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Congregation Brothers of Israel

L'dor Vador—From Generation to Generation since 1883
לדור ודור

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Our Clergy

rabbi CODY BAHIR

  After being raised in an interfaith family in Kentucky, Rabbi Bahir spent his high school years in New York and Israel as a member of the Hasidic community (Satmar, Tsanz, and Bobov). This background enabled him to serve as faculty in the rabbinic programs at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and Hebrew Union College—in his early twenties—before earning his Ph.D. focused on East Asian Buddhism. Upon receiving his Ph.D. from Leiden University, he was a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley before receiving ordination from the Rabbinical Academy: Mesifta Adath Wolkowisk and serving as Dean of Jewish Studies at Kehillah Jewish High School in Palo Alto, CA, and Director of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at Tucson Hebrew Academy, a K-8 community day school in Southern Arizona. Currently, he is the rabbi of the Congregation of the Taiwan Jewish Community, where he strives to share the zeal, passion, and joy that he experienced in the Hasidic world in a way that meets the individual needs of an ethnically and religiously diverse community. As the sole staff member, he is drawing upon his academic, administrative, and teaching experience to teach the Hebrew School, Bnei Mitzvah program, and adult education classes. He additionally regularly collaborates with the local Israeli embassy, lectures on Judaism at universities and museums, and engages in major interfaith initiatives. His wife, Sonia, is a Jew by choice, and perhaps the only Taiwanese aboriginal Rebbetzin. Their dog, Ari (full name: Aryeh Dov Bahir), a 15-year-old golden retriever, loves to accompany them when they have the time to engage in their favorite hobby of all—camping!

Cantor Neil schnitzer

Cantor Neil Schnitzer was born, raised, and currently resides in Bucks County, PA, with his wife Linda Bobrin. They are very proud of their
children, Alex and his wife Taylor, David, and Aaron. He grew up as a member of Congregation Beth El when it was in Levittown, where he helped
lead Junior Congregation and was a member of the Youth Choir and at the age of 12 he became the youngest member of the Adult Choir in their
history. He attended Herzl Zion Hebrew School in Trenton, NJ, (now Abrams Academy in Yardley).
Cantor Schnitzer has been involved in the Delaware Valley Jewish Community for most of his life.  After his first cantorial position leading the
Southington Jewish Congregation in Connecticut for High Holy Days, he became the Cantor of Congregation Tikvoh Chadoshoh in the Germantown
section of Philadelphia. Subsequently, he served at Tiferes B’nei Israel in Warrington, PA as Kol Bo for 9 years, then as cantor and then as cantor at
Society Hill Synagogue in Philadelphia. In 1999-2000 he worked at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia as part of a grant as the
Coordinator of Outreach Services during which he was heavily involved in the “Friday Night Alive!” program. He was part of the second Cantorial
Cohort of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. While in school he was involved in music and drama programs and played
many roles on stage. This continued into his adult life and led to his marriage to Linda. They met at the Klein Branch of the JCC in Northeast
Philadelphia where both were involved in the theater. The last roles they played there were opposite each other as Charlie Brown and Lucy in You’re
A Good Man Charlie Brown. Cantor Neil enjoys a great variety of music, gardening, theater, Movies,
Jewish Studies, science, and spending time with his family. He is truly excited to be a part of Congregation Brothers of Israel.

Hashalom alav    May His memory be a blessing

   Rabbi Emeritus Howard Hersch

Rabbi Howard Hersch served as the spiritual leader of our synagogue from 1960 to 2007. He was a scholar, teacher and esteemed member of several Rabbinical Boards. Rabbi Hersch has been active in many humanitarian and civic organizations, and had been the recipient of numerous awards for leadership and for his dedication to advancing the causes of the State of Israel, of the Jewish people and of all people in need. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Rabbi Hersch has provided us with decades of cherished memories and countless acts of friendship and caring. It seems as if he had a personal connection to each and every congregant. His welcoming spirit has created an atmosphere of warmth and inclusiveness that enables newcomers of all faiths and experiences to feel comfortable as soon as they walk through our doors.

As our Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Hersch generously made his wisdom, humor and compassion available to congregants in need.

Fri, July 11 2025 15 Tammuz 5785