Clergy 

Rabbi Kim Geringer calls herself “a product of the Reform Movement through and through.” As a teenager she was active in NFTY, her local youth group and the Reform Movement’s camp system.  She received her undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and a Master’s degree in clinical social work from Boston College after which she worked in the mental health field in a variety of capacities, primarily as a psychotherapist.

After a number of years, a combination of factors led her to apply to rabbinical school. She was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1999. Following ordination, she simultaneously served as Associate Rabbi at Temple Har Shalom in Warren, NJ and as Assistant Director of the URJ’s Department of Worship, Music and Religious Living. At the URJ, Rabbi Geringer was involved in developing all of the Reform Movement’s worship transformation initiatives, consulted and taught at Reform congregations around North America and authored or co-authored many publications about worship and personal religious observance.

Rabbi Geringer went on to serve as the rabbi of congregation Sha-aray HaYam in Manahawkin for seven years. Since 2008, she has been a member of the faculty at HUC-JIR where she currently teaches in the rabbinic and cantorial programs. She lives in Short Hills with her husband, Colin Dunn, and they are the parents of two grown children.

Cantor Cathy Lawrence was ordained by the Academy for Jewish Religion in Riverdale, NY in 2003, a seminary known for its pluralistic approach to Judaism and richly diverse faculty and student body. She then served as cantor in Stamford, Connecticut’s Temple Sinai, where in addition to leading Shabbat services and teaching an average of 40 B’nai Mitzvah students each year, she was the creator of innovative programs such as a teens’ tefillah band and a cohort of student cantorial assistant volunteers.  

Cantor Cathy studied at The Barrow Group Theater Company in Manhattan and received her Masters degree in voice and opera from the Mannes School of Music – The New School. She has served on their faculty, and continues to guest lecture. She served as the staging director for Citywide Youth Opera in NYC and the Summer Arts Festival in Albany.

In addition to giving private voice lessons, and conducting singing & acting classes and workshops, Cantor Lawrence proudly serves as the coach and manager of the cover band The NY Troubadours, which her two sons are a part of.

Cantor Lawrence enjoys interfaith work, taking pleasure and pride in providing a welcoming Jewish presence to newcomers of all religious persuasions.  She lives in Manhattan with her husband, music composer Stephen Lawrence. 

Rabbi Debra Smith (Reb Deb) is the founding rabbi and spiritual leader of Or Ha Lev Jewish Renewal Congregation in Succasunna. She is also a clinical social worker and multicultural family therapist. She has served as director of a private clinical practice, “Human Solutions,” for more than ten years. 

Reb Deb received her rabbinic ordination through the ALEPH Jewish Renewal Rabbinical Seminary. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Jewish Studies from Gratz College in Philadelphia.  Her work serving the Jewish community is extensive:  She serves as Rabbi in Residence at the Drew Theological School in Madison; she is a member of OHALAH, Organization of Trans-denominational Rabbis, where she serves on the ethics committee; she works as educator and prayer leader at Lester Senior Housing Community in Whippany.

A major focus of Reb Deb’s work is deep ecumenism and multi-faith dialogue. She currently serves as co-chair of the NJ Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee and is a co-chair of the Morris County NJ chapter of the Sisterhood of Salaam-Shalom.

Reb Deb is a recipient of the prestigious Leo Brody Award, given to an outstanding professional in the field of Jewish Communal Service.  She is married to Dr. Neil Smith, and is the mother of two grown daughters.