Rabbi Beryl Elayne Padorr, the mother of Cory Spitcaufsky and wife Krissie, Gina Kaufmann and Justin Kaufmann, was previously a resident of the Kansas City area for 30 years before beginning her rabbinic education and journey. She graduated with distinction form the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Education with an emphasis in English, and continued her postgraduate studies in communications, journalism and education before entering the graduate programs at The University of Judaism, receiving her Masters in Education from the Fingerhut School of Education, a Masters in Rabbinics, Bachelor of Literature in Hebrew Letters, and ordination form the Zeigler School of Rabbinic Studies.

Music has always been an important part of her life. It is her desire to incorporate her love of music, Torah and Judaism into the community at Tifereth Israel, where she hopes to provide a warm, caring and joyous atmosphere of learning that will foster not only knowledge of Judaism, but also bring a great love of Judaism to the congregation and community.

She served as a rabbinic intern for four summers at Congregation Beth Shalom in Kansas City, as a solo student rabbi for one year at Congregation Or Chadash in Scottsdale, Arizona, and this past year served as Religious School Director and as Spiritual Director, covering holidays and the daily minyan, at Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills, California.

She looks forward to being a part of the community here, ensuring that it is a place which is caring and accessible for spiritual worship, reflection and growth for everyone, bringing joy into their lives as Jews.

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Cantor Deborah Bletstein, originally from West Bloomfield , MI , received her Bachelor's in Music with distinction from Ohio Northern University in 1992. In addition to performing with both the opera and musical theatre departments, she created the position of lead singer for both of the ONU Jazz bands, which had historically never appeared with a vocalist. This lead to an opportunity to open for Marvin Hamlisch at The Veteran's Memorial Convention Center in Lima, Ohio. She went on to earn her Master's of Music from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh , where she majored in classical voice, and was the lead singer for the CMU jazz band. While at CMU, she performed leading roles in opera and musical theatre productions, and received rave reviews in the Pittsburgh press for her portrayal of Golde in Fiddler on the Roof . A member of Actor's Equity Association, she has appeared on the summer stock stages of The New London Barn Playhouse and The Hampton Playhouse, as well as Theatreworks USA in New York , and Walt Disney World's MGM Studios in Orlando .

In 2002, Cantor Bletstein decided to devote her voice and her love of Judaism to the cantorate, and began her studies at the H.L. Miller Cantorial School at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City . She spent her second year of the program learning at The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem , as well as ulpan at Hebrew University . While at JTS in New York , Cantor Bletstein was active in Student Life, Va'ad Gemilut Hasadim, and a number of tzedaka concerts, including a series devoted to Alyn Children's Hospital in Jerusalem . She earned her Cantorial Investiture and a Master's in Sacred Music from JTS in May of 2007. Cantor Bletstein has served as guest hazzan, speaker, and scholar-in-residence at numerous congregations throughout the United States, and is sought after as a concert artist for her ability to seamlessly cross over genres of opera, musical theatre, classical hazzanut, contemporary Jewish music, jazz, pop and folk stylings. Her writing will be published in the inaugural issue of the new quarterly magazine, CJ: Voices of Conservative/Masorti Judaism, celebrating 20 years of women in the Conservative Movement cantorate. Cantor Bletstein is a proud member of both the Cantors' Assembly and the American Conference of Cantors.

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Dr. Marty Rosenfeld was born and raised in Des Moines. His parents, Abe and Beverly, were members long before Marty was born and he has been a member essentially his entire life. He grew up in Tifereth Israel with Rabbi Weingart and Cantor Pearlman. He was USY President in 1964 and Emtza Regional Vice President that same year.

Marty graduated from the University of Iowa and the College of Orthopathic Medicine and Surgery here in Des Moines in1971. He performed his internship in Chicago and an Orthopedic residency in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has been in practice as an orthopedic surgeon, including adjunct faculty positions at the University of Iowa and the Des Moines University. He is associated with the Iowa Orthopedic Center.

In 2003 he stopped performing surgery and now concentrates on performing independent medical evaluations and in-office care.

Marty and his loving wife, Trudi, share 8 children and 11 grandchildren. Besides family, work and synagogue duties, he enjoys golf and a good cigar.

Cantor Emeritus Spiro's musical talents have placed him in the forefront of Jewish musical liturgy in the United States. Cantor Spiro attended the Juilliard School of Music and graduated from Syracuse University in 1952. He received his Cantorial Ordination from the Jerusalem Cantorial Institute. Cantor Spiro has served congregations in Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Cleveland and has authored numerous books in the field of Jewish liturgical music. Among the major works that Cantor Spiro introduced to Tifereth congregants and Des Moines community were "Retell the Story" - a Hannukah musical television, the oratorios "Haggadah" and "Havdalah," and the premiere of the Kristallnacht Oratorio "Stars in the Dust" in 1988.

Barbara Berven grew up in Des Moines graduating from Roosevelt High School in the mid-60's. She attended the University of Iowa returning to Des Moines to begin her career. For many years Barb operated a Party Shop with her Dad until his retirement in 1992. Since the sale of the Party Shop Barb has mainly worked in the Construction field with several different companies most recently as the Office Manager for a Concrete Flatwork company.

Board of Trustees - Executive Committee Officers

•   Dr. Marty Rosenfeld, President
•   Brad Long, 1^st Vice President
•   Frank Marcovis, 2^nd Vice President
•   Mary Reavely, Treasurer
•   Hannah Rogers, Secretary

Board of Trustees - Members

            Peggy Altman

            Josh Engman, President TI Cemetery

            Karen Engman

            Alex Fritzler

            Dr. Harvey Giller

            Gwen Griger, Women’s League Rep.

            Jody Jacklin

            Dr. Josh Kimelman

            Warren Kruger

            Dr. Al Mintzer

            Kay Myers

            Sheldon Ohringer

            Don Schoen, Past President

            Rose Sloven

            Dr. Michael Stein

            Harvey Weinberg

            Steve Weiss