Our Professional Leadership

Rabbi Adir Glick
The Solomon Family Rabbinic Chair

Rabbi Adir Glick began his tenure at Temple Har Zion in August, 2015.  Rabbi Glick was ordained in May, 2015 by the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies of American Jewish University in Los Angeles. During ordination, he received the 2015 Jacob Pressman Award in Homiletics.

In addition to an M.A. in Rabbinic Studies, Rabbi Glick holds a B.A. in Creative Writing, and a Graduate Degree in Journalism from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec (2007).  He has served as a rabbinic intern at Congregation Beth Israel in Tustin, California, and a student rabbi at Judaica in Marseilles, France and Temple Emanu-El in Reno, Nevada.

A Jerusalem native, he grew up in the Old City and in the South of France, and has lived in England, Canada, and India.

Prior to entering rabbinical school, Adir worked as a journalist for the Jerusalem Post and the Jerusalem Report magazine under the mentorship of Yossi Klein Halevi.  He started his university studies at Warwick University in England and finished at Concordia University, in Montreal.   He also spent a year in Nepal working for the Israeli humanitarian organization, Tevel b’Tzedek.

He is especially interested in the spiritual and mystical dimensions of Judaism, teaches meditation to all ages, and has a passion for lively prayer. Prior to becoming a rabbi, he spent his summers at Camp Ramah Darom in Georgia; where he was the Rosh Tefillah and Mashgiach Ruchani, head of prayer and spiritual advisor for the camp.

Rabbi Glick is married to Rachel Newman Glick, from Washington D.C. Their family has grown with the birth of their beautiful daughter, Shalva Mei Menuchot in 2016, and their sweet son, Adiv Oz in 2018.

Rabbi Glick can be reached by calling the synagogue office at 708-366-9000 or by email at rabbiglick@wsthz.org.

Dr. Victor A. Mirelman
Rabbi Emeritus

Dr. Victor A. Mirelman has been rabbi of Temple Har Zion since 1990. From 1975-1989 he was the spiritual leader of Congregation B’nai Israel in Milburn, New Jersey, at which time he was also Visiting Professor of History at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. During 1970-74 he lectured at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, concentrating his courses in the modern and contemporary history of the Jewish people.

A native of Argentina, Dr. Mirelman received an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Buenos Aires.

He was ordained as rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary and received his doctorate from Columbia University.

He is an authority on Latin American Jewry, an area to which he devoted his doctoral dissertation and numerous articles in scholarly publications. Rabbi Mirelman also has a special interest, both personal and academic, in Sephardic Jewry. His most recent book, Jewish Buenos Aires, 1890 – 1930, was published by Wayne State University Press.

In 1991 he was appointed Professor of Jewish History at Spertus College in Chicago. In 2005 he was elected President of the Chicago Board of Rabbis.

Rabbi Mirelman can be reached by calling the synagogue office at 708-366-9000 or by e-mail at rabbimirelman@wsthz.org.

Cantor Stewart Figa

The Goldstine Family Cantorial Chair

Cantor Stewart Figa has served at Temple Har Zion in River Forest Illinois since 1998 and has been a cantor in the Chicago area since 1990.

As a member of the New Budapest Orpheum Society, a Chicago based musical troupe dedicated to reviving European Jewish music from the first half of the 20th century, he has sung at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. and at the Neue Gallerie in New York City.

In the 1980s Mr. Figa performed for several seasons in Yiddish Theatre productions in New York City, having had the privilege of working with some of the legendary greats of the Yiddish stage. A recognized singer of the Yiddish repertoire, he appeared in a guest role singing on the CBS-TV Golden Globe Award-winning program Brooklyn Bridge, and has given concerts locally at the Harold Washington Library, the Spertus Institute, the Arts Club of Chicago, Anshe Emet, K.A.M. Isaiah Israel, North Shore Congregation Israel, and has appeared as a soloist with the Halevi Choral Society. He has received Degrees from Northwestern University and Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies.

Cantor Figa can be reached by calling the synagogue office at 708-366-9000 or by e-mail at cantor@wsthz.org.

Charles Shapera, Executive Director

The Geldner Family Executive Chair

Charles Shapera is a long-time member of Temple Har Zion, first as a Hebrew school student, then later (and continuing) as our Torah reader, Hebrew school teacher, and youth group director. Charles has known, prayed with, and studied with many generations of our congregation.

An accomplished musician, Charles performs domestically and internationally as part of many orchestras and chamber ensembles. Charles teaches music to aspiring musicians of all ages. He plays more than a dozen instruments!

Charles, along with his wife Zoe (whom he met at Har Zion), daughter Arza, and son Micah, is an integral part of the Har Zion family. Charles brings many years of experience, history, and devotion for the Har Zion community to his position as Executive Director.

Charles can be reached by calling the temple office at 708-366-9000 or by email at cshapera@wsthz.org.

David Schwartz, Director of Jewish Education (K-12)

Education Chair (Anonymous Donor)

David Schwartz is our Director of Education at Temple Har Zion! He came to Har Zion from Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel where he was the Director of Family Education and Programming, and from twelve years at Camp Ramah Darom where he was a Judaics Educator, B’nai Mitzvah Tutor, and bunk counselor. He and his wife Miriam have a daughter, Shira. He has a Masters in Teaching from Washington University in St. Louis and recently graduated from Spertus Institute in Chicago with a Masters in Jewish Professional Studies  Additionally he is a Jewish storyteller. In his spare time, David enjoys reading, singing, and playing board games. He looks forward to continuing the great legacy of education at Har Zion.

David can be reached at 708-366-9000 or at dschwartz@wsthz.org!

Claudine Guralnick, Director of Early Childhood Education

The Guralnick Family Preschool Chair   

Claudine Guralnick is our Director of Early Childhood Education and the lead teacher in the Adom (two-year-old)

classroom. Claudine has been a beloved lead teacher in the preschool for over 20 years. She is also our Director

of Jewish Education programming for families with children ages 1-7. When not busy setting the next

generation on the path to becoming special wonderful human beings, Claudine spends time at home with her

husband Dale and their three daughters: Stephanie, Danielle, and Sadie.
 

Claudine can be reached by calling the synagogue office at 708-366-9000 or by email at cguralnick@wsthz.org.