Lifelong Learning teachers:

Rabbi Steven Sager is a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He earned a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies from Duke University in 1989. In addition to his duties as Rabbi of Beth El Synagogue, Rabbi Sager serves as a lecturer on the faculty of the Duke Divinity School. Rabbi Sager has taught many classes including “Psalms & our Daily Lives” and “Poetry as Parshanut”.

Rabbi Frank A. Fischer was born in Germany and grew up on Long Island, New York. He received his BA in Sociology, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY 1957 and his MA in Hebrew Literature, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, New York, NY 1962 where he was ordained the same year. Rabbi Fischer has been a member of the Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative) since 1974. He served as Hillel Director on various campuses including The University of Georgia, Brooklyn College, Hofstra University, Executive Director of Hillel for Florida campuses, Executive Director for Hillel in North Carolina (including, Duke, UNC, NC. State). He is currently on the faculty of the Ocher Lifelong Learning Institute at Duke University and is the co-chair of the Durham/Chapel Hill Federation’s Community Relations Committee. Rabbi Fischer served as interim Rabbi for Beth El September 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 during our year of transition between pulpit rabbis Steven Sager(1978-2010) and Daniel Greyber (2011- ).

At Shabbat services and a special lunch on October 16, 2010, we celebrated Rabbi Fischer's 80th birthday. Below are links to a D'var Torah given by Kathy Bartelmay on that Shabbat as well as an interview that Aaron Balleisen (age 11) conducted with Rabbi Fischer in April of 2010.

D'var Torah Lech Lecha, Kathy Bartelmay (text, pdf)

Interview with Aaron Balleisen (audio file hosted by Jewish Sparks)

Interview with Aaron Balleisen (text, pdf)

Lerner School Tribute March 27, 2011 (video hosted by Jewish Sparks)

Rachel Ariel (bio forthcoming)

Roger Kaplan earned his PhD in Hebrew Linguistics from New York University in 1992. He has taught Hebrew at New York University, Emory University, Ohio State Univeristy and Duke. Having once made aliya, Roger has spent extended time in Israel.