Rabbi Ellen Nemhauser was ordained in 1993 from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. She has worked in congregations, at Jewish summer camps, and at Emory University’s Center for Israel Education. She is currently our part-time rabbi while working full time for the Union for Reform Judaism. She serves as the president of Interfaith Atlanta, the organization that brings communities of faith together for dialogue, social justice, and learning.

In 2019 Ellen received a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. In recognition for her work with Interfaith groups, in 2017 Rabbi Ellen was the first female rabbi to be inducted into the Board of Preachers at Morehouse College’s Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. She has served as the Jewish leader for multiple trips travelling with multifaith groups to Israel, Turkey, South Africa, Grand Canyon, Toronto, and California. In her spare time, Ellen enjoys hiking, travelling, and trying out new recipes on unsuspecting Sabbath dinner guests. She has three adult children and lives with her husband, Jeffrey in Sandy Springs.

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Susan Burden was appointed as Cantorial Soloist for Congregation B’nai Israel in August 2011. She assists Rabbis Feldstein and Nemhauser during Shabbat services, B’nai Mitzvah services, and other holiday and life cycle events. Susan also leads weekly Shabbat services and serves as the Cantorial support for High Holiday services. She works as a community liaison to promote understanding and friendship and teaches adult Hebrew classes. As the Cantorial Soloist, Susan strives to achieve a balance between ritual tradition, innovative thought, and spiritual focus. She approaches this important role not only with a healthy sense of awe but also with a necessary dose of reality.

Besides her Cantorial responsibilities, Susan tutors and prepares our Bar and Bat Mitzvah students, teaches Hebrew to grades K-2, and teaches a two-year Hebrew High School program of Judaic studies for 8th and 9th grade students, in preparation for Confirmation class in the 10th grade year. In addition, Susan assists Angela Ellis with administrative duties for the congregation as needed. She has been a member of the synagogue since 1992 and has been actively involved for many years, serving as an interim Treasurer on the Board of Trustees and assisting with a variety of other programs and activities. She also served as the Youth Group Advisor for several years.

Susan holds a music degree from the University of Tennessee, where she studied music history, piano, and woodwinds. She has also done graduate studies in Educational Media Services from the University of West Georgia. She worked for 12 years in school libraries for elementary and middle schools. She also spent two years as an Instructional Technology Technician in the public school sector. Susan taps into her creative side by designing and building costumes for the Martha Ellen Stillwell High School of the Performing Arts and other schools in Clayton County, for the Atlanta Ballet, and for other regional and international ballet companies.

Susan and her husband Gene, a Geotechnical Engineer, live in Forest Park with their son Jonathan, who is also an active member of the congregation.

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Mindi Butler was born in New York and moved to South Florida (New York south) at age 11.

Mindi and her husband of 42 years were married in Sunrise, FL in 1981 and shortly thereafter moved to Munich, Germany for the start of her husband’s Army career. After several tours, in 1992 they were stationed in Atlanta, GA, where they first joined Congregation B’nai Israel.

In 1993, Mindi began studying Hebrew in an adult education class, which led to joining an adult B’nai Mitzvah class. After a year of studying Torah and learning a Torah portion, Mindi and her class had an adult B’nai Mitzvah in 1994. Shortly after, Mindi was asked to teach 2nd grade in religious school. Mindi taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade from 1994 – 1998 when she and her husband relocated to the Netherlands.

After retiring from the Army, Mindi and her family decided to settle back in Georgia. In 2015 they rejoined Congregation B’nai Israel and Mindi was asked if she would be interested in teaching religious school by the Religious School director; a former student of Mindi’s from the 90’s. She has taught every grade from 2nd through 7th and loves watching our students go from young children to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.

In 2020 Mindi stepped into the role of Religious School Director. She works closely with our Cantorial soloist, giving our students the best possible religious curriculum. Along with being the director, Mindi continues to teach in our religious school.

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