Congregacion Israelita de Montevideo, Uruguay.

Virtudes Capitales: Pirkei Avot, translation and commentary. Editorial Lumen, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Desde las Profundidades: Prayers and Readings for Healing Services at the Nueva Congregacion Israelita, Montevideo.

A Healing Service, Palm Desert, California

Yaier Lehrer, Cantor

Cantor Yaier Lehrer has been at Adat Shalom since 1999. As Director of Education and Youth for the last seven years, Cantor Lehrer has been in charge of the Religious School, youth programming and B'nai Mitzvah instruction.

Born in Tel-Aviv, Israel, Cantor Lehrer has lived in Montreal, Canada, and moved to Wilkes-Barre, PA, in 1963, where he attended day school at the United Hebrew Institute/Israel Ben Zion Academy. He grew up in a family that had a great love of cantorial and Hassidic music.  The Cantor's father, Menachem Lehrer, z'l, was the Principal of Temple Israel Religious School in Wilkes-Barre, and his mother Rachel was a beloved teacher there from many years. Both parents were also long time teachers at Camp Ramah in the Poconos. Cantor Lehrer spent a number of his summers at Camp Ramah as well, both as a camper and a counselor.

Since moving to Pittsburgh in the early 1970s, the Cantor has been heavily involved in Jewish education and has taught well over 500 B'nai Mitzvah. His first official cantorial position began in 1976 at New Light Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill area of Pittsburgh. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh in political science. He has taught at Temple Sinai, Beth Shalom and Community Day.

As the director of our Religious School, Cantor Lehrer believes strongly in hands-on learning and points to the direct relationship between Jewish education and parental involvement. He is especially proud of the institution of the musical Friday-night service with the assistance of musical director Henry Shapiro.

Cantor Lehrer is happily married to Lori Kayser.