Our Clergy
Our Clergy
Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen
Rabbi Scott L. Shpeen has served Congregation Beth Emeth in Albany since 1985. In July 1992, he assumed the position of Senior Rabbi of the Congregation. He is a native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey and a product of the Reform Movement having spent many summers at the URJ Camps as well as participating in the EIE (Eisendrath International Exchange) Program spending a semester at the Leo Baeck High School in Haifa, Israel. Concurrent with his High School studies, Rabbi Shpeen was awarded a Certificate in Jewish Education from Gratz College, Philadelphia. Rabbi Shpeen was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Judaic Studies from the University of Michigan in 1979. After spending his first year at its campus in Jerusalem, Rabbi Shpeen studied at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati. He received a Master's Degree in Hebrew Letters in 1983 and was ordained in June 1984. In 1988 Rabbi Shpeen completed the St. Peter's Hospital Program, Albany, NY, in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). In May 2009, in recognition of his 25th anniversary of rabbinic ordination, Rabbi Shpeen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Rabbi Shpeen presently serves on the HUC-JIR President's Rabbinic Council. Locally, he serves on the Board of the Albany Symphony Orchestra and Cap Rep Theater. He had served for many years on the Advisory Committee of the Capital District Senior Issues Forum Lifetime Achievement Award. Rabbi Shpeen has been an Adjunct Professor at the College of St. Rose in Albany teaching a course on the Holocaust. He is also a regular commentator on WMHT Public Television.
Rabbi Shpeen was appointed in May 2006 by Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings to serve on the Albany Human Rights Commission on which he served for three years until May 2009. Rabbi Shpeen is a two term Past President of the Capital District Board of Rabbis and Cantors (2008-2010 & 1990-1992), past President of the Rabbinic Alumni Association of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, past President of B'nai B'rith Gideon Lodge #140, past President of the Buckingham Mews Homeowners Association and has served on the Board of Governors of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion as well as on the boards of the United Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York, the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center, Park Playhouse, The Martin Luther & Coretta Scott King Lecture at Siena College, the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, Jewish Family Services of Northeastern New York, The Interfaith Advisory Committee of the Bethlehem Central School District, the Sidney and Beatrice Albert Lecture Board of the College of St. Rose and the Admissions Committee of the CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) and for many years was Jewish Chaplain at the Parsons School in Albany.
Rabbi Shpeen was the 2016 recipient of the Capital Area Council of Churches’ (CACC) Rev. Dr. Carlyle Adams Ecumenical/Interfaith Award for his longstanding involvement in ecumenical and interfaith work in the Capital District. He was the first and only rabbi to be invited to be the keynote speaker at the Annual Albany Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Service.
Rabbi Shpeen was married for 31 years to the late Susan Balan, who was the Executive Director of the Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center at the time of her death in November 2009. He has two adult married children, Hilary (Josh) Brownstein and Adam (Emily Farber) and five grandchildren.
Cantor Sharon Kohn
Cantor Sharon Kohn strives to share her joy in being Jewish through music, prayer, learning, and listening. She is looking forward to creative ways she will be able to meet and get to know the folks who call Beth Emeth home. She is excited to work with Rabbi Scott Shpeen, and the entire staff and leadership of CBE. Kohn looks forward to creating sacred space for Beth Emeth’s next settled cantor, whom ever that might be.
Sharon Kohn spent her childhood in central Illinois, dividing her time between Moses Montefiore Temple and any theatre or music production that she could find. She studied Music Theatre at Illinois Wesleyan University and received a Bachelors of Music from Illinois State University while also tutoring B’nei Mitzvah students and singing in, and ultimately leading, High Holiday choirs.
Cantor Kohn earned her ordination and Master’s degree from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. She is an active member of the American Conference of Cantors [ACC]. She has served full-time in congregations in Texas, Ohio, and Kansas. She has served as an Interim Cantor in Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, and New Jersey.
