Biographies
Bruce Hicken is an accountant, a CPA and the treasurer of Temple Sinai. More importantly for purposes of our Chai School he is an Israeli citizen and former member of Kibbutz Yahel, the first Reform settlement established in Israel. He lived there for five years and during this time:
- He spent ten months learning Hebrew under the rigorous Israeli Ulpan system at Kibbutz Yotvatah and Kibbutz Tzuba. Tzuba is presently home of the Reform movement’s EIE high school in Israel program.
- He worked full time in the dairy and was ultimately named coordinator of this work branch at Yahel.
- He spent five summers leading tours of southern Israel organized by the Reform NFTY movement.
- He served in the Israeli Defense Force.
And he did it all in Hebrew. In the interests of full disclosure it should be said that in common with most American-Israelis he still cannot properly pronounce a Resh or an Ayin. Finally, Bruce has a teenager and many days wishes he still was one.
James Glazier has been the Rabbi at Temple Sinai for the past 28 years. He was ordained at HUC in Cincinnati and lives in South Burlington with his wife and children.
Penny Pizer has worked extensively with Jewish youth, often combining her artistic talents with her love of Jewish theology & education. Penny has created programming for all ages—from preschool through senior citizens, often with an emphasis on Tzedakah and tikkun olam. Penny was chosen as one of three U.S. delegates to participate in the Jewish Partnership Program, partnering with delegates from Israel and South Africa to study and foster closer relationships with each other’s Jewish communities. Penny is also a published illustrator of a children’s book. She has taught several classes at the Chai School, most recently “Art Midrash Extravaganza.” She lives in South Burlington with her husband and three of her four children.
Dana Rachlin: Former TempleSinai Librarian, an Internet and computer instructor for the last 18 years, Dana is currently a Para educator at Frederick Tuttle Middle School in South Burlington. She has taught 'Jewish Influence on Modern Rock And Roll' and 'The Holocaust on Film' for the Chai School. She is married to David and has two sons, Zach and Eli.
