Our Clergy
Interim Senior Rabbi
Rabbi Art Nemitoff (he/him)
rabbinemitoff@templebnaitorah.org
Prior to beginning his work with Temple B'nai Torah in March 2023, Rabbi Nemitoff served as interim rabbi for Temple B'nai Jeshurun, in Des Moines, IA. Rabbi Nemitoff is also Rabbi Emeritus and former Senior Rabbi of The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah, in Overland Park, KS. Raised in Kansas City at that same congregation, he returned home 20 years ago to lead the largest synagogue in the metropolitan area. With a Bachelor's degree from Washington University, a Master's degree and ordination from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion (Cincinnati campus), and a Doctor of Divinity degree also from HUC-JIR, Rabbi Nemitoff has spent his 42-year career nurturing Jewish meaning, connection, and continuity for those whom he has encountered. In addition to serving congregations in Houston, Philadelphia, Boston, Columbus (OH), and Kansas City, Rabbi Nemitoff has done extensive overseas work with Jewish and secular groups in China, Bulgaria, Serbia, Estonia, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Israel.
Associate Rabbi & Director of Education
Rabbi Molly Weisel (she/her)
rabbimolly@templebnaitorah.org
Rabbi Molly Weisel returned home to Temple B'nai Torah in 2020 and she feels that it is a tremendous privilege to serve as a rabbi for the community in which she grew up. Prior to coming to TBT, Rabbi Molly served as Associate Rabbi & Director of Education at Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame, California. Rabbi Molly proudly attended rabbinical school at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. While there, she pursued her interest in the intersection of Judaism and the environment, writing her rabbinic thesis on the topic of "Implementing Green Theology in Reform Synagogues." Rabbi Molly spent her summers working for URJ Camp Kalsman, Adamah Adventures, a Jewish outdoor adventure camp, and interning as a hospice chaplain. During rabbinical school, Rabbi Molly took an extra year to earn her Masters in Jewish Education. During that year she wrote a curriculum guide for adult learning on the topic of "Intentional Living: Refining Your Beliefs and Realigning Your Actions" as well as co-creating a philanthropy curriculum guide for teens.
Our Staff
Office Manager
Lisa Roher (she/her)
lroher@templebnaitorah.org
Southern California native Lisa Roher comes to Temple B’nai Torah following a long career in management for several national retail brands as well as the Skirball Cultural Center. Lisa also ran her own retail consultancy, focusing on startups and nonprofits. Her work for nonprofits has not been solely focused on the business side, as she has also volunteered her time and energies to numerous philanthropic organizations, including The Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, Alzheimer’s Association, Susan B Komen, and St. Jude’s Hospital.
When not working, Lisa enjoys the outdoors, family, friends, travel, working out, and baking. She was also a professional pastry chef, where her customers included Sherwood Country Club in Southern California, The Milken Institute, and Kol Tikvah Temple in Woodland Hills, CA. Lisa studied at LA Trade Tech & University of Haifa and is fluent in Hebrew.
Finance Manager
Nance Ruiz (she/her)
nruiz@templebnaitorah.org
Bellevue native Nance Ruiz loves the Temple’s Bellevue location, just five minutes from her home. She enjoys working with numbers and people and has been with TBT since 1996. She also enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends, loves cruises and traveling, especially to warm climates. She’s the one to call when you can’t quite figure out your Temple statement or you need to have adjustments made.
Facility Manager
Nestor Quijada (he/him)
nquijada@templebnaitorah.org
Nestor Quijada is our Facility Manager and an indispensable member of our Temple team. He knows where everything is and how to make all of the equipment work the way it is supposed to. Anytime you need a special set-up for a Bar Mitzvah, wedding, dinner, or meeting, Nestor is the man who makes it happen. His skills, dedication, and good humor help to make Temple B’nai Torah the welcoming and comfortable community we are. Nestor is a native of El Salvador. He is married and has a daughter.
Our Emeritus Clergy
Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi James Mirel (he/him)
rabbimirel@templebnaitorah.org
Rabbi James Mirel accepted the position of senior rabbi at Temple B’nai Torah on Mercer Island in 1985, where he served until his retirement in 2014. Under his leadership, B’nai Torah constructed a new building on the campus of the site of the Jewish Day School in Bellevue. He currently serves Bet Chaverim in Des Moines, WA. He has long been a tireless advocate for oppressed and marginalized people in the community—at the forefront of gay rights, interfaith dialogue, and fighting Islamophobia. As an accomplished musician, Rabbi Mirel has performed countless times in several klezmer bands and helped to found “Music of Remembrance,” an organization that commemorates victims of the Holocaust through recovered and commissioned musical performances.
Cantor Emeritus
Cantor David Serkin-Poole (he/him)
cantor@templebnaitorah.org
