Your Sukkat Shalom Team
Brian P. Immerman, Senior Rabbi
Rabbi Brian Immerman comes to us from Congregation Mishkan Israel, a 180 year-old congregation of 400 families in Hamden, Connecticut, where he served as solo rabbi starting in 2018. Prior to that, he served as the Associate Rabbi at Temple Emanuel in Denver, Colorado, a 2000+ member congregation for six years. He grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where his family belonged to The Temple Tifereth Israel. He spent many summers at Union of Reform Judaism (URJ)’s Goldman Union Camp Institute, where he served on staff with Missy Bell, Sukkat Shalom’s Director of Education. Rabbi Immerman received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Rochester in 2004, and he was also captain of the swim team. After graduation, he worked as the program associate in the Youth Division of the URJ in New York City prior to attending rabbinical school. He attended Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in New York from 2007–2012, where he received his master’s degree in Hebrew literature and his rabbinical ordination. While at HUC-JIR, Rabbi Immerman was a Shusterman Rabbinic Fellow. He also earned an Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from Indiana University’s Lake Institute on Faith & Giving in 2017. Rabbi Immerman has worked extensively with interfaith and LGBTQ families, and in 2014, completed the Rabbi Balfour Brickner Rabbinic Fellowship program through the Religious Action Center to further his social justice advocacy work. He brings to Sukkat Shalom his passions for the outdoors, music, and social justice and strives to help people create more meaning in their lives through Jewish tradition and values. He and his wife, Jenny, an Illinois native, have two young children, Maggie and Aiden. For a profile of Rabbi Immerman, please click here. And to contact him, please write to bimmerman@sukkatshalom.org
Allison Tick Brill, Rabbi
Rabbi Allison Tick Brill was ordained in 2014 by the Hebrew Union College and is a graduate of the University of Rochester, where she received a bachelor’s degree in clinical and social psychology. She served as assistant and associate rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in New York City. In addition to her pulpit responsibilities as one of three rabbis serving 2,200 families, she led Temple Emanu-El’s young professionals initiative and Muslim-Jewish Dialogue. Rabbi Tick Brill is a trained multifaith hospital chaplain and participated in New York Presbyterian's year-long pastoral care training program. Her thesis at HUC-JIR was on the evolving portrayal of Esther in Jewish tradition. Prior to ordination, Rabbi Tick Brill served rabbinic internships at B’nai Israel Synagogue in High Point, North Carolina; Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford, New York; North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe, Illinois; and East End Temple in Manhattan. Rabbi Tick Brill sees Judaism as a vibrant tradition that opens our hearts and minds to connection and meaning. She is passionate about Jewish learning and outreach. She grew up in Deerfield and now lives in Highland Park with her husband, David, and their children Melvin, Marjorie, and Eve. Contact Rabbi Tick Brill at atickbrill@sukkatshalom.org
Kenneth Lyonswright, Director of Liturgical Music and Pastoral Care
Kenneth Lyonswright oversees sacred music and all musical programming and music education for the congregation as Director of Liturgical Music. Additionally, Kenneth serves as Director of Pastoral Care, providing support to the congregation as they move through life's joys and challenges. Kenneth also oversees the B'nai Mitzvah program for our 7th grade students. He joined the congregation in 2016 as Cantorial Soloist. Kenneth was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance. Kenneth is a sought-after collaborator in the Chicago area, appearing in numerous productions and recording projects as a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. Contact Kenneth at klyonswright@sukkatshalom.org.
Missy Bell, RJE, Director of Education
Missy Bell is thrilled to be the Director of Education at Sukkat Shalom. Previously, she served as Director of Education at Congregation BJBE in Deerfield, IL and as Director of Youth Learning and Engagement at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York. Missy has a Master of Arts in Jewish Education and a Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. She holds multiple national leadership roles, serving on the board of the Reform Pension Board and as Vice-President for Finance of the Association of Reform Jewish Educators. Missy enjoys cooking, traveling, and watching football. Contact Missy at mbell@sukkatshalom.org.
