Clergy Bios

Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff
Interim Senior Rabbi

Rabbi Nemitoff served congregations in Houston, TX; Philadelphia, PA; Boston, MA; and Columbus, OH before returning, in 2003, to become Senior Rabbi of his childhood congregation, B’nai Jehudah in Kansas City, KS (a large, nationally known temple, and one of the oldest Reform congregations in America). He has a passion for spreading the message of liberal Judaism throughout the world, having worked with Jewish communities in Serbia, China, Estonia, Bulgaria, Ethiopia and Israel. More recently, he served as Interim Rabbi for Temple B’nai Torah (Bellevue, WA) and Temple B'nai Jeshurun (Des Moines, IA).

With expertise in the areas of synagogue transformation, liturgy, and death and dying, Rabbi Nemitoff has dedicated his rabbinate to helping individuals discover their own Jewish paths. Dozens of his articles, poems, creative liturgies — and three books — have been published over his 43-year career. His hobbies include photography, cycling and poetry. After graduating from Southwest High School, in Kansas City, he attended Washington University in St. Louis, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He was ordained from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (Cincinnati campus) in 1981. In 2006, Rabbi Nemitoff was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree, also from HUC-JIR.

​​​​​​​Rabbi Shoshana Nambi
Assistant Rabbi

Rabbi Shoshana was ordained a rabbi by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in May of 2024. Before coming to Beth Am, she served as a a rabbinic intern at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York.

She grew up in Eastern Uganda’s Abayudaya Jewish community, learning Hebrew at her synagogue and teaching Jewish songs to the children in her village of Nabweya. After graduating from Kampala International University in 2011, she worked part-time as an HIV counselor and agricultural educator. 

Rabbi Shoshana worked three summers as a camp programmer and tefillah coordinator at URJ Camp Coleman in Cleveland, GA. Learning more about Judaism there paved the way for her dream of becoming a rabbi. She traveled across the USA in the fall of 2013 and 2014 with Kulanu, Inc. (which supports emerging and returning Jewish communities around the world), teaching about her Jewish community with an emphasis on the role of women in her villages. After a year of studying Hebrew and Jewish texts at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, she was offered admission to the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City and spent her first year at its Jerusalem campus.

Nambi recently authored a picture book, The Very Best Sukkah: A Story from Uganda which she describes as being “about the Jewish holiday of Sukkot and the joyful way it is celebrated in my community.” The children’s book won a 2023 National Jewish Book Award. She was also named one of NY Jewish Week’s 36 to Watch 2023, honoring those who are making innovative contributions to the Jewish community. 

Rabbi Shoshana is the proud parent of a daughter, Emunah. 

​​​​​​Cantor Jaime Shpall
Senior Cantor

Originally from Southern California, Cantor Jaime Shpall joined Beth Am after 16 years of serving congregations, first in Austin, Texas and then in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her beautiful voice and warm personality made her beloved in both congregations.

At Beth Am, Cantor Shpall leads our B’nei Mitzvah program and has been implementing innovations that help build feelings of community and love for Judaism among kids and families alike. Through her work with the URJ’s Communities of Practice – B’nei Mitzvah Revolution, Cantor Shpall has introduced our annual 6th Grade Family Retreat, for upcoming B’nei Mitzvah and their families as well as our 7th grade Beit Midrash class.

Cantor Shpall received Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Music from the University of California, Santa Cruz, during which time she worked on the staff of Camp Swig and taught religious school in our area (even substitute teaching at Beth Am on occasion!). She was ordained in 1997 by the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music of the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, and she recently participated in the Clergy Leadership Program of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Cantor Shpall and her husband, Marcel Bergmann, are the proud parents of twins, Samuel and Ella, who are members of the Zimriyah, Beth Am’s fabulous Jr. Choir.

Rabbi Emeritus Richard A. Block

As President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), the international rabbinic leadership organization of Reform Judaism, Rabbi Block represented it on The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and chaired the Reform Leadership Council, comprised of the top leaders of the Movement’s legacy institutions. He currently chairs the CCAR Past Presidents Council. He was a longtime member and Vice Chair of the Pension Board of Reform Judaism.

Prior to rabbinic studies, Rabbi Block graduated with honors from the Wharton School, and from Yale Law School, where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. After clerking for a federal district judge, he served on active duty in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps, as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and on the faculty of the Naval Justice School, Newport, RI. Upon release from active duty in 1977, he briefly practiced law in San Francisco.

Rabbi Block’s writings have appeared widely in prominent publications and social media. His books range from Sacred Pilgrimage: A Jewish Reflection on Life, Death, and Eternity to How I Wish I Could Fish!, a fable for children and parents.

He and Susie Block, a respected community leader and volunteer, have been married since 1969. They are blessed with two beloved sons and daughters-in-law and six cherished grandchildren.

Cantor Emerita Kay Greenwald

In August 1997, Cantor Kay Greenwald became Congregation Beth Am's Cantor after serving for five years as Assistant and then Associate Cantor of our congregation. Before attending Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion School of Sacred Music, Cantor Greenwald pursued her Masters from the Eastman School of Music and sang opera throughout the world. She was the first woman to serve as clergy at Beth Am.

Cantor Greenwald continues to participate in the musical life of the congregation, singing occasionally on the bimah and concert venues, as well as participating in life cycle events from time to time. Cantor Greenwald is a past president of the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) — the professional cantorial organization of the Reform Movement. Having served eleven years as ACC Director of Placement, Cantor Greenwald was named Director of Placement Emerita upon her retirement in July of 2023. 

Cantor Greenwald is married to Dr. Lee Greenwald; their wonderful son and daughter-in-law live in Southern California.