Temple Ner Tamid of the North Shore

of the North Shore

368 Lowell Street Peabody, MA 01960

(978) 532-1293

office@templenertamid.org

About Us | Clergy

CANTOR SAM PESSAROFF z’l

‘You are missed.’

July 1, 1950 - October 10,2008

RABBI EMERITUS ABRAHAM MORHAIM

CANTOR STEPHEN ABRAMOWITZ

A native of San Francisco, Steve grew up attending Congregation Beth Sholom, the largest Conservative synagogue in Northern California. On Friday nights, the Rabbi began inviting 8-year-old Steve to lead the congregation in singing the Kiddush. At the oneg, congregants would inform Steve, “You’re going to be a Cantor when you grow up!” But Steve would reply, “No I’m not. I’m going to be a sportscaster!”

After attending a Jewish Day School, Religious School, public middle and high schools, Steve went off to the University of California, San Diego to pursue a career in broadcasting. Upon returning home to San Francisco in 1989, Steve embarked on a 14-year career as radio and television producer, guest booker, parody-song writer and reluctant stunt guy. He even worked at a sports station, but never received the go-ahead to report on the air. All the while, Steve taught religious school at Beth Sholom, wrote and directed PurimSpiels, led a USY group, created a “Kibbitzer” e-newsletter for 1,500 young adults, and joined a cadre of service leaders and Torah readers. In addition, he led a communal overflow Kol Nidre service for ten years.

In 2003, Steve was laid off from a television guest booking position, and went on a soul-searching mission. His then-fiancee (now wife), Meredith, expressed her desire to return to her native Massachusetts. Upon meeting with a career counselor and expressing that he wanted to “leave my mark”, Steve literally Googled “Masters in Jewish Education + Boston” and the second listing (after Brandeis) was Hebrew College.

Steve was accepted to the Master’s program in September 2004, and hoped to acquire a certificate in “Cantorial Arts”. But that Summer, the Cantor-Educator program was established, and Steve was accepted anew. While studying Jewish education and chazzanut, Steve taught at Temple Beth Sholom in Framingham, Kesher Newton, Temple Reyim in Newton, and Congregation Or Atid in Wayland. Among his accomplishments, Steve instituted the first group B’nai Mitzvah program at Temple Reyim, and crafted his own Mitzvot/Israel/Holocaust curriculum at Or Atid. He honed his cantorial chops leading High Holidays services at Hillel B’nai Torah in West Roxbury, as a Torah reader at Or Atid, and as a private B’nai Mitzvah tutor, visiting students from Sudbury to Chestnut Hill.

Upon receiving his Masters and Cantorial Ordination in June 2008 (completing the five-year program in four years), Cantor Steve was hired as Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Ahavat Achim in Gloucester. He organized daily Shirah (school community singing), modern Hebrew games, special programs for Sukkot, Chanukah, Purim and Passover, and erev Ivrit (an evening of Hebrew conversation, Israeli food, music and culture). Adult education classes included Music of the High Holidays and Passover, Torah trope, beginning Hebrew, and a power-point survey course called “Jewish Music: From Bible to the Beastie Boys”. Cantor Steve eagerly anticipates bringing many of these, and new programs, to Temple Ner Tamid.

Cantor Steve lives in Marlborough with his wife Meredith, a Speech and Language Pathologist working in the Acton public schools, and adorable cat Po (Hebrew for “here”). Cantor Steve and Meredith will be having twins (a boy and a girl) in the spring of 2010! Favorite pursuits include exploring many kinds of music (Jewish and secular), sports, running, cooking, mind-bending puzzles, and discovering New England’s treasures.

Cantor Steve looks forward to bringing the kahal (congregation) together in prayer, educational programming and celebration. He is excited to get to know you, learning with and from you, and rejoice in your simchas together!

Office hours: Wednesdays 2:30 - 6:30 pm

RABBI DEBORAH ZUKER

Rabbi Deborah Zuker came to Temple Ner Tamid in the fall of 2011, as a Graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS) in New York City, where she was relishes an active and involved member of its academic and prayer community. She holds four prestigious fellowships: The Neubauer Family Fellowship, The Tanenbaum Fellowship, the Schusterman Rabbinical Fellowship in Executive Leadership, and the Legacy Heritage Rabbinic Fellowship. Rabbi Zuker served as the Rabbi to Congregation Emanuel, an egalitarian Conservative synagogue in Statesville, NC, under the auspices of the Legacy Heritage Rabbinic Fellowship. She was also the Head Gabbai of the Women's League Seminary Synagogue at JTS, where she worked to implement JTS’s vision for a supportive learning and prayer community.

Rabbi Zuker was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, and graduated with a B.A (Hons.) in Psychology, and was awarded the Medal in Psychology, from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. While at Queen’s, she was the President of Hillel and also worked as a volunteer at a crisis phone line. Deborah received a Masters Degree in Jewish Studies from JTS as part of their Jewish Communal Service program. She also holds a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University. As a social work student and professional, the focus of her work was hospice care for Jewish and non-Jewish patients in residential and in-patient settings.

Rabbi Zuker feels blessed to have had many opportunities throughout rabbinical school to gain experience in different types of rabbinic work. She has served as the High Holiday Spiritual Leader at Adath Shalom Congregation in Ottawa, Ontario for three years, and as the leader of the Alternative Family Service Leader for one year with Bnai Tikvah Congregation in Deerfield, IL. Deborah has been a Teaching Assistant for graduate and undergraduate courses at JTS in subjects including Hebrew Grammar, Hebrew Bible, and Medieval Thought. She has spent several summers at Ramah camps, in the Berkshires and in Canada, working as both a Jewish Educator and as a Staff Advisor and Parent Liaison. Rabbi Zuker has served on the Faculty of the Rebecca and Israel Ivry Prozdor High School at JTS, and has relished teaching and mentoring many b'nei mitzvah students.

Rabbi Zuker has been very involved at Temple Ner Tamid helping to create engaging activities and programs for all the age groups. Rabbi Zuker brings her energy and enthusiasm to every Shabbat Service as well as any of the activities that she is involved with!

Contact Rabbi Zuker - rabbi!Templenertamid.org

Click HERE to listen to

Cantor Steve’s Musical

Dvar Torah in honor of his

31st Bar Mitzvah

(Karaoke Style)