Leadership

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Rabbis

Senior Rabbi David Gerber

Rabbi David Gerber has served as the senior rabbi of Congregation Gates of Prayer since 2018. He was ordained by the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, OH before serving as an assistant/associate rabbi at Congregation Beth Or in the Philadelphia suburbs. Rabbi Gerber is an alumnus of Indiana University and was born and raised in St. Louis, MO.

Currently, Rabbi Gerber serves as the president of the New Orleans Clergy Council. He sits on the board of Longue Vue Gardens as well as the East Jefferson Interfaith Council. He is a regular contributor and collaborator to the National World War II Museum as well as Krewe du Jieux. He teaches an introductory Judaism class at Loyola University. He is on the Rabbinic Council of Zioness and StandWithUs, and is on the steering committee of Re-Charging Reform Judaism. He is also the self-proclaimed “Official Rabbi of the New Orleans Saints.”

Rabbi Gerber specializes in innovative programming and engagement. Under his tenure, our congregation has launched Gatesfest, Metairie’s premier music and arts festival. We have invested over one million dollars into our youth initiative to ensure our students can afford Jewish Summer Camp. In addition to his passion for Zionism, Rabbi Gerber often teaches about Mussar, Talmud, and all things supernatural. You can also find him speaking at local high schools and colleges about combating antisemitism.

Rabbi Gerber’s better half is his wife Lauren. Lauren serves as the head of the Parent’s Association at the Jewish Community Day School where their children, Paige and Tessa, attend. They live in Metairie with their two dogs (Tater Tots and Bandit) and their three cats (Hooty, Little Miss, and Teddy Pancakes).

If you are interested in meeting with Rabbi Gerber, please contact the synagogue.

Rabbi Emeritus Robert H. Loewy

rabbiL@gatesofprayer.org

Rabbi Robert H. Loewy is the Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Gates of Prayer in Metairie, LA. He assumed that position in July of 2018 after serving as our Rabbi since August of 1984. Prior to that, he was the Assistant and then Associate Rabbi of Congregation Emanu El in Houston, Texas for seven years.

Rabbi Loewy is a native of Hempstead, N.Y. He received his B.A. degree from Cornell University in 1972, M.H.L. degree from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in 1975, and was ordained as a Rabbi from that institution in 1977.

In addition to developing an active synagogue program, Rabbi Loewy is a leader with the East Jefferson Interfaith Clergy Association, board member of the Jewish Community Day School, Henry S. Jacobs Camp, New Orleans Women’s Shelter, Jewish Family Service and the East Jefferson General Hospital Pastoral Counseling Program. He is a Chautauqua Society Lecturer at Loyola University.

In addition he has been President of the Southwest Association of Reform Rabbis, of the Greater New Orleans Rabbinic Council and New Orleans Jewish Days School, Chairman of the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Officer and Program Chair for the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Secretary of the Greater Houston Rabbinical Association, Board member of ARZA and Dillard University Center for Black/Jewish Relations, and Jewish Chautauqua Society Lecturer at University of New Orleans.

Rabbi Loewy is married to the former Lynn Rosenfeld and has five children, Karen, and her husband David Widzer, David, Sara and Mica and two magnificent grandchildren- Judah and Elisheva.

Executive Director

Wendy Simmons

wendy@gatesofprayer.org

I am both honored and thrilled to join the Gates of Prayer family as your new Executive Director. A little about me: I've enjoyed a 30-year-plus career as a marketing, communications, branding, and management consultant, helping companies of all sizes across nearly every industry identify and solve strategic business challenges. I've also built and run several companies, including the brand reinvention and worldwide expansion of one of the world's leading luxury eyewear companies. On a personal note, I wrote and had published a book on North Korea called "My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth" (think: Bridget Jones goes to North Korea), co-wrote a Japanese language book, and owned a bar on Manhattan's Lower East Side. I'm a photographer and adventurer/explorer who has traveled to 100+ countries (and counting) across all seven continents (including the South Pole), and I'm presently learning Hebrew (it's so hard!).

I'm very proud of being Jewish and have a long-standing desire to be more connected to my community (Jewish and at-large) and serve it. When I moved to New Orleans three years ago, I did so with the express intention of finding work that allowed me to do both. This job is truly a blessing, and frankly, I'm still astonished I stumbled upon the posting and can now call it mine. I want to make a difference in people's lives and help our community thrive. I very much look forward to meeting each of you in the weeks and months to come. Thank you for welcoming me.

Temple Educator

Philip A. Gaethe, RJE

educator@gatesofprayer.org

Philip Gaethe has been the Educator at Gates of Prayer since 1996. Prior to that, he was a teacher in the Jefferson Parish Public System as well as Gates of Prayer and Communal Hebrew Schools. Phil is a native of New Orleans, LA., where received his B.A. degree from the University of New Orleans and earned a Master of Science Degree in Judaic Education from Spertus College in Chicago.

