Clergy & Leadership

Rabbi Arturo Kalfus		Rabbi Kalfus has been a congregational rabbi in both larger and smaller congregations.  He is a spiritual leader who looks forward to engaging his congregation in worship, study, and social connections.  He is passionate about his role as a rabbi, and finds value and importance in his relationships with congregants.  He will get down on the floor with our tiniest tots, and hold a scholarly conversation with our college-bound students.Rabbi Kalfus was ordained in 1992 from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Jewish History and Jewish Philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.He participated in a program on Language, Culture and Civilization at the Sorbonne of Paris, France and performed doctoral work at Columbia University. He is also a fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute of Jerusalem and completed professional development courses at the Cleveland Psychoanalytic Institute, Kellogg School of Management and Harvard Business School.Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Polish immigrants who survived the Holocaust, Rabbi Kalfus journeyed to Israel and then came to the United States in 1983.  Rabbi Kalfus enjoys, camping, painting, and watching good movies. Rabbi Kalfus is married to Phyllis Meyers, a Jewish educator and special educator, and they are the parents of two wonderful children, Ari, and Lilah.
		Joe Klein served as Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El from 1997 to 2013. He was born and grew up in Toledo, OH and graduated from Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH) in 1969. He majored in Sociology and Anthropology; was ordained from the Cincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion with a Master of Hebrew Letters in 1975; and then served as Assistant Rabbi at Temple Israel in St. Louis MO for three years. Before coming to Temple Emanu-El in 1997, Joe Klein was Rabbi of United Hebrew Congregation in Terre Haute, IN and Mizpah Congregation in Chattanooga, TN. While in Indiana and Tennessee, Rabbi Klein was adjunct faculty in Humanities at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, as well as Indiana State University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He taught courses on Genesis, Hebrew Scripture, First Century History, and the New Testament. For ten years he coached the Rose-Hulman Fencing Club. Rabbi Klein and his wife Barbara have two children: Ellie is married and living in Boston with their three grandchildren, and Adam is married and living in Atlanta with their two grandchildren. Rabbi Klein currently teaches in the Jewish Federation’s FedEd Adult Education program and is Adjunct Professor at both Oakland University and Rochester College.
Rabbi Joe Klein, Emeritus
Kelly Onickel, Cantorial Soloist		Kelly Onickel, cantorial soloist, converted to Judaism in 1988. In 1989 she and her husband Harry became members of Temple Emanu-El. Since then she has been active in the Shir Chadash Choir, sisterhood, membership, religious, and education committees. Prior to Kelly serving as cantorial soloist, she often lead services when Cantor Norman Rose, z”l, Chaplin Ande Teeple, music directors Steve Klaper and Judy Lewis, or Cantor Darcie Sharlien (all who preceded her in this position) were on vacation or on leave. Kelly has a BA in vocal music, and a minor in Judaic Studies from Oakland University. She is currently attending the University of Michigan – Frankel Institution for Judaic Studies, working towards her Masters in Judaic Studies. Working full time from the age of 15 in many different industries, she has developed a very strong and committed work ethic.In 2006 Kelly made the decision to go back to school in pursuit of her passions in music and religion. Although never working in the music or congregational industries prior to Temple Emanu-El, Kelly never stopped singing. She began studying voice with private lessons at the age of five at Eastern Michigan University, continuing her studies throughout her education. She has studied under such opera professionals as Candice DeLattre, and Nadine Washington, and jazz professionals Danny Jordan z”l, Tad Weed, Sean Dobbins, Dr. Miles Brown, Carl Cafagnia, and Scott Gwinell, and Conductors Michael Mitchell and Bradley Bloom. Kelly and Harry have two children; son Kein and daughter Sierra, both graduates of Temple Emanu-El’s religious school. Kelly is and always has been fully committed to the Temple Emanu-El community and looks forward with great joy to the years to come.
Frederick Frank Executive Director		Fred and his family have been a Temple family for over two decades. Sarah, Rachel and Josh all attended and graduated from our religious school. Kathleen Alessandro, Fred’s partner for over 40 years, has been a valued volunteer at Temple.  Rachel is a member of our Board of Trustees and a former Judaics teacher. Fred served as a member of Temple’s Board of Trustees, Kol Limud, various committees and Synagogue 2000 group and substitute teacher, as well as Treasurer and Religious Vice President. Fred’s careers include sound engineer, community relations associate – Jewish Community Council, attorney and now synagogue management. He is passionate about Jewish life and transforming the synagogue model into a sacred community in partnership with clergy, staff, lay leadership, members and an engaged community.
Abi Taylor-Abt Religious Schools Director & Educator		Abi Taylor-Abt has been a Jewish educator her whole career. She was born in London, England and finished school in Israel. After attending college in South Africa, Abi began her career in Jewish education working as the teen director at Moshav Neve Ilan, Israel. She worked as a Judaic studies and Modern Hebrew teacher in England, and became the principal of the Religious School of Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue in London, with managerial responsibilities for programming and curriculum. More recently, she was the Kehillah Programs Director in Boise, Idaho before returning to Israel where she was the Director of Program and Curriculum Development at Alon Community School, Kiryat Anavim. Her passion for Jewish education is shown in her belief that Jewish learning is for everybody. Using music and creativity, Abi thrives on running educational programs that bring Judaism into everyone’s daily lives. Abi and her husband Gideon are excited to be in Michigan with their two youngest children, Yael and Ben.
Eileen Brand Director of Early Childhood Community		Eileen has been Director of the Early Childhood Community since 2007 and has been part of the ECC for most of the past 25 years, as a Nursery Teacher, then as Associate Director of the program, and finally as Director of Student Services, before beng appointed as Director of the ECC. Ms. Brand graduated from Wayne State University with a B.A. in Education, did post graduate work in Early Childhood Education at Madonna College and attended the Jewish Early Education Enrichment Project of the Federation of Metropolitan Detroit in 2002-2004.For Eileen, the memories and experiences with her Temple Emanu-El family continue to be a significant part of her life. Her own children grew up during her Temple career; she witnessed (and enabled) the growth of the pre-school from a Nursery School to an Early Childhood Community and she has seen many children grow up and return to Temple to share their memories.

Temple Emanu-El is governed by an elected Board, consisting of Officers and Trustees. The Executive Committee (Officers, together with our Clergy and Professional Leaders) meets the second Tuesday of the month. The full Board generally meets the third Tuesday of each month, except July and December. In addition, all members are encouraged to participate in Temple leadership through its many Committees and Arms. Members are also encouraged to bring any questions or concerns to the attention of our President Dennis Kayes, our Executive Director Frederick Frank, or any other Officer or Trustee