National Jewish Healing Conference 2026

Reuben D. Rotman is the founding President and CEO of the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies. The Network was established in 2017 as an international membership association, with the mission of strengthening and advancing the Jewish human service sector.  Today, the Network serves as the leading voice for the sector; the go-to for best practice research, innovation, and partnerships.  Supporting its 170+ member organizations throughout the US, Canada and Israel, the Network’s goal is to strengthen the capacities of its member agencies and to advance the scope and impact of the Jewish human service sector.

Reuben came to the Network having served as the CEO of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey, where he held several increasingly responsible positions for 21 years.  Previously, Reuben held positions with UJA Federation of New York, Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.

Reuben currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of SourceAmerica, which connects the non-profit sector to the US Federal government and commercial sectors to secure employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, and also serves as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Social Current,  a recently established national organization which seeks to activate the power of the social sector by bringing together a dynamic network of human service organizations and partners. 

Reuben earned two graduate degrees at Brandeis University, a Master of Arts in the Management of Human Services from the Heller School and a Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service from the Hornstein Program. 

Peter Berg became the fifth senior rabbi of The Temple since 1895 in July of 2008. He is thrilled to serve this diverse and multi-generational congregation as a spiritual leader. Rabbi Berg is passionate about Jewish learning and meaningful worship, and he is an advocate for social change.

Prior to coming to The Temple, he served as rabbi of Temple Beth Or in Washington Township, New Jersey and as the Associate Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Texas. Additionally, he served Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains, New York as a rabbinic intern and at Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria, Virginia, as its Youth Director. 

Over the years, Rabbi Berg has spent a great deal of time working with advocacy groups on issues including but not limited to:  poverty & homelessness, criminal justice reform, preventing the human trafficking of minors, civil rights, religious freedom, ending mass incarceration, gun safety, hate crimes, the environment, combatting antisemitism, and strengthening the U.S.- Israel relationship. 

He has served on numerous communal and advisory boards, including:  The American Jewish Congress, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Mental Health Association, Dallas for Children, the Westwood Area Clergy Association, The New York Service for the Handicapped, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) National Council, The Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta (FAMA), The American Jewish Committee, and The Jewish Family and Career Services (JFCS) He served as  national  Program Chair for the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) also served on the editorial committee for the CCAR High Holy Day prayer book, Mishkan haNefesh. 

Rabbi Berg currently serves on the Board of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Anti-Defamation League, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS), Faith In Public Life, OUTCRY: Faith Voices Against Gun Violence, Three Star, Home First, Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center, The Atlanta Community Foundation, and the Commission On Social Action for Reform Judaism. He is a Past President of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association. 

Rabbi Berg serves on the advisory Boards of:  The American Jewish Archives (Vice-Chair), The Jewish Fertility Foundation, JumpSpark Teen Initiative, The Islamic Speakers Bureau, and the Grady Hospital Foundation. 

A native of Ocean Township, New Jersey, Rabbi Berg holds a degree in Education and Human Development, with a focus in human services, counseling, and Judaic Studies, from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He earned his M.A. in Hebrew Literature and his rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion in New York and Jerusalem, where he was a Steinhardt Fellow. Rabbi Berg also holds a certificate in Chemical Dependency and Spiritual Counseling and is a trained Disaster, Fire, and Police Chaplain.  He serves as a Chaplain for The Georgia State Patrol. 

In 2009, Rabbi Berg was inducted into the College of Preachers at Morehouse College.  Rabbi Berg was a member of the 2012 Leadership Atlanta class and is an active member of the Downtown Atlanta Rotary Club.  He was recently re-appointed to the Georgia Holocaust Commission by the Lt. Governor. 

In 2013, Rabbi Berg was named by Newsweek and The Daily Beast as one of the top 50 most influential rabbis in the United States of America.  From 2016-2022, he was named annually by Georgia Trend as one of the Most Influential Georgians and from 2019 -2023 as one of Atlanta’s Most Powerful Leaders.  In 2023 he received Atlanta’s highest honor from Mayor Dickens, they Phoenix Award, as well as the Distinguished Advocate Award from The American Jewish Committee.  

Rabbi Berg lives in Atlanta with his wife Karen, a teacher and tutor, and their three children. 

Jacob was born and raised in Metro-Detroit and is a proud graduate of Hillel Day School, Frankel Jewish Academy and University of Michigan where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Hebrew and Judaic Studies in 2013.

Jacob is now the Chief Advancement Officer at Jarc, a nonprofit organization that supports adults with developmental disabilities in the home of their choice. He is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration at Walsh College.

Jacob is a Wexner/Davidson Fellow and a member of the Oakland County Health Department’s Community Health Assessment Team. Outside of work, Jacob has dedicated his time and passion to organizations in the Detroit Jewish community. In his free time, Jacob enjoys going to the Detroit Institute of Arts, cooking, and reading. Jacob lives in Southfield, Michigan with his wife, Laura, toddler, Betty and adorable puggle, Rashi.

Rabbi Simon Stratford is a Board-Certified Chaplain and Licensed Social Worker committed to delivering person-centered spiritual care within a comprehensive approach to human services. He serves as Director of Pastoral Care at Majestic Care Cedar Village and as a community chaplain through Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati’s K’vod Connect program, where he collaborates with an interdisciplinary team to combat social isolation and enhance the well-being of older adults across the region.

Rabbi Stratford also contributes to thought leadership in the field, serving on the inaugural Seivah: Sacred Aging Advisory Council, an initiative of Sacred Spaces, and as a recent graduate of the 18Doors Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship, which advances interfaith inclusion. His work highlights the critical role of community chaplaincy in reaching individuals who feel disconnected or unaffiliated with traditional Jewish institutions, ensuring that every person experiences care, a sense of belonging, and dignity.

Rebecca Missel is an exuberant and purposeful community builder with more than 17 years of experience leading nonprofits. 

Currently, Rebecca serves as a consultant at Shomer Collective, spearheading a new project to empower people to observe shiva. Rebecca has previously worked as the inaugural Director of Partnerships and Content for Recustom (formerly Haggadot.com) and as a Program Manager with SYNERGY at UJA-Federation of NY. She holds masters’ degrees from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Baltimore Hebrew University. She lives in Jersey City with her community.