About Us

Meet the Professional Staff

Rabbi Ronald Shapiro, D.D., Senior Rabbi

Rabbi Ronald M. Shapiro, D.D. was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota, receiving his B.A. in 1969. He attended the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he received a Master of Arts degree in Hebrew Letters. He was ordained a rabbi in 1974.

Rabbi Shapiro's activities extend into the community at large. He is an adjunct professor of contemporary Judaism at Cardinal Stritch College, a member of the editorial board for Seasons, An Ecumenical Journal on the Family, an interfaith journal, and a board member of the Interfeaith Conference, a major ecumenical agency in the greater Milwaukee area.

Rabbi Shapiro served Temple B'Rith Kodesh in Rochester, NY, prior to his arrival in Milwaukee in 1978. Rabbi Shapiro also is past-president of the Midwest Association of Reform Rabbis and the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis. He is a member of the Rabbinic Cabinet of United Jewish Appeal. In addition, he is past co-chair of the Catholic Jewish Conference and co-chair of the Rabbi/Priest Dialogue. He is a board member of the Milwaukee Jewish Council and the B'nai Brith Youth Organization. Under his direction, Congregation Shalom as co-ordinated several meal programs and social action activities to assist needy individuals.

Rabbi Shapiro is married to the former Judith London of Duluth, Minnesota. They have three sons, Benjamin, Ari, and Daniel.

Rabbi Shapiro can be reached at:
eleanor@cong-shalom.org

Rabbi Joseph W. Prass, Associate Rabbi

Rabbi Prass joins Shalom after eight years as the Assistant then the Associate Rabbi of Temple Emanu El in Houston. Born in Minneapolis, MN, Rabbi Prass received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1991 and was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, OH in 1999.

During his time at Emanu El, Rabbi Prass divided his time between pulpit, education, programming, and youth. He instituted, planned, and executed Camp Emanu El- a biennial congregational weekend retreat for 250 members age six months to 80-years-old. Rabbi Prass has extensive experience in all areas of youth work and served as Rabbinic Advisor to NFTY-TOR. He served as the NFTY Regional Director for the Chicago and Northern Regions for five years. He was Assistant Director of the Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute.

Rabbi Prass served several congregations as student rabbi while in rabbinical school including Temple Israel, Jonesboro, Arkansas, Temple Oheb Shalom in Sandusky Ohio, Temple Ner Tamid in Dallas, as well as Chaplain Intern for Jewish and Bethesda North Hospitals in Cincinnati.

Rabbi Prass is married to the former Leslie Wise of Chicago and they have three children, Hannah, Adam, and Jenna.

Rabbi Prass can be reached at:
rabbi.prass@cong-shalom.org

Cantor Karen Berman

Cantor Karen Berman has had the joy of being a part of Congregation Shalom since 1987. In addition to her vocal cantorial duties she directs Shalom's Youth Choir, teaches music in the Religious School, and offers classes in the Department of Life Long Learning for the Synagogue.  Central to her duties is coordinating and teaching in the B’nai Mitzvah Tutorial program.  Cantor Berman participates in the heartbeat of congregational life at weddings, baby namings, B’nai Mitzvah, and funerals.

Cantor Karen Berman has long been involved in the Milwaukee Jewish community, organizing and performing music for the Community Woman's Seder and Rosh Chodesh programs, participating in a variety of concerts and programs, including the Annual Chanukah concert with the Milwaukee Jewish Community Chorale.  Additionally, she is often a programming liaison to the Interfaith Community.

Beyond her contributions in the area of music, she has also been honored as an educator in the community.  She has received the Milwaukee Association for Jewish Education's prestigious "Educator of the Year Award," as well as recognition from the Keshet of Wisconsin program for her efforts on behalf of students with exceptional needs.

She has been a guest soloist with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and has appeared in a Public Television special "To Thee We Sing: Music in American Religion." Among her credits are solo and ensemble performances on stage and in worship at several national conventions of the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE), the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) and the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) Biennial.  Cantor Berman became a full member of the American Conference of Cantors in 1998, following five years as an associate member.  

Karen's family includes husband Elliot and children, Sam and Hannah.

Cantor Berman can be emailed at:
monica@cong-shalom.org.

Abby Habush Schroeder, Director of Synagogue Relations

Abby Habush Schroeder, Director of Synagogue Relations of Congregation Shalom, was born in Milwaukee, WI. Abby was raised at Shalom attending Religious School, becoming a Bat Mitzvah, and becoming confirmed. She has returned to her spiritual home after leaving COA Youth and Family Centers, where she worked as the Events and Communications Coordinator for four years.

Abby graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication. She has spent much of her life in journalism and photography, working for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and running a student newspaper at UW-Milwaukee for four years.

Abby married David Schroeder, a Waukesha native in 2004. They became proud parents to Sophie Isabella in 2005.

Abby can be emailed at:
abby@cong-shalom.org.

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