Rabbi Ian Lichter, Senior Rabbi
Rabbi Ian Lichter joined Baron Hirsch Congregation in August 2022. Previously he served as the Assistant Rabbi at the Great Neck Synagogue in Long Island, New York for twelve years. He received his rabbinic ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University and earned his Master’s degree in Education and Administration from Azrieli Graduate School. Rabbi Lichter strives to provide for a diverse and vibrant community by fully immersing himself in the spiritual and physical well-being of the congregation. He provides both inspiring and practical drashot, shiurim and Divrei Torah to the shul as well as a caring and compassionate ear for our congregants. Rabbi Lichter and his wife Katie have together undertaken to bring a dynamic spirit of warmth, Torah growth and care to their new wonderful community. Katie is a graduate of Queens College with a degree in nutrition and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from American College of Education and teaches third grade at Margolin Hebrew Academy. They enjoy every minute of the excitement and nachas that their four children, Zechariah, Yonina, Gavi, and Yaffa add to their lives.
Ricky Kampf, Cantor
Cantor Ricky Kampf has been associated with Baron Hirsch since 1989. In his first years, he served the congregation as the assistant Shalich Tzibur and Executive Director. He received his cantorial degree from the Belz School of Jewish Music, and currently serves as the congregation’s Cantor.
Cantor Ricky’s melodious voice is a highlight of all of our Shabbat and holiday services. His Kabbalat Shabbat service every Friday night fills the synagogue with excitement and energy, and his holiday work with both our Men’s and Boys’ Choirs make the High Holy Days very meaningful. He also is a master Bar Mitzvah teacher, who has taught Torah reading and davening to countless boys throughout the city.
Cantor Ricky is married to Anat, and they have 5 children, Kaylee (Andy) Stahler, Raquel, Benjamin, JJ, and Jack, and they have two grandchildren, Ella and Avery.
Robert Schneider, Executive Director
Robert Schneider was appointed to the position of Executive Director in December 2023. He received his B.S. from Yeshiva University in New York. A native New Yorker, Mr. Schneider originally moved to Memphis in 2013 and worked for as the IT / Property Director in his previous role. He comes from a background in Management Information Systems with over 15 years experience prior to moving to Memphis.
Robert is married to Havah and they have 3 children, Daniel, Talia, and Kayla.
Marc Lennon, Congregation President
Marc Lennon became president of Baron Hirsch Congregation in January 2022. He has previously served as Assistant Gabbai and member of the Board of Trustees since 2018.
Marc has been an active member of the Memphis community for many years. Marc has previously served as the City Director of Memphis NCSY for 6 years. He has also taught Gemara (Talmud), Chumash (Bible), Halacha (Jewish Law) and (Prophets) at the Margolin Hebrew School Feinstone Yeshiva of the South in middle school and high school. He has a passion for Judaism and ensuring the next generation is able to find their place within Judaism. As Baron Hirsch serves a wide array of fellow Jews who walk through the door, Marc is a firm believer of meeting people at their comfort level and finding ways in which Baron Hirsch can facilitate one's relationship to Judaism.
He is married to longtime Memphian Emily Shipman Lennon and they have 4 children Ilan, Adina, Eitan and David. Marc has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Maryland College Park and a Master's in Prosthetics and Orthotics from Northwestern University. He works for Hanger Clinic as a Licensed and Certified Prosthetic/Orthotic Clinician.
Dina & Eitan Selter, Youth Directors
The Selters joined Baron Hirsch in August 2021. As our youth directors, the Selters are responsible for organizing and managing youth activities on every level – from tots all the way through High School. They have been instrumental in re-igniting the synagogue’s youth department especially coming out of Covid. Youth activites over the past year have included Shabbat morning programming on all levels, Shabbat afternoon programming, strong youth components for every holiday and other activities throughout the year.
Dina & Eitan grew up in the United States, both as children of clergy in their respective shuls. Among many other accomplishments, Dina has been a student advisor for Shaalavim for Women and holds a masters degree in Social Work. She also spent a year studying in the Matan Eshkolot Tanach Program. Eitan worked for years in Camp Nesher, becoming one of the top camp administrators. Dina and Eitan both made Aliya, met and married in Israel and began building a family. Eitan has advanced training in civil engineering, and until recently has worked for the Israeli Army in that field. Before entering the next stage of their professional lives in Israel, the Selters expressed the desire to come to the United States on shlichut for two years to contribute to a community, and a connection was made with leaders at Baron Hirsch.
Atara Segal, Yoetzet Halacha
Atara Segal has been involved in Jewish education for over twenty years. She holds a BA from Yeshiva University in Pre-Engineering, a Master’s in Bible from Bernard Revel Graduate School, and is a certified physics teacher. She has taught in day schools in Long Island, Houston, and Los Angelos. Currently she is the Mashgicha Ruchanit at Shalhevet High School, where she teaches Tanakh, Talmud and Math. Atara spent a year in Modiin, Israel, as part of her learning to become Yoetzet Halacha; the rest of her training was completed through the Miriam Glaubach Center where she was part of the initial cohort of distance learners.
Rafael G. Grossman, Senior Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Grossman served Baron Hirsch and the Memphis community for more than a quarter of a century. He led the congregation through a difficult transition from its edifice on Vollintine in mid-town Memphis to the eventual construction of the present magnificent synagogue. The Rabbi established programs for people of all ages which included the South’s only sleep-away camp under Orthodox auspices, Camp Darom; the Southern Traditional singles, with its national weekend celebration; the adult education program which offers more than twenty classes per week, most taught by the Rabbi and highlighted with varied lectures featuring foremost lecturers and scholars in World Jewry. In 1998, the Rabbi established the annual Conference on Medical Ethics. Rabbi’s weekly lectures on Israel cover numerous religious subjects thereby establishing Baron Hirsch as the synagogue with one of the most extensive programs of Torah learning in the South. Rabbi Grossman’s leadership for the sale of Israel Bonds has afforded Baron Hirsch the distinct honor of selling more bonds per capita than any other congregation in the United States. His last pilgrimage to Israel raised the number of those joining him throughout the years to more than eight hundred.
Rabbi Grossman was the first Rabbi outside the New York area to be elected President of the Rabbinical Council of America. He now serves as Honorary President and chairman of the Rabbinical Council International. He is the author of Binah: The Modern Quest for Torah Understanding, a six-part series with Volumes II and III soon to appear. His scholarly papers have appeared in numerous journals and volumes, and his weekly column, “Thinking Aloud,” in the JEWISH PRESS and on numerous websites is now read by approximately 500,000 people, making him today’s most read Jewish columnist in the world. In December 1998, Rabbi Grossman was elected Chairman of the board for the Religious Zionist of America.