In 2005 Phil was awarded the designation of R.J.E. (Reform Jewish Educator) by the Reform Jewish Educator Title Granting Commission and in the summer of 2016, the Rabbi Nathaniel Share Religious School of Congregation Gates of Prayer , AKA J-FLEx, was awarded Accreditation by the Association of Reform Jewish Educators.

In 2020 Phil received Marion B. Steeg Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. This award highlights the value of Jewish education in its many varieties in the Greater new Orleans Community.

In addition to Phil's duties as head of our Religious and Hebrew Schools, Phil tutors many of our B'nai Mitzvah students, created and helps maintain the Gates of Prayer Website, teaches Adult Hebrew and assists the CGoP clergy team by supervising the Livestream worship.

Cantorial Soloist

Jordan Lawrence

jordan@gatesofprayer.org

Jordan Lawrence is originally from Bergen County, NJ, blessed with a very strong Jewish upbringing, having attended Jewish day school, which instilled in her a very important set of Jewish values. Since her time as a student at Tulane University, she has decided to make New Orleans a home. Jordan graduated in 2019 with a dual degree, with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre, a B.A. in Sociology and minored in Jewish Studies. At Tulane, she founded the NJBeats and acted as the President and Music Director during her time in the group. As a musical theatre performer, Jordan never really needed to accompany herself on any instruments. However, over the past year, she has taken up ukulele and hopes to add more instruments to her musical "utility belt." With a strong music theory background and a natural ability to hear harmonies, Jordan also has developed a love for arranging a cappella music.

Jordan’s biggest passions in life are music, Judaism and making others happy and laugh. She puts an emphasis on making an impact on every community of which she is a part. She has spent the past fourteen years a part of the Zionist youth movement Young Judaea. Over the past five years, she went from dance specialist to running the performing arts program at CYJ Sprout Lake. Her specialty was leading the entire camp after Havdalah in Rikkud (Israeli dance) and putting together and co-choreographing dance festivals that allowed children to leave their comfort zones. Over her time as a staff member, she organized and facilitated Shabbat song sessions, initiated Musical Theatre and Music Video electives and ran the campwide Maccabbiah. She hopes to use these experiences and proficiencies as she begins her role as Cantorial Soloist/Music Director and Director of Family Engagement (that's a mouthful!)

Jordan has such a strong love for working with children. Her youthful spirit helps her connect with children of all ages and provide a contagious energy that promotes others to want to get involved and to want to be themselves. She prides herself on her ability to adapt her teaching and leading styles to any group of people and use her quick wit to understand the in-the-moment wants and needs of the people that she is privileged to work with. Jordan's biggest Jewish singer inspirations are Debbie Friedman (of course) and Dan Nichols, for whom she has had the honor of watching the magic in action year after year at camp.

She is beyond thrilled to be a part of the Gates of Prayer community and to finally have found a role that incorporates all of her passions in life.

Gates Preschool Director

Jessica Sintes

jessica@gatesofprayer.org

Jessica grew up at Gates of Prayer and now has two children who currently attend the CECE (Center for early Childhood Education) , Jameson and Shira. She has devoted her entire 13-year career to working with children as a teacher in several schools and early learning centers. She has most recently served as the Youth and Camping Director at the Metairie Jewish Community Center.

Jessica is passionate about serving the Jewish community and is excited to begin this new chapter in her life. She is looking forward to the opportunity to grow our school by creating more natural learning environments and expanding teacher continuing education and support.a

Gates Pre-School Assistant Director

Johnette Stansbury

Johnette@gatesofprayer.org

I'm honored to be in my first year as Assistant Director at Gates Preschool. I look forward to helping our school grow to its potential. I came to Gates as a Teachers Assistant in 2002 and have filled many positions since, such as 2yr old Lead Teacher, Pre-K3 Lead Teacher, Summer Camp Director and now Assistant Director. I love working with the children and families of Gates Preschool.

Away from school, I enjoy spending time with my husband of 25 years and our four granddaughters.

Gates Pre-School Infant Care Center Supervisor / Dir. of Admissions

Mary DeLucca
mary@gatesofprayer.org

I could not be more thrilled to be supervising the Newhouse Infant Care Center here at Gates. I am a graduate of Louisiana State University where I majored in Anthropology and minored in Italian and Philosophy. Every job I've ever had has been centered around caring for children. I have worked professionally in an early childhood environment for the past 10 years, 3 of which were spent as a Behavioral Therapist who specialized in ABA therapy for children with autism.

I was fortunate enough to start here at Gates in 2021 when the infant center had one class and was just opening. Now we have three amazing classrooms and continue to improve every day! I incorporate my background in applied behavior analysis through our curriculum and promote the use of a natural learning environment centered around play based learning. I am truly thankful to be a part of the Gates family and cannot wait to meet each and every one of you!

Staff

	Leslie Miller Executive Assistant leslie@gatesofprayer.org
	Bookkeeper @gatesofprayer.org
	Jenny Ermatinger Nursery School Assistant Director jenny@gatesofprayer.org
	Judy Ann McKee Building Supervisor Maintenance@gatesofprayer.org