Temple Shalom - Professional Staff

Susan Zemsky came to Temple Shalom as Executive Director in 2003, bringing to our family the benefit of over 20 years experience in Jewish congregational and communal leadership.

Prior to joining our staff, she was executive director at nearby Tifereth Israel Congregation. Before that, she managed special projects at the Board of Jewish Education of Greater Washington. She is also currently Vice President of Kehila Chadasha, a 90 family chavurah that is part of the Jewish Renewal movement.

As director of Children and Family Services for the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, Susan created and implemented a full range of after-school, vacation and snow closing programs and Center wide holiday festivals. She was instrumental in building pro-family programs responsive to diverse family needs and configurations, such as the highly successful Jewish Single Parent Connection.

"Creating and developing family friendly programs for children that put them in a safe and fun Jewish environment while their parents were working is something that I am especially proud of," says Susan.

Email Susan: szemsky@templeshalom.net.

Lisa Pressman - Director of Education

Lisa Pressman, Director of Education, brings to Temple Shalom 18 years of experience in Jewish education and her deep passion for Judaism and love of teaching children and adults. After receiving her B.S. in Education from Cleveland State University, Ms. Pressman worked with gifted and behaviorally challenged children in Cleveland, Ohio. Concurrently as a sixth grade religious school teacher she was able to write curriculum and share Jewish history, traditions and ideas with her students. The die was cast and Ms. Pressman went on to receive her Masters of Judaic Studies with a minor in Jewish Education as a member of the Cleveland Fellows program, a project of the Siegel College for Jewish Studies in Beachwood, Ohio.

Prior to coming to Temple Shalom this summer, Ms. Pressman was a Family Educator, Programming Director and Education Director in synagogues in Cleveland and New England. As a Reform Jewish Educator she is pleased to be at Temple Shalom where she can work closely with the clergy and staff to create rich Jewish learning experiences for her community.

“I feel blessed to be coming to Temple Shalom, the Temple of peace and welcome. I know that it will be a time of transition and formative changes in my life as I meet new children and their families and work alongside the staff and lay leadership. As Director of Education I hope to be able to facilitate your journey, as together we traverse a rich path of Jewish leaning and experiences,” says Lisa.