Rabbi Susan L. Falk, MA, BA, leads our congregation as of August 1, 2007. Prior to joining us at Congregation Kehilat Shalom, Rabbi Falk was the Hospice Director for the Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia, providing pastoral care and education to the Jewish community. While a rabbinical student, she worked as a Chaplain, taught Hebrew school, and for three years served as the student rabbi for Congregation Beth Ahavah in Philadelphia. Before attending rabbinical school, Rabbi Falk directed a women's HIV/AIDS and health education program in New York City. In addition to her work at Jewish Family and Children's Service, Rabbi Falk gives talks and conducts workshops on how the Jewish tradition views nature and environmentalism; illness and end of life; sex and gender; science and religion; as well as a variety of other topics. It is Rabbi Falk's overall hope and mission to give an authentic religious and spiritual voice to liberal and progressive individuals of all religions and from all walks of life.

Kate Fridkis has been our lay cantor since 2001. She accompanies the rabbi in performing all B'nai Mitzvah services as well as High Holiday services and also serves as a B'nai Mitzvah tutor with specializations in liturgy and vocal technique. Kate is a graduate student in the religion department at Columbia University, where she studies religion and gender in contemporary American society.