Clergy : Rabbi Mark Covitz

Rabbi Mark Covitz was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts in 1992 with a BA in Philosophy. Following his graduation, Rabbi Covitz spent some time in the entertainment industry before enrolling at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and beginning his first year of rabbinical studies in Jerusalem. Rabbi Covitz attended the Cincinnati campus of HUC-JIR, receiving a Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters in 1997. He was ordained in 1999, having completed his thesis on “The Uses of Traditional Folklore in a Reform Setting”.

While at HUC-JIR, Rabbi Covitz served pulpits at Four Courts Retirement Home in Louisville, Kentucky and at Temple B’nai Israel in Parkersburg, West Virginia.  During those years he also served Jewish youth in his capacity as Program Director at Goldman Union Camp in Zionsville, Indiana and as the Regional Advisor to the North American Federation of Temple Youth’s Ohio Valley Region. 
Prior to ordination Rabbi Covitz was hired as the full-time Director of Camping and Youth at Shwayder Camp of Congregation Emanuel in Denver, Colorado. While in Denver, he met and married his wife Stacy.  In 2002, Rabbi Covitz was called to serve Congregation Beth Yam in Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he remained for seven years. During his tenure in Hilton Head, Rabbi Covitz was very involved in the general community including service on the boards of Low Country Legal Aid and Our Moral Compass.   For Congregation Beth Yam, Rabbi Covitz helped the synagogue expand in member families and in programming. The youth programs, adult education, and social action all flourished during those years, as did worship with the addition of creative and varied services.  Throughout his career Rabbi Covitz has served on the faculty of Goldman Union Camp Institute.

In 2009, Rabbi Covitz began his current work at Beth Tikvah Congregation. Surrounded by a talented staff, Rabbi Covitz is committed to sustained adult education, meaningful worship experiences, inspiring social action opportunities, and vibrant youth programming.

Rabbi Covitz has been married to Stacy since 2001. Her support and dedication to Jewish family is an important part of his success. They are the proud parents of Hannah (15), Tatum (12), Emma (6), and Ariel (3).  They also tolerate a cat, Satchmo.

The best way to contact Rabbi Covitz is by calling him at 847-885-4545.  However, if you would like to send the Rabbi an e-mail, please send to rabbi@beth-tikvah.org.

Clergy : Cantorial Soloist - Ilana Axel

Ilana joined Beth Tikvah Congregation as cantorial soloist in July 2007.  Ilana has a degree in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music, and years of music experience both in Israel and as the Director of Shir Hadash in Northbrook, where she developed and grew innovative music programs, becoming an accomplished worship leader, ensemble director, educator, composer, and arranger. Her family, husband Mark and children Yonatan, Timna, and Tahel, share her great love of Israel and Jewish history. Ilana is very excited about sharing the blessings of music, worship, education, and communal life with our Beth Tikvah family.

Click here to contact Ilana Axel.
 

Clergy : Cantor Emeritus Menahem Kohl

Cantor Kohl joined the Beth Tikvah family in 1998. Cantor Kohl integrated his multi-cultural background along with his guitar playing into services and also started a part-time congregational choir, which brought a new spiritual dimension to services. Cantor Kohl, also served as Educational Director.  Together with the Rabbi, he developed a new curriculum for our religious school to meet modern Jewish educational needs. At the same time together with the religious school committee he restructured the religious school class schedule in response to the changing demographic and life style needs of the congregants. Click here to contact Cantor Kohl

Clergy : Rabbi Emeritus Hillel Gamoran

Rabbi Emeritus Hillel Gamoran, who was Beth Tikvah's first full-time rabbi, served as the spiritual, educational and religious leader for 34 years before retiring in 1994. Rabbi Gamoran was instrumental in Beth Tikvah's achieving the reputation for having one of the finest Jewish religious schools in the Chicago area with many graduates receiving college credit for Hebrew. He also was a staunch supporter of sending our children to OSRUI, the Reform summer camp in Wisconsin. As part of his retirement gift, congregants established an OSRUI camp scholarship fund in his honor. Since retiring, Rabbi Gamoran has taught Jewish studies at the University of Washington. He and his wife, Judith, still maintain a residence in Evanston so periodically they can be seen at the temple for life cycle and other special events. Click here to contact Rabbi Gamoran