At the recent conference of the National Association for Temple Administration (NATA), Jeanne Adler, executive director of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, was awarded the Myron E. Schoen Service to Judaism Award. This award is presented to an executive director who has made a contribution well beyond the requirements of his or her position, through leadership, authorship or involvement.
Adler has been in the field of synagogue administration since 1996. She has served two congregations, Congregation Beth Torah for 12 years prior to becoming the executive director of B’nai Jehudah in 2006. She earned professional certification as a Fellow in Temple Administration (FTA) in 2003. Adler has served on the board of the National Association for Temple Administration. While on the NATA board she led the Long Range Planning Task Force, co-chaired a national convention and was editor of the NATA Journal for two years. Recently, she co-led B’nai Jehudah’s participation in the Union for Reform Judaism’s Community of Practice on Reimagining Financial Support. She has presented workshops at the last three Biennial gatherings of the URJ and is currently working with the URJ on a webinar on financial support for the Communities of Practice.
B’nai Jehudah President Donna Thalblum nominated Adler for the honor. Along with helping B’nai Jehudah thrive, Thalblum said Adler is making a difference to NATA and to other congregations in the country in several critically important areas. Specifically, due to Adler’s participation in the URJ’s Community of Practice on Reimagining Financial Support, B’nai Jehudah’s president said its “membership is growing at a time when many other congregations are struggling.”
“While our congregation has benefitted from her involvement, Jeanne has made a contribution to many other Reform congregations across the nation by facilitating innovative thinking and sharing successful ideas,” Thalblum said.