Staff and Clergy

Rabbi Geoffrey A. Spector

Rabbi Geoffrey Spector has been the Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom since July, 2005. Previously, he served as the spiritual leader of Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation in Metairie, Louisiana. Rabbi Spector is a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in Jewish Studies. He received his M.A. and rabbinical ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and was the recipient of academic prizes in Homiletics and Talmud. In addition, Rabbi Spector holds a Master of Theology degree in Comparative Religion from Harvard University Divinity School where he was awarded the prestigious Charles E. Merrill Fellowship for clergy. Rabbi Spector served as Adjunct Professor of Jewish Studies at Tulane University where he taught popular courses in Bible and Jewish Thought. Rabbi Spector has held the position of President of the Southwest Region of the Rabbinical Assembly. He is also past-President of the New Orleans Rabbinic Council. As chairman of the New Orleans Jewish Federation Community Relations Council, Rabbi Spector became particularly involved in interfaith dialogue. In 1996, Rabbi Spector was selected as a community hero to carry the Olympic torch through New Orleans on its way to the Summer Games in Atlanta. Rabbi Spector and his wife Karen are the proud parents of Joshua and Jordan.

Rabbi Daniel Dorsch

Rabbi Daniel Dorsch joined our clergy staff in July, 2010 after receiving his rabbinical ordination and M.A. in Synagogue School Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Rabbi Dorsch also received his B.A. from the joint program between Columbia University and Albert A. List College at JTS, where he majored in history, Talmud and Rabbinics, and Modern Jewish Studies. While in rabbinical school, Rabbi Dorsch worked as an Assistant Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Middletown, NY, and as the Education Coordinator for the Ivry Prozdor Hebrew High School at JTS.

Raised in the Philadelphia suburbs, Rabbi Dorsch is a product of the Conservative movement. As a graduate of Solomon Schechter Day School and Akiba Hebrew Academy, and as a former USY Regional President and Rosh Edah (division head) at Camp Ramah, Rabbi Dorsch looks forward to sharing his passion and enthusiasm for Jewish life with the TBS community.

Rabbi Dorsch and his wife Amy are residents of Livingston.

Cantor Sharon Knoller

Cantor Knoller holds a Certificate of Jewish Music from Gratz College. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a BS in Elementary Education and Communicative Disorders and from Adelphi University with a Masters Degree in Special Education. Prior to joining Temple Beth Shalom in July 2002, Cantor Knoller served as Cantorial Soloist and music and Hebrew teacher at Congregation B’nai Israel of Somerset Hills. In addition to her Temple responsibilities, Cantor Knoller also teaches Torah Trope to fifth graders at Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union.