Director of Congregational Learning Rabbi David Katz

Rabbi David A. Katz joined CBI as Director of Congregational Learning in 2008. From 2005 to 2008, Rabbi Katz was been the spiritual leader of Temple Concord in Binghamton, New York.

Rabbi Katz is noted for innovative and creative programming, engaging learners of all ages, writing curriculum, training and supervising teachers. At Temple Israel in New York City, where he was rabbi for 16 years, he also acted as principal of the Hebrew School in which nearly 100 percent of the students continued their Jewish education beyond Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
“Rabbi Katz is a principled man of extraordinary integrity” said Rabbi Michael Berk, who became friends with Rabbi Katz when they were in rabbinic school together. “His mind absolutely sparkles with creativity. To release his creative energy to focus on our religious school will put us on the cutting edge of what’s going on in Jewish education today.”

Rabbi Katz was ordained in 1981 by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIE) in New York City. He began his rabbinic career as a temple educator, serving a large congregation, supervising its school, adult education program, extensive library and scholar in residence programs. In 1986, Rabbi Katz earned the title of Reform Jewish educator by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC). He also served as assistant director at Leo Baeck Day School in Toronto, and as rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom in Fredricksburg, Virginia. In May 2006, he was awarded his Doctor of Divinity degree from HUC-JIR in New York. He has taught at St. John’s University, was chaplain for Wagner College and is past president of the New York Area Reform Rabbis.

Rabbi Katz and his wife, Nancy, an artist, are delighted to be a part of our San Diego and CBI community. They have two grown children, Emily and Benjamin.

Director of Judaic Studies Ava Keenen

Ava Keenen became Congregation Beth Israel’s Director of Judaic Studies in July of 2010.  Previously she was Congregation Albert's first Director of Lifelong Learning for 2 years and Director of Education at Temple Chai in Phoenix, Arizona for 23 years. During her time in Phoenix she also served on the city’s Educator’s Forum and taught many community adult classes and teacher workshops. Prior to becoming a Director of Education, Ava taught religious school and in the public schools in Palm Springs, California. Her degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Arizona State University and a Masters in Educational Administration and Supervision. She has also attended Jewish Studies classes at University of Judaism, Spertus University, the Hartman Institute and Pardes in Jerusalem.

Ava is currently on the board of NATE (National Association of Temple Educators) where she serves as chair of the Educator’s Recognition Committee and a member of the Accreditation and Membership committees.

Ava has won awards for creative programming from NATE, CAJE and won the Belle Latchman Award for the same. She has been a mentor in the URJ/Nate mentoring program, a contributing reader for the URJ “Chai Curriculum”, consulting board member of “The Council for Jews with Special Needs. and has had many articles published in Jewish periodicals as well as taught workshops for new Jewish principals and other colleagues at conferences and U.R.J. biennnials. Ava is also a founding member and past president of the Palm Springs chapter of Women’s American O.R.T.

Ava has 2 sons, Justin who lives in New York and Brandon who lives with his wife Andi and her 2 amazing grandchildren, Charlie and Jordyn in Crowborough, England.