Our Clergy

Rabbi Carlie Daniels

Rabbi Carlie Daniels is passionate about embracing all who seek a Jewish life. She is a compassionate and visionary rabbi, and her steady leadership strengthens and nurtures a sense of belonging. Rabbi Carlie is a skilled problem solver, offering creative solutions and fresh perspectives to address both age-old and new challenges of the Jewish community. She is a dynamic service leader and teacher who brings warmth and joy to the bima and her community.

Rabbi Carlie was born and raised in Rockledge, a small town on Florida’s Space Coast, alongside her tight-knit family. Growing up in a small Jewish community, she discovered her love for Judaism at a young age. Her own experience growing up in an interfaith family shaped the core of her rabbinate: to be open to all who seek a Jewish life.

Rabbi Carlie graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville, with a B.M. in Voice with a combined focus in Psychology. She earned an M.A. in Hebrew Literature and Rabbinic Ordination at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. Prior to attending HUC-JIR, Carlie worked for two years at the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center at Indiana University. During her years at the College-Institute, Carlie served as Student Rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom in Steubenville, OH, Rabbinic Intern at Jewish Home Lifecare in Manhattan, and also as the Rabbinic Intern at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York. Rabbi Daniels most recently served as the Acting Senior Rabbi at Congregation Sukkat Shalom in Wilmette, a 330-family community nestled on the North Shore of Chicago. She led the community during a period of exciting transition, following the retirement of the congregation’s founding Senior Rabbi.

Rabbi Carlie met her husband, Rabbi Ryan Daniels, during their first year in rabbinical school, and they have two precious daughters, Amalia and Cora.

 

Rabbi Ryan Daniels

Rabbi Ryan Daniels is passionate about engagement and building relationships. A leader who listens, he leads decisively, but at the same time welcomes insight and guidance from others. Known as a non-anxious presence, he chooses to see challenges as opportunities, which is helpful in navigating transition and change. Both a learner and teacher, Rabbi Ryan is always seeking to grow his own knowledge and skills, and he is passionate about sharing Judaism with others in the sanctuary, classroom, online and out in public.

Growing up in a big city like New York meant that Rabbi Ryan encountered people who had it all and people who were in great need. This made a tremendous impact on his career and life. He is passionate about social justice issues and has worked tirelessly to combat hunger and homelessness, welcome refugees and as a rabbi, encourages every person to give of their time, effort and tzedakah (“charitable giving”) to help make the world a better place.

People who become acquainted with Rabbi Ryan quickly see how he is more than empathetic. He is a skilled listener. He has served as an addictions counselor and a hospital chaplain, and thanks to these important roles, he has come to truly know that individual relationships coupled with connection to community, fosters close ties that support individuals. Spending time with Rabbi Ryan is also a pleasure as he loves to visit quietly with people over a cup of coffee or even an ice cream cone. This time together allows him to get to know each person and deepen meaningful connections within the larger community.

Rabbi Ryan graduated from the University at Buffalo, SUNY, with a B.A. in Political Science and Community Mental Health. He earned an M.A. in Hebrew Literature and Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. Prior to joining Temple Israel, Rabbi Ryan served as Associate Rabbi at North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe, IL, a Reform synagogue located on the shores of Lake Michigan, and one of Chicago’s largest and most vibrant congregations.

Rabbi Ryan is married to Rabbi Carlie Daniels, and they have two daughters, Amalia and Cora.

 

Cantorial Soloist Suzanne Guinane 

Cantorial Soloist Suzanne Guinane is passionate about empowering people of all ages to find their voice and building sacred community within our congregation especially through music and prayer.

Suzanne received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education, Vocal and Choral Music Concentration, in grades K – 12, at West Chester University School of Music in West Chester, PA, majoring in voice and minoring in piano. She was awarded an Apprenticeship with The Pennsylvania Opera Theater in her senior year and has taught Early Childhood through High School music in public and religious schools implementing Orff and Kodaly methods. Her Cantorial journey began at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, PA. and continued as Cantorial Soloist at Congregation M’kor Shalom in Cherry Hill, NJ; Cantorial Soloist and Music Director at Temple Emanuel of Temple, AZ and most recently as Cantorial Soloist and Director of Education at Congregation Beth Israel in Carmel, CA.

Her Opera, Oratorio and Musical Theater Highlights include: World Premiere of “The Sibyl” by Vincent Persichetti; United States Premiere of “Ballad of Matthausen” by Theodorakis; soloist with Orchestra Society of Philadelphia and many performances of Handel’s “Messiah”; Original reading of “The Visit” by Michael Ogborn; World Premiere of “Eleanor and Hick” by Tom Wilson Weinberg and singing the National Anthem for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Arizona.

Suzanne is a member of the Guild of Temple Musicians, Women Cantor’s Network, Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Network, is Certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid and a Women’s Way Recognition Award Recipient.

 

Rabbi Emeritus Howard Shapiro

Rabbi Howard Shapiro was educated at Brandeis University and ordained from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion.  He came to Temple Israel in 1981 with his wife Eileen and their children, David and Rachel, after serving as a chaplain in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and as Rabbi at Temple Sha’arey Shalom in Springfield, New Jersey.

Rabbi Howard Shapiro is active in local and national Jewish organizations, having served as an officer and president of secular and Jewish organizations.   He is very proud of his role as a community builder in the Palm Beaches, bridging different institutions and forging links between people, traditions and congregations.  He cares deeply for Jewish education and loves to teach and to learn.  He is currently seeking his own spiritual path in his retirement, becoming a Jewish Spiritual Director after his retirement.

Rabbi Howard Shapiro was Vice Chair of the Reform Pension Board of the Union for Reform Judaism and Central Conference of American Rabbis.   He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, the Commission for Jewish Education and many other organizations.  He has lectured in an Interfaith setting at Florida Atlantic University’s Life Long Learning Society and the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christian and Jews.  He is enjoying these new opportunities in his life and prays for health and blessing to be able to spend more time with his wife Eileen and their children and grandchildren.