Rabbi Batsheva Appel, originally from Seattle, spent her youth moving around the country with her family. When she was 9 years old she told her teacher she would like to grow up to be either an astronaut or a rabbi. Her parents were always very involved in the congregations in the communities in which the family lived.

She graduated from Wellesley College in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Sciences and Economics. And after 9 years in the corporate world Appel entered Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City where she received her Masters of Arts in Hebrew Literature in 1995. Rabbi Appel’s rabbinic thesis was titled, “ Joseph in Egypt as Seen through the Lens of the Midrash.”

Rabbi Appel first served as a sabbatical rabbi, then rabbi-educator at Temple Emanu-El in Lynbrook, New York, where she ran a religious school with over 300 students and later as the associate Rabbi at Congregation Beth Chaim, a congregation of almost 800 families in Princeton Junction, New Jersey. In 2006 Rabbi Appel was named the Director of Rabbinic Services for the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life where she was the rabbi for more than 25 underserved congregations in an eight-state area in the southeastern United States.

“I am honored and delighted to join KAM Isaiah Israel,” said Rabbi Appel. “I am looking forward to being part of such a vibrant, dynamic community.”

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Cantor Miriam Eskenasy was born in Bucharest, Romania to a Zionist family. She immigrated to Israel when she was 10 years old and to the U.S. when she was 16. Miriam completed her undergraduate work at Ohio State University and Queens College of the City of New York with a degree in Romance Languages and music. Putting her personal aspirations on hold, Miriam devoted herself to her family. Finally, after a 20 plus years career in business, Miriam returned to school, earning a Master of Sacred Music, and was invested as a Cantor from the Hebrew Union College in 2002. Her thesis focused on the music of the Sephardic community in Romania. Having served congregations in New York, New Jersey and Milwaukee, Cantor Eskenasy is now the Cantor at KAM Isaiah Israel and is busy learning its rich musical traditions. 

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Jessica Hassid, brought up in Jacksonville, Florida, was raised in a thriving Jewish community. From childhood to adulthood, Jessica has been immersed in all things Jewish. As an active member in youth groups and summer camps, she has molded a solid Jewish identity. Her family roots are deep; with active parents on the shul’s board, Jewish volunteerism, and fundraising. Jessica enjoys traveling, especially to Israel, creating and selling Judaic art, and taking advantage of everything the city has to offer.

Jessica received her Bachelors of Science from Florida State University in Tallahassee, and is a certified teacher in Florida and Illinois. She taught advanced High School art for five years in Jacksonville, while she sponsored extra curricular activities such as the Jewish Club. She taught at Hebrew School and Hebrew High School for years. She volunteered for various organizations, including the Jewish Nursing Home and served on the steering committee for the Federation’s Young Leadership Division.

For years, Jessica was the Assistant Director of the art program at a Jewish Camp in Massachusetts. As a child, she attended Camp Ramah for many summers and credits it as a huge part of her upbringing. She was excited to return as a supervisor, where she coordinated the schedule, trained teachers and taught many classes.

In the summer of 2009, Jessica and her husband moved to Chicago, and she worked in administration at U.I.C. Hillel for the 2009-10 school year. She looks forward to making a difference in students lives as the Religious School Director at KAM Isaiah Israel. “Education is extremely important to me and I take pride in seeing my students learn and grow. My goals are to increase the student’s knowledge of Judaism and involve them in engaging classes to help them find their Jewish identity. I am involved with all things Jewish and I hope to pass on my love for Judaism to all students, so that they too will make Jewish culture and religion part of who they are.”

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