Rabbi Rachel Axelrad was ordained at AJRCA in 2020. She joined Desert Outreach Synagogue (DOS) as Associate Rabbi in 2021, working with her close friend and colleague, Rabbi Dr. Jules King (AJRCA 2018) where she provides adult Jewish education, leads Shabbat services, and manages pastoral care and crises in Rabbi King’s absence.
Rabbi Cantor Jennie Chabon graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Anthropology and receive her Master of Sacred Music and Investiture from the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Rabbi Cheri is the new spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El, having previously served as founder and spiritual leader of San Diego Outreach Synagogue, an independent “without walls” congregation. During her tenure at “SDOS” she taught B’nei Mitzvah preparation lessons, officiated at religious life events, provided support and counseling, and worked with congregants and the Jewish Family Service organization on service projects.
Jules King received his BS in Management from Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire. He also graduated Wayne State University, School of Mortuary Science and has practiced as a licensed Funeral Director and Consultant. Jules’ business background includes working for Fortune 500 companies as well as non-profit organizations. This combination has led him to much success as an entrepreneur in business and synagogue life.
He worked for Bay Area Addiction and Recovery Treatment (BAART) as a Methadone Counselor in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco and also trained as an inter-faith chaplain in a joint Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at Stanford University Medical Center and the VA Palo Alto Hospital.
A Summa Cum Laude graduate in Computer Science and Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, David Baron also received a Masters degree in Computer Science from that same institution.
She has worked her entire adult life in Jewish education and in a variety of organizations within the Jewish community as a teacher, educational director and head of school. This is her passion and her calling.
San Francisco native and graduate of UCLA, American Jewish University (MAEd). Mom of two great teenagers. Cantorial work in Los Angeles since 1995.
Rebeccah has worked in synagogues, camps, and other organizations for over twenty years in various capacities and across the country, including Temple Ahavat Shalom, Hillel at CSUN, Kaiserman Jewish Community Center and Beth Tikvah-Bnei Jeshrun in Philadelphia, Camp Hess Kramer, Camp Isaiah, and Camp Menorah.
Upon ordination, Rabbi Mel Young looks forward to supporting a synagogue in its many roles, engage in Jewish education, and never be
far away from aiding those in need of spiritual comfort.