Clergy & Staff
Office & Business Office Staff
Ana Marusich-Zanor, Assistant Director of Member Engagement & Services
Ana joined Temple Israel after many years in retail management and accounting. In addition to her work, she’s also a self-employed artist, specializing in portraits of people’s pets, and is passionate about dog rescue. You can often find her in her large organic vegetable garden. She lives in Stoughton with her husband, Walter of 30 years, 2 dogs, a cat, a flock of chickens and a snake.
Contact Ana Marusich-Zanor
Ari Rogers, Communications & Marketing Manager
Ari joins Temple Israel with over fifteen years of experience in graphic design and a passion for all things creative. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and staying active on her Peloton. A Sharon resident, Ari lives with her husband Ben, their children Emmett and Willow, and two cats.
Contact Ari Rogers
Adrea Gerber, Operations & Facilities Manager
Contact Adrea Gerber
Annie Bello, Religious School Administrative Assistant
Annie brings with her 10 years of experience as an administrative assistant in both corporate and medical settings. Annie has a passion for children and for making the world a better place. She is currently studying for her Bat Mitzvah and feels a strong connection to Judaism and to Israel. In her free time, Annie enjoys going to the beach, traveling, and trying new restaurants. Her son Joey is her pride and joy.
Jonathan Mikanovsky, Youth Coordinator
Jonathan is a sophomore at Brandeis University, where he is studying Chemical Biology. Originally from Miami, he is deeply engaged in both academic and Jewish life on campus. At Brandeis, he serves as Vice President of the Chemistry Club and is a member of the advisory board for Meor, a Jewish group focused on breaking down barriers between different sects of Judaism. Jonathan is also a Teacher’s Assistant for Organic Chemistry Lab and a Community Advisor (similar to a Resident Assistant on other campuses). In high school, Jonathan was a Diller Fellow, a Kenneth Leventhal Intern for StandWithUs, and a Leaders for Tomorrow Fellow with AJC, among other meaningful experiences in the Jewish community.
Ethel Goodrich, Payroll Manager
Ethel has her Bachelors in Accounting, Masters in business administration and is a licensed Enrolled Agent. She has been a full charge bookkeeper for the last twenty-five years and has worked with small companies doing payroll, bookkeeping and financial reporting. Ethel is excited to join the temple Israel team.
Contact Ethel Goodrich
Donald Beckford, Head Custodian
Clergy & Staff Emeriti
Hazzan Steven W. Dress (Cantor Emeritus) was attracted to religious life and hazzanut as a protégé of Hazzan Charles Lew, z”l, in Medford, MA. Commissioned as hazzan by the Cantors Assembly, Cantor Dress was awarded a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, MA and a Master’s Degree in Judaic Studies from Hebrew College, Brookline, MA. He also studied Judaica, Music, and Pastoral Counseling at a variety of universities and ulpanim in New England and Israel, including the Fuchsberg Center’s Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Cantor Dress studied voice while expanding musical repertoire for nearly 18 years under the guidance of Hazzan Gregor Shelkan, z”l, Newton, MA.
Cantor Dress began serving Temple Israel, Sharon, MA on August 1, 1991. For nine years he previously served Temple Am David, Warwick, RI. He was widely regarded for retaining teenagers in the synagogue setting. Temple Israel’s numerous Torah Reading Corps, and its Adult and Youth Choral groups developed under Cantor Dress’ direction. Cantor Dress prepared approximately 1,700 b’nei mitzvah during his career.
A lyrical tenor, Hazzan Dress is a baal-nusah in the Eastern European style. His CD recordings and educational cantata video production, contributed to United Synagogue Solomon Schechter Cultural Arts Awards presented to Temple Israel. He is a recipient of the Outstanding Mentor Award by the American Association of University Women, and the Kehillah Schechter Academy Partner Award. Cantor Dress was honored by Temple Israel upon completing his first decade of service, and in April, 2012 he was jointly honored by the synagogue and his New England Region Cantors Assembly colleagues marking his 30th year in the cantorate.
Cantor Dress organized and participated in many New England Region Cantors Assembly concerts. He served multiple three-year terms on the Cantors Assembly National Executive Council, served as New England’s Cantors Assembly Chairman (Conservative Movement), and is a Past President of the New England Board of Cantors (Commissioned Conservative, Orthodox, Reform Cantors). He lectured on aspects of Jewish liturgy and its potential influence on human behaviors and relationships. During winter 2008, he was the guest hazzan-scholar in residence during a sabbatical leave at the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro, NC. He also volunteered annually as Cantor-in-Residence at NERUSY’s Summer Encampment from1988 until his retirement. A former activist for Soviet Jewry, Cantor Dress advocated for the chronically mentally and physically disabled. Cantor Dress served on the international Board of Directors of the Masorti Foundation as its National Chairman of Israel’s B’nei Mitzvah preparatory program that serves profoundly special needs children. He voluntarily taught Torah cantillation at the Kehillah Schechter Academy. Cantor and Myrna Dress periodically led inspiring trips to Israel celebrating life cycle events and advancing worthy causes. Cantor Dress organized and facilitated nusah practicum sessions lecturing at USCJ and USY National Conventions. The USCJ Review, 2006 published excerpts of Cantor Dress’ Convention paper entitled: “K-Date: the Embrace of Keva and Kavannah in the Conservative Synagogue”. Cantor Dress is an American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) activist, and is a member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains, The Phoenix Society, and is affiliated with the Boca Raton Synagogue (BRS).
In the spring following Cantor Dress’ 26th year of service at TI, the Jewish Theological Seminary conferred an honorary doctoral degree (honoris causa) during a NYC convocation. Since his transition to Boca Raton, FL, Cantor Dress has returned to TI for special services and functions and has happily officiated at weddings of former students at venues around the country. Cantor and Myrna Dress are proud parents of Melissa (Ben) and Jonathan (Ilana), and grandparents of Isaac (“Yitzi), David (“Dovi”), Shalva, and Rebecca.
Cantor Harold Lew, z”l (Cantor Emeritus)
Deborah Astor (Executive Director Emerita)
Olavo Gomes (Senior Custodian Emeritus)