Julie Adler is the Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director at Temple Sholom. Besides her administrative tasks, her responsibilities include organizing meetings and congregational events. She has a B.A. in Behavioral Science from National-Louis University.

When she became an empty nester, she moved to Lakeview. When she’s not working, she likes to explore the city, make and view art, listen to music and read. She loves spending time with family and friends. Her favorite activity is traveling to visit her children in Dallas and Los Angeles, and to spend time with her four Chicago area grandchildren.

Temple Sholom has given me a true sense of community and a deep connection to many generations of my family. Forty years ago, I had my Auf Ruf on the bimah of Temple Sholom. My dearly loved, late (ex) in laws, were part of the group that came from Beth Am to Temple Sholom. They both remained active at Temple Sholom until their deaths. My grandparents were Beth Am members as well. My Grandmother and Great Aunts helped to needlepoint the Ark Cover that now hangs in Bettie Port Hall. I feel incredibly blessed to be able feel their presence, every day.

Lori is the Assistant to clergy, making sure their calendars tell them where they need to be, which is no easy feat given their busy schedules! She has been with Temple Sholom since 2010 and comes from a background of working with clergy at other temples, previously serving as the rabbi’s secretary for 11 years in the south suburbs. She resides in the Ravenswood Garden neighborhood in Chicago with her husband, and in her spare time enjoys walking, hiking, traveling, and dancing.

Stacy has been a part of the Temple Sholom staff since 2015 when she supported the Lifelong Learning Department. After two years, she moved into the role of Director of Engagement and Member Services where she supports prospective and current members as they begin and continue their journey with Temple Sholom through programming and connection with the community.

Stacy has her Bachelor's of Fine Arts for Theatre from the University of Central Oklahoma, an Associate degree in Culinary Arts from the Illinois Institute of Art and just recently finished her Master's in Public Policy from Depaul University.

Stacy has been a part of the Temple Sholom community as a congregant for many years. She completed her conversion in 2013 and became a Bat Mitzvah in 2016. She has been a guest presenter at the URJ Biennial (2019) and continues to share her conversion story to adult education classes, religious school students, and at the URJ Shavuot community celebration (2020). She was also accepted into the 2nd Upstart Change Accelerator cohort and completed this program in 2019.

Stacy is originally from Oklahoma and moved to Chicago with her husband Mat in 2009. She has two children, Levi and Abra. When she is not engaging with the Temple Sholom community, she loves being with her family or at the Chicago Public Library roaming the aisles.

Isabel is the Communications Associate at Temple Sholom. She works behind the scenes in building and managing the website, designing promotional material for marketing events, and assisting with temple-wide communication.

Isabel graduated from the University of Mary Washington in Virginia where she focused on art and digital communication. She lived in Virginia after college working as a graphic designer, then moved to Israel for a year to freelance design and teach English in Ramle. In the summer of 2019, Isabel moved back to her hometown, Chicago, IL, to settle down. She went on to receive a Master of Science in Communication at Northwestern University and now works for Temple Sholom of Chicago.

When Isabel is not working, she is walking around Roscoe Village, visiting family around Chicago, or creating artwork in her apartment.

Heidi Cooper joined Temple Sholom of Chicago in 2012, where she first taught at the temple’s early childhood education program, Gan Shalom. In 2013, she became Early Childhood Education Director.

Heidi and her husband Stuart relocated to Chicago from New York -- where she spent most of her adult life -- working with young children. While teaching full time in New York City, Heidi earned a Master of Arts in Education from Hunter College, New York. After spending 15 wonderful years in the classroom, Heidi decided to bridge her teaching experience with her love for working with parents and children and was accepted at Columbia University, New York, where she earned her Master of Social Work with a clinical concentration.

Heidi has dedicated over 25 years to becoming a strong leader, educator, and advocate for young children and creator of programing, while bringing a positive, nurturing energy to Gan Shalom/Temple Sholom.

The other loves in her life are her husband, Stuart and her son Max.

Leah Fotieo began at Temple Sholom in 2017 as a teacher in the early childhood education program, Gan Shalom. In addition to teaching in the 2 year-old and Parent/Child programs, she now also serves as Gan Shalom’s Administrative Assistant.

Leah graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations & Advertising from DePaul University and went on to complete her Master’s Degree in Childhood Development with a speciality in Infancy & Administration from Erikson Institute. Leah grew up in Michigan and now resides in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. In her free time she loves spending time with family, taking walks along the lakeshore and hearing live music.

Lauren is our Interim Director of Lifelong Learning. Lauren is passionate about Jewish life and children, creative in programming and learning, and dedicated to developing Jewish learning experiences for learners and families. She specializes in family education programs, interactive and experiential activities, and energetic, high-quality learning. Lauren believes that Judaism is meaningful and accessible to learners of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. 
 
Lauren brings experience from her work as the Religious School Director at KAM Isaiah Israel in Hyde Park, the Family Activities Coordinator at The Temple in Atlanta, Georgia, and teaching religious school, during which she developed a foundation of interacting with children and creating welcoming and interactive learning environments. With training in public health communications and after working with several member-based health organizations, Lauren’s passion for Jewish education led her back to congregational life. Lauren is active in her professional networks for Reform Jewish education in Chicago and around the country, leading and connecting Jewish educators to improve the field. Lauren is a dedicated volunteer for public education and engaging teens in Hyde Park.
 
Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Lauren has a BA from Emory University and an MPA from Georgia State University. She, her husband Rabbi Frederick Reeves, and their children are often reading, biking, or exploring Chicago.

Rachel began at Temple Sholom as the Religious School Administrator in July 2020. She provides general support for the Religious School Sunday and Midweek Hebrew programs, and works with the Lifelong Learning team on a broad range of programs throughout our Religious School and to support Religious School families and faculty.

Before joining the Temple Sholom team, Rachel worked at Metro Chicago Hillel for five years. She studied Ethics and Public Policy at the University of Iowa, and has nearly completed her Master’s degree in Jewish Professional Studies at Spertus.

Rachel lives in Lakeview and enjoys going on long walks, cooking, and re-watching her favorite sitcoms (it’s a long list!). She is proud to be supporting the local Jewish community in Lakeview and beyond.

Sam Cohen joined Temple Sholom as the Youth Engagement Coordinator in August 2021. Sam is a long-time staff member and former Rosh Eidah (unit head) at URJ’s camp OSRUI and is a 2022 GENERATE Fellow with the Jewish Education Project. Now, Sam is ecstatic to be working with the youth of our historical Temple Sholom community.

Sam graduated from Indiana University - Bloomington in 2021 with a degree in Education. Having grown up in the suburbs of Chicago, Sam has enjoyed being a resident of the Lakeview neighborhood. He enjoys cheering on the White Sox, Bears, and Bulls, playing with his two kittens, Biscuit and Gravy, and exploring all of the coffee shops and thrift stores he can find.