Staff and Leadership
We are fortunate to have a dedicated professional staff and a diverse and committed group of volunteer leaders.
Director of Education
Geoffrey Prass joined Congregation Solel in July 2009 as Director of Education. In that role, he serves as the principal of our Religious School and provides counsel for our family and adult programming. He previously served as the Religious School principal at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills in California for five years and as Director of Informal Education at Bet Shalom Reform Congregation in Minnesota for nine years.
Geoff graduated from the University of Minnesota with a joint degree in Jewish Studies and Studio Arts. He continued his education at the Hebrew Union College, where he received a Certificate in Synagogue Management. Geoff is married to Rabbi Ali Abrams (Associate Rabbi at Temple Chai in Long Grove). They are the proud parents of a little girl.
Email Geoff or call 847-433-3555
Executive Director
Allan Litwack joined Congregation Solel in 2010. Prior to joining us, he served as executive director at two other congregations in Illinois: Congregation Beth Shalom in Naperville and Northwest Suburban Jewish Congregation in Morton Grove. He possesses strong financial planning skills, along with facility, operations, and people management experience. Allan received his Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education/History from Bradley University and his Master’s of Management degree from DePaul University.
Allan is married to Karen Litwack, Director of the Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders.
Email Allan or call 847-433-3555 (cell phone: 847-571-4349).
Cantorial Soloist
Lindsay Schoenberger joined Congregation Solel in 2009, filling the roles of Cantorial Soloist, Music Teacher, and Director of the Youth Choir. Previously, Lindsay sang for four years in a Cantorial Quartet at Chicago Sinai Congregation, and worked as a High Holiday Song Leader for Temple Beth Israel in Skokie.
Lindsay received her Bachelors of Music from Indiana University, and achieved a Masters of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy from Northeastern Illinois University.
Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Dov Taylor was Congregation Solel’s third rabbi (1984 – 2009); he currently serves as the first full-time rabbi of the Woodstock Area Jewish Community at Shir Shalom in Woodstock, Vermont. His scholarly background includes teaching assignments at Brandeis University, New England College and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Taylor founded Torah Corps—an intensive summer experience in Jewish living and learning for teenagers from the United States and Canada. Many participants have become rabbis, academics, educators and Jewish leaders. He is also an active supporter of affordable housing initiatives and Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
President
Larry Mason and his wife Susie have three daughters and close family connections to Congregation Solel dating back to 1973. Since becoming an active member in 2001, Larry has taken on a wide range of roles in the congregation including choir member, Director, VP Lifelong Learning, Executive Vice President, and now President.
When not at Solel, Larry is a Senior Shareholder of the national litigation law firm Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney concentrating in insurance and reinsurance coverage, products liability, environmental and toxic tort, construction, and commercial litigation.
Officers
Larry Mason, President
Marc Friedman, Vice President of Worship
Brian Pastroff, Vice President of Finance
Steve Cohen, Vice President of Community
Robin Shapiro, Vice President of Social Justice
Ross Erlebacher, Vice President of Lifelong Learning
Julie Schaeffer, Vice President of Religious School
Danny Weil, Vice President of Administration
Nancy Goodman, Secretary
Wendy Rhodes, Immediate Past President