 James
Greene
Rabbi
Rabbi
James first connected with Judaism and Jewish education while growing up
at Jewish summer camps in the Mid-west. Through working as a youth
advisor and youth group director in college and rabbinical school, he
came to deeply value what Judaism has to offer people of all ages.
Heavily influenced by Kaplan’s idea of Jewish education, James envisions
an educational model where each educational experience is seen through
the core spiritual values which are present within that activity.
Although he began his undergraduate
studies as a concert saxophonist at the Kansas City Conservatory of
Music, Rabbi James soon realized that music was not his path. After a
semester abroad studying at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, he
transferred to Florida Atlantic University and eventually graduated with
a degree in Holocaust and Judaic Studies. He then attended the
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) and graduated in June, 2008.
During his time at RRC, Rabbi James worked as
the Youth Director and Rabbinic Intern at Beth David Reform Congregation
in Gladwyne, PA, and served as Student Rabbi of Congregation Beth
Abraham in Bridgeton, NJ and as Sabbatical Rabbi of the Columbia Jewish
Congregation in Columbia, MD. Additionally, during the summer of 2007,
he was the Director of Education and the Director of Music for the Reconstructionist Movement’s Summer Camp, Camp JRF. Rabbi James joined
the Temple Beth Sholom family in July, 2008.
Rabbi James is grateful to be supported
by a wonderful family. His parents, Mandy and Marcia Greene both work
for the Jewish community in Sacramento - Mandy serves as the Executive
Director of Temple Bnai Israel and Marcia is the Director of Education
at Temple Or Rishon. Heather Greene, his sister, is a social worker in
the Portland area. Rabbi James is married to Jen, who is a theater
lighting designer. They welcomed their first child, a daughter named
Talyah Tikvah Greene, into their family in September 2008.
Rabbi James loves teaching and bringing
Judaism alive for everyone. He continues to share his passion for music
with his guitar, which he often plays during services. Still a devoted
music fan, Rabbi James now spends much of his free time listening to and
playing modern folk music.
Click here to read a
special
message from Rabbi James.
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 Judith Havas
Temple
Administrator
Judith was hired as the TBS
Administrator in August, 2006, when the position was
first created. Prior to her paid position at TBS she
was an active member of the congregation. She had
volunteered for many activities and events, such as
the Adult Education program and the Torah Trek
planning committee. Judith holds a Bachelor of Arts
and a Master of Arts degree in Education from
Stanford University, as well as a joint Master's
degree from Brandeis University in Near Eastern &
Judaic Studies and Jewish Communal Service.
According to Judith, she had lived many lives and
held many positions before becoming the TBS
Administrator, including (but not limited to)
elementary school teacher , rancher, Executive
Director of the Oregon Symphony Association in
Salem, Installation and Repair Supervisor for
Pacific Northwest Bell, Legislative Secretary for a
State of Oregon representative, Supervisor of the
publication department for State Farm (NW region),
and various positions in various departments with
the State of Oregon.
Although Judith was born and raised
in Oakland, California, as a young person she was
gifted with the opportunity to travel extensively
with her parents, as her father was active in
International business. Judith also admits that she
spent a few "ski-bumming" years in Lake Tahoe. Aside
from two brief interludes, one in Israel and one in
Boston, she has lived in Oregon since 1970. She
first lived in Wallowa County, where she raised
sheep, hay and grain, before she moved to Salem in
1979. Judith has four children, all of whom graduated
from Sprague High School in Salem and are now grown
with their own families. In her spare time, Judith
enjoys hiking (weather permitting), reading (energy
permitting), knitting and spending time with her
friends.
Her favorite part of working as the
TBS Administrator is being able to work in her new
field of Jewish Communal Service. She also enjoys
working with the TBS community and helping in
whatever ways possible to see TBS continue to grow
toward what she envisions TBS to be:
a vibrant TBS community with strong programming
across many disciplines, making the facility alive
with events and teachings.
Click here to read a
special
message from Judith.
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 Amber Titus
Office Manager
Amber was hired as the TBS Office
Manager in 2003. She has lived in Oregon for most of
her life, but was originally from Lynwood,
Washington. Amber has been married for 12 years to
her husband, Sean, who she met in youth group at the
age of 11! Amber also
has three children: Zakary, age 11, who plays
guitar; Isaak, age 8, who is involved in Kempo; and
Anneke, age 7, who enjoys gymnastics and rides a
unicycle. In her free time, Amber enjoys
cross-stitching, reading, biking, and adventuring
with her kids.
Amber has always had desk-type
office jobs, ranging from car dealerships to nursing
homes. She enjoys working at TBS because it is a
stress-free job that lets her "serve kind and caring
people".
Click here to read a
special
message from Amber.
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