Temple Rabbinic Leaders

Tamara Kolton
Rabbi

Rabbi Tamara Kolton is the Senior Rabbi of The Birmingham Temple. 

*Rabbi Kolton grew up in the Birmingham Temple.  She celebrated her Bat-Mitzvah at the Temple and has been part of the Temple family since she was eight years old.  Her devotion to the The Birmingham Temple School is seen through the unique eyes of once being a child in the congregation.

*In 1999 Rabbi Kolton was the first rabbi to be ordained by The International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, the seminary that ordains Humanistic rabbis. 

*Rabbi Kolton is the only woman rabbi in the Detroit Metropolitan Area who has a pulpit position as a Senior Rabbi.

Rabbi Kolton’s Studies:

Rabbi Kolton lived in Jerusalem for four years where she completed her undergraduate studies at Hebrew University. 

Rabbi Kolton has a Master’s degree in clinical psychology and worked for several years with children, adults, and in a psychiatric emergency room in Detroit.  She is a licensed clinical psychologist. 

In 1999 Rabbi Kolton completed her Ph.D. in rabbinic studies.  She wrote her dissertation on, “The Experience of Being a Woman Rabbi.”

Rabbi Kolton Believes:

Judaism needs to be allowed to evolve to meet the real needs of the Jewish people in every generation.  The Jewish and human experience are testimony to the need for a Humanistic approach to Judaism.

Intermarriage is a sign of a better world in which people marry each other beyond tribal lines and religious differences. All Jews should respect each other and welcome each other.

People thrive in a community setting where their roots are celebrated along with values such as love, integrity, courage, and self-reliance.

Children deserve a Jewish education that is relevant, captivating, and joyful.
                                   
*Rabbi Kolton is married to Isaac Kolton, an Israeli born in Petach Tikva.  Together they are raising their two young children, Lior and Maya in Farmington Hills and at The Birmingham Temple.

Sherwin T. Wine
Founding Rabbi
1928-2007

Sherwin Wine was born in Detroit , Michigan on January 25, 1928. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan (A.B., A.M.) and the Hebrew Union College. In 1963 he founded The Birmingham Temple in suburban Detroit , the first congregation of Humanistic Judaism.

In 1969 he helped establish the Society for Humanistic Judaism to serve as the national outreach vehicle for the humanistic movement. In 1986 he helped to create the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews, a worldwide association of national organizations in North America, Israel, Belgium, England, France, Italy, Australia, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, and the countries of the former Soviet Union. Wine is the Dean of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in North America.

Wine has been instrumental in organizing the Leadership Conference of Secular and Humanistic Jews, the Center for New Thinking, the North American Committee for Humanism, the Humanist Institute, and the Conference of Liberal Religion.

He is also the author of "Humanistic Judaism", "Judaism Beyond God", "Celebration", and "Staying Sane In A Crazy World". In addition, he is a principal contributor to Judaism in a Secular Age: An Anthology of Secular Humanistic Jewish Thought.

Click here for our Executive Board
Click here for our Administrative Staff
Click here for our Board of Trustees