Rabbi Lisa Tzur came to Temple Gan Elohim in July 2006 to become the temple's first official rabbi.

Rabbi Tzur graduated from the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in 1997. While attending HUC-JIR, Rabbi Tzur received awards in Biblical scholarship and wrote her dissertation on Direct Discourse in the Pentateuch. She is a graduate of Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and of the URJ College Academic Year Israel undergraduate program.

For nine years following her ordination, Rabbi Tzur was a rabbi of Temple Chai in Phoenix. During her tenure, Rabbi Tzur instituted a dynamic youth program, produced concerts by well-known contemporary Jewish artists for the Temple Chai community; oversaw the Temple Chai b'nai mitzvah program for several years, and was instrumental in creating an innovative Kabbalat Shabbat service that has received national recognition.

Rabbi Tzur has an extensive history working with the Reform Movement. She presently serves on the Union for Reform Judaism Youth Department Junior/Senior Programming Committee, serves as Rabbinic Faculty at URJ Camps Kutz and Neuman and is a member of the ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America) Think Tank: Re-envisioning Reform Zionism for the 21st Century.

She served on the joint ACC (American Conference of Cantors) / CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) / URJ (Union for Reform Judaism) Music Commission for two years. She also served on the Outreach Committee for the Union for Reform Judaism-Pacific Southwest Region (URJ-PSW). Outreach invites Jewish choices for all: Jews and non-Jews, young and old, interfaith and Jewish families, those new to Judaism and those who are considering conversion. Temple Chai, under Rabbi Tzur's guidance, was the recipient of the distinguished Belin Outreach Award for developing and implementing an outstanding Outreach program that attracted many new families, and actively welcomed and integrated those new to Judaism into the synagogue.

Rabbi Tzur spent eighteen years in our movement's camps serving as music specialist, unit head and program director at: URJ Camp Coleman (Georgia); URJ Kutz Camp (New York); URJ Green Family Camp (Texas); and URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp (Mississippi). Rabbi Tzur served as the music specialist for the NFTY in Israel programs and was on the faculty of the first NFTY Exodus programs origination in Prague. In addition, Rabbi Tzur traveled extensively in the former Soviet Union facilitations workshops promoting Jewish and Israeli culture.

Prior to attending rabbinical school, Rabbi Tzur served as the first liaison from the Union for Reform Judaism to our sister movement in Great Britain: the Union of Liberal and Progressive Judaism. She spent two years living in London, traveling to many congregations building youth groups and programs, as well as directing the national movement, ULPSNYC as its interim director.

Her liturgical musical compositions have been recorded by recording artists in the Jewish music world, and published by Sounds Write Productions, Inc., and she appears on several recordings of other artists (including our own resident composer and music director, Scott Leader).

Rabbi Tzur is married to Eran Tzur, an intellectual property attorney specializing in patent and copyright law, and is the mother of two daughters and a son: Danielle, Avital and Ayal.

Scott Leader is becoming one of the most sought after performers of original Jewish rock and folk music. His music is featured at many synagogues across the United States. Scott began playing Jewish music in high school as a song leader for the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) while growing up in New Jersey.

In college at the University of Arizona, he continued by teaching music at Temple Emanu-El in Tucson with friend and music partner Billy Tiep. Scott and Billy wrote secular and Jewish songs together and played concerts across the United States by themselves and with Robbi Sherwin.

After graduating in 1998, Scott was a science teacher at the Austin Jewish Community Day School in Austin, TX. He then went on to be the Director of Camp Isaiah in Los Angeles, a cantorial soloist at Temple Sinai in Denver. Scott continues to travel across the country performing concerts and leading services.

Scott has appeared in concerts with Sam Glaser, Yom Hadash, Robbi Sherwin, Mah Tovu, Noah Budin, and others. He has produced albums for many other Jewish artists including Rabbi Larry Karol.

Scott is now living in Phoenix with his wife, Jen, and working as a producer from his home studio, Leader Music Lab. He has Bachelors' degrees in Geoscience and Judaic Studies and a Masters' degree in Education.

Religious School Director

Dawn Flint (also teaches the Madrichim and oversees Gan Elohim's Youth Groups)

Dawn Flint was born and raised in upstate NY, and moved to Phoenix to pursue her teaching career over 15 years ago. After teaching for 8 years, she received her Masters in Counseling and for the past 10 years has been a middle school counselor. Her experience ranges from teaching elementary, middle, high school, community college, religious school, and working with a variety of programs for students learning English as a second language. She currently enjoys spending time with her husband, Kevin and raising their four boys.

Educators

Jody Cohen Gordon, Grades K-1

Jody Cohen Gordon was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and graduated from Youngstown State University (Y.S.U.) with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She successfully pursued a career in radio as New and Public Service Director, reporter, and disc jockey. Jody lived in Israel for two years, where she graduated from W.U.J.S. (World Union on Jewish Students), and then did voice work for Israeli computer and production companies. In 2003, Jody found her "Jewish nitch": teaching Hebrew and Judaic studies. Jody has been at Beth El Congregation since 2004. She lives with her son, Garric, and husband, Marc.