Clergy

Rabbi Michael G. Cohen
rabbimichael@csbeli.org

Rabbi Michael G. Cohen grew up in Nashville, TN.  He received his B.A. in Comparative History from Brandeis University.  He received an M.A. in Hebrew Letters, a Certificate in Jewish Nonprofit Management, and his ordination (smicha) from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.  Rabbi Michael served 13 years in the U.S. Army as a Psychological Operations Sergeant, and later as a Jewish Chaplain.  During his time in the service, he was deployed to Haiti, Korea, and Afghanistan.  He is a board member of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.  He has served Reform congregations in Arizona, California, Tennessee, and British Columbia.  He has an adorable son, named Neil, and 2 attention-loving dogs, named Smoky and Lobo.  Rabbi Michael’s passion is on Mussar (Jewish Ethics), and cites the famous civil rights leader and Jewish scholar, Rabbi Richard N. Levy (z”l), as his inspiration.

Eryka Velazquez
Cantorial Student 
erykavelazquez@csbeli.org

Ms. Velazquez utilizes the power of prayer and song to connect present-day Jews with ancient Jewish traditions. She is a passionate singer, and music has always played a major role in her life. She recently graduated from the Davidson School of Education and is currently in her final year of studies at the H. L. Miller Cantorial School. In all her positions of musical and educational leadership, she looks forward to blending the beautiful Jewish traditions of our past with contemporary practices of Judaism. Eryka most recently spent a second summer at Camp Ramah Wisconsin as a Yahadut teacher, song-leader, and B'nai Mitzvah Program Director, and for the last two years was the cantorial intern at South Huntington Jewish Center in Long Island. Eryka looks forward to joining CSBE this year to engage and inspire through song.