Cantor Kohn has training with the Interim Ministry Network [IMN] and is a member. She has studied at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, and is a certified leader for Wise Aging. She has finished 4 units of C.P.E. and Level 1 of Kodaly training. Voice training and a mindfulness practice are parts of her weekly routine. Kohn enjoys the fiber arts and is rarely without a knitting or crocheting project. Weeding someone else’s garden is a source of joy and comfort, as is baking, preferably something chocolate.
Kohn is married to Rick Simon and calls Kansas City her permanent home.
To contact Cantor Kohn - CLICK HERE
Rabbinic Intern, Alexandra Stein
To contact Alexandra Stein, CLICK HERE
Sun, June 26 2022
27 Sivan 5782
Upcoming Events
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Sunday ,
JunJune 26 , 2022
Sunday, Jun 26th 5:00p to 9:00p
ALL are invited to join our Religious School Families for a fun night out at a Valley Cats game. Tickets are $8.25/each + food will be available for purchase at the stadium. Register on line via the CBE web site by June 14th. Questions? Contact Kerryn Kent - kik317@gmail.com -
Monday ,
JunJune 27 , 2022
Monday, Jun 27th 4:00p to 7:00p
Questions? Contact Margie Dorkin - MDorkin@nycap.rr.com -
Monday ,
JunJune 27 , 2022
Monday, Jun 27th 7:00p to 8:30p
ALL are invited to join Knit & Nosh doing whatever handiwork you like and enjoy the company of friends! This month we are meeting In Person as well as via zoom. You choose. To join by zoom, copy & paste link - To join our Zoom meeting, copy and paste https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88959786683?pwd=cDE4RTdwQU1oUTZmL3VvU2pqYisrUT09 If prompted to provide a password, it is SISTERHOOD. Questions? Contact Miriam - Miriam@BethEmethAlbany.org -
Tuesday ,
JunJune 28 , 2022
Tuesday, Jun 28th 8:30a to 3:00p
Questions? Contact Margie Dorkin - MDorkin@nycap.rr.com -
Friday ,
JulJuly 1 , 2022
Friday, Jul 1st 5:00p to 7:30p
Join Rabbi Weitzman & his family at 5:00 PM for a fun Pre-Neg nosh! Service begins at 5:30 PM (also accessible via Live Stream) & Dinner begins at 6:30 PM (Registration for dinner required no later than June 30th) Our service is free & open to the community. -
Wednesday ,
JulJuly 6 , 2022
Wednesday, Jul 6th 12:00p to 2:00p
Questions? Contact Bret Kauffman or Jeff Kellert - CBETransition@gmail.com -
Thursday ,
JulJuly 7 , 2022
Thursday, Jul 7th 6:30p to 9:00p
Join Brotherhood members for a their card night. Location TBD. RSVP & questions - Mark Swyer - mdswyer@hotmail.com -
Friday ,
JulJuly 8 , 2022
Friday, Jul 8th 5:30p to 6:30p
Our service is open to the community. You can also access the service via Live Stream via the CBE website. -
Saturday ,
JulJuly 9 , 2022
Shabbat, Jul 9th 9:45a to 1:00p
TRG invites ALL to join them for a special Torah Study followed by a rehearsal of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (Barber, Ellington & Gershwin). You purchase your own lawn tickets (www.bso.org) and meet for a picnic breakfast/lunch (bring your own). Please RSVP to Joe Schwartz by July 8th and he'll let you know where to meet. Email Joe - JoeySchwartz61@gmail.com -
Thursday ,
JulJuly 14 , 2022
Thursday, Jul 14th 7:00p to 9:00p
Come watch a Comics Artist in action!! Kevin will draw some comic book characters live and participants will have a chance to be featured on the cover of a comic!!! This program is free & open to the community though we ask you to register (via the CBE web site). Questions? Contact Brian Sinkoff - brian@miucciogroup.com or 518 354-9497