Andrew Schultz, Executive Director
After a long career in publishing, Andrew Schultz began thinking about how to combine his experience in business with his interest in progressive Judaism and social justice. He is a Chicago native who spent his youth in St. Louis, where he was a member, bar mitzvah and confirmand at United Hebrew. He earned a B.A. in English and Political Science at Grinnell College, and a Masters of Management at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School. His previous experience includes diverse and senior roles at Meredith, Time Inc., and Random House. Most recently he was chief operating officer for Imagination Publishing, a content marketing agency in Chicago. He is a member of the Chicago Association of Synagogue Administrators and the National Association for Temple Administration, where he serves on the Distance Learning Committee and was Education Co-Chair of the 2021 National Conference. Contact Andy at aschultz@sukkatshalom.org.
Scott Nelson, Associate Executive Director
Scott Nelson joins Sukkat Shalom after serving in various administrative roles since 2020 at KAM Isaiah Israel in Hyde Park, Chicago, most recently as Acting Executive Director. He joins Executive Director Schultz in overseeing all aspects of the synagogue's operations, including strategic planning, building operations, budgeting and finance, membership, security, events and fundraising. An Atlanta, Georgia, native, he began his career working behind the scenes for major performing arts organizations across the U.S., touring to more than 30 countries. Scott is a senior member of the National Association for Temple Administration (NATA) and serves as the Mentor Coordinator and chair of the first-timer program at the annual conference. He received his BA from Point Park University in Pittsburgh. Scott resides with his husband and their rescue dog in the Norwood Park neighborhood of Chicago. When not at the synagogue, he is usually in the kitchen or garden, exploring the city's cultural and restaurant scene, and hiking. Contact Scott at snelson@sukkatshalom.org.
Samuel N. Gordon, Senior Rabbi Emeritus, Founding Rabbi
Rabbi Samuel N. Gordon led Sukkat Shalom for more than twenty-six years. He retired in June and is on sabbatical until July 2023, when he returns to the congregation in an emeritus role. Rabbi Gordon was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1980, and received an MBA degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. In 2005 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity from HUC-JIR. He has served as Vice President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and as a member of the President’s Advisory Council of the Hebrew Union College, and a Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Hartman Institute of Jerusalem. In 2013, President Barack Obama appointed Rabbi Gordon as a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. He has been in the forefront of creating new models for Jewish family education and worship. He has devoted himself to the work of outreach, creating innovative programs serving intermarried couples and families. In addition to his work in outreach and family education, Rabbi Gordon has been widely recognized as a leader in social justice throughout our community and beyond. Contact Rabbi Gordon at sgordon@sukkatshalom.org.
Alan Goodis, Music Specialist
Alan Goodis is a National touring Jewish musician. Born and raised in Toronto, Alan is a product of URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute. Noted for his dedication to building relationships and community through music, Alan travels throughout North America to serve as an Artist-In-Residence and performer at Temples, Youth Conventions, and Jewish summer camps. Alan is a strong presence in the Reform Jewish movement and works tirelessly to engage and empower Jewish youth and adults through music. Alan and his music have become a fixture at Congregations, URJ Camps and Youth events from coast to coast.
Kyle Weinstein, Administrative Assistant
Kyle Weinstein is Sukkat Shalom’s administrative assistant. It’s often her voice you hear when you call in, or her smile greeting you or your children when they come in for Hebrew School. Kyle received her BA from Tulane University, where she double majored in education and psychology. After college, she taught in the Chicago Public Schools for ten years before leaving to raise three children. She then resumed teaching at the Children’s Center at Lakeside Congregation. Her Jewish education includes membership at Temple Jeremiah and three trips to Israel, including one as a teen working on a kibbutz. The most recent trip was for her eldest son’s bar mitzvah at the Western Wall.
Isaac Freedman, Youth Advisor
Isaac Freedman is a Hebrew teacher and youth group advisor here at Sukkat Shalom. He grew up teaching and leading music at North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe. He began teaching and leading services here during his time at Northwestern and since graduating has worked closely with Missy Bell to revamp our youth programming. He loves going to the park with his dogs, SCUBA diving with sharks, is a passionate Bears fan, and is pursuing a career in medicine.
