Clergy
Rabbi Bruce Kadden
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(253) 564-7101 x. 104
Bruce Kadden has served as rabbi of Temple Beth El since July, 2004. A native of Oakland, California, he received his B.A. in Religious Studies from Stanford University with honors in Humanities. He was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1981. After serving as Assistant Rabbi at Mount Zion Temple in St. Paul, Minnesota, he moved back to California where he served as rabbi of Temple Beth El in Salinas for 20 years. He taught interfaith Bible study classes for many years and served as Jewish Chaplain at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, California. Rabbi Kadden has been active in community activities, serving on the board of the Fair Housing Center of Washington and on the steering committees of the Puget Sound Interfaith Youth Camp and the Habitat for Humanity interfaith build. He is a member of Tacoma Sunrise Rotary and past president of the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis.
Bruce and his wife, Barbara, a nationally-known Jewish educator, have been married since 1978. They have written extensively in the area of Jewish education, including co-authoring three books: Teaching Mitzvot: Concepts, Values and Activities; Teaching Tefilah: Insights and Activities on Prayer; and Teaching Jewish Life Cycle: Traditions and Activities.
The Kaddens have two adult children: Alana and Micah.
You can find Rabbi Kadden's sermons here.
Rabbi Elizabeth Wood
Religious Education Director
(253) 564-7101 x. 108
Rabbi Elizabeth Wood was ordained from the Cincinnati campus of the Hebrew Union College in 2009. Originally from West Lafayette, IN she graduated from Indiana University in 2004 with a Bachelor's degree in Jewish Studies. She received her Master's degree of Hebrew Letters in 2008 from HUC-JIR. As a long time URJ camper, Rabbi Wood spent much of her young adult life attending and working at Goldman Union Camp Institute in Zionsville, IN. She was also involved in NFTY as a participant and as a youth group leader. Rabbi Wood has served congregations in Trenton, MI; Culver, IN; Toledo, OH; Louisville, KY; Cincinnati, OH and San Juan, Puerto Rico functioning in a variety of rabbinical intern capacities. Rabbi Wood is delighted to be a member of the TBE staff in her role as Director of Religious Education and as the Cantorial soloist - combining two of her great loves in the rabbinate: education and liturgical music.
Staff
Rebecca Farley
Office Assistant
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(253) 564-7101
Rebecca Farley was born and raised in Tacoma and has been the administrative assistant at Temple Beth El since 2003. A Henry Foss High School graduate, Rebecca has been in office administration for 13 years after making the transition from retail management and human resources and enjoys it very much. Her hobbies include walking, camping, suspense novels, kicking back with a good movie, football food, Facebook, and spending time with family and friends.
Andrea Mauer
Administrator
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(253) 564-7101 x. 102
Andrea (Andy) Mauer joined the Temple Beth El staff in September, 2000. She was born and raised in the Puyallup/Sumner area and has resided in Fircrest for the past 23 years. Her daughter, Maria, is married and blessed their family last year with her first granddaughter, Cadence. Her son, Matthew, is currently in the Coast Guard Reserves and is attending Seattle University. Her husband, Steve, has been in law enforcement for the past 25 years and is a Lieutenant with the Lakewood Police Department. Andrea and her family take pleasure in family get-togethers and yearly, extended-family campouts. Andrea has enjoyed working at TBE and is looking forward to the next ten years.
Petra Masellas
Resource Development Coordinator
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(253) 564-7101 x. 103
Petra began as the RDC in October of 2009. Originally from Maine, she and her husband, Dillan, moved to Washington from New York in August, 2009 with their puppy, Capernicus. She holds a B.A. in Journalism, concentrating in public relations and English from the University of Maine. In her free time, Petra dances ballet, bakes and plays paintball with her husband.
Debbie Ball
Religious School Assistant
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(253) 564-7101 x. 109
Debbie is a happy seven-year, part-time employee of Temple Beth El. Her hours allow her time to enjoy a wide range of hobbies such as thrift store shopping, sewing and gardening. Debbie has a 26-year old son who is a deep sea commercial diver in Louisiana. Debbie and her husband have recently adopted a puppy (Freddie) and have been enjoying him quite a bit. Debbie has always rescued animals but this is the first puppy she’s ever had.
