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CLERGY

Rabbi Sidney M. Helbraun, D.D.

Senior Rabbi
(847) 205-9982, ext. 204

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For three decades, Rabbi Sidney Helbraun has provided his vision to Temple Beth-El, creating a community where opportunities for study, worship and action continue to grow. He is proud that TBE members participate in a wide range of activities and are active leaders in the Chicagoland Jewish community.

Rabbi Helbraun is accessible and engaged in the life of his congregation. He is a caring and compassionate man, who reaches out in times of sickness and health, sorrow and joy. He is a gifted teacher and speaker, who finds fulfillment in bringing the values of Judaism to life, and an active leader, who takes on responsibilities within the Chicagoland Rabbinic community, as well as in Northbrook.

Rabbi Helbraun’s love for Israel has played a central role in his rabbinate, exemplified by Beth-El’s involvement and investment in Israel, through trips, programs, classes, and support.

Rabbi Helbraun was ordained from Hebrew Union College in 1990, came to and received his Doctor of Divinity in 2015. After 5 years as Assistant/Associate Rabbi in Providence, Rhode Island, he came to Temple Beth-El in Northbrook in 1995. Currently, he serves as a Trustee on the Parliament of World’s Religions and is a Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute. He is a Past President of the Chicago Board of Rabbis, served as co-chair of the Rabbinic Action Committee of the Jewish Federation of Chicago, former Board Member of JUF, past President of the Chicago Region of the CCAR, and served on the Board of Directors of the CCAR, and served on the National Council of AIPAC. He is married to Rabbi Deborah Gardner Helbraun and has two children, Rebecca and Jonah.

Rabbi Helbraun shares some reflections: 

“The survival of the Jewish people for 4,000 years is more than a sign of endurance; it is a testament to our faith in God, to the values of our tradition, and to the blessings we bring to the world by living righteous lives. As a rabbi, I strive to instill these ideals in our people’s hearts through joyful worship, the study of texts, an embrace of tradition, and acts of loving kindness.

We are uniquely blessed to live in an age of freedom and prosperity, in a world with a State of Israel. We have a debt of obligation to our ancestors, our children, and our brothers and sisters in Israel and across the world, to ensure that the treasures that were bequeathed to us will be protected, cherished and passed on to the generations to come.”

Cantor Stefanie Greene

Cantor
(847) 205-9982, ext. 206

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Cantor Stefanie Greene brings years of musical experience, knowledge of Jewish texts and liturgy, and a love for people to all that she does. With an extensive background in musical theater, opera, and Jewish studies, she was ordained as Cantor from Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion in May 2022. During her time at HUC, she served as a Cantorial Intern at Temple Beth El in Jersey City, NJ, Temple Ohav Shalom in Allison Park, PA, and at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and Congregation Rodeph Sholom, both on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in NYC. From 2021 to 2023, she served as the Senior Jewish Educator at Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh, where she was the first Cantor to hold what is typically a Rabbinic role in Hillel International. In 2023 and 2024, she served as High Holy Days Cantor with Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, CT. She was interim Spiritual Leader for Congregation B’er Chayim in Cumberland, Maryland, for the 2023-2024 year. She is currently the conductor of the Pittsburgh chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir. Teaching Jewish Music, Israel, and Torah l’dor vador (from generation to generation) in ways that are accessible, relatable, welcoming, and inclusive of all Jews is a cornerstone of her cantorate.

Cantor Greene received her B.A. in Music with minors in Psychology and Spanish from the University of Rochester. She also completed graduate coursework in Music Education and Choral Conducting at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and in Vocal Performance at North Park University. As a soprano, she has performed across the U.S. and in Europe, both in operatic roles and in art song recitals. Prior to cantorial school, Cantor Greene worked at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue (Evanston, IL) as a Songleader. During her Year in Israel, she was the Assistant Conductor of the Jerusalem Youth Choir, a dialogue choir of Jewish and Arab Israeli teens. Cantor Greene continues to be involved with Jewish Choral music through the Zamir Choral Foundation’s North American Jewish Choral Festival, where she was honored to be a Conducting Fellow in 2019. As of July 2025, she will be the Cantor at Temple Beth El of Northbrook, IL.

In her free time, Cantor Greene loves spending time with her husband, Barry Kaufman and their son Lenny. She enjoys playing tennis, doing pilates and yoga, and taking long walks in nature.

Rabbi Victor H. Weissberg, z"l

D.H.L., D.D

June 26, 1927-October 13, 2024

Rabbi Emeritus

Rabbi Victor H. Weissberg served as the temple’s Senior Rabbi from 1954 to 1995.  Prior to arriving at Temple Beth-El, he was the Assistant Rabbi and Educational Director of Temple Isaiah Israel of Chicago.

Rabbi Weissberg graduated from The University of Chicago in 1948 and was ordained at Hebrew Union College in 1953.  He earned the Bachelor of Hebrew Literature Degree in 1950, the Master of Hebrew Literature in 1954, and a Doctorate in Hebrew Letters in 1970.  He was awarded a Doctorate in Divinity in 1978.  He also completed his studies for the Master’s Degree in Education at the University of Cincinnati in 1951.

Rabbi Weissberg was a member of the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the Central Conference of American Rabbis.  He was founder and president of the Rabbinic Counseling Service of Chicago, founder and chairman of the To Protect Our Heritage Political Action Committee, devoted to strengthening the Israel American Alliance, founder and former director of the Young Leadership Division of Bonds for Israel, founder and former chairman of the Rabbinic Fellowship of West Rogers Park and the Council of Ministers and Rabbis of Hyde Park.

Rabbi Weissberg served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  He was married to the former Tamar Libovsky of Tel Aviv and has three children. He contributed articles and essays to numerous periodicals, and is the author of Jewish Life in 17th Century Turkey, Jerusalem in the End of Days, and The Psalms and Psychotherapy.

Rabbi Weissberg tells Rabbi Doug about his history :

Part1

Part 2

Mon, July 14 2025 18 Tammuz 5785