Clergy

Rabbi David N. Young (he/him) is proud to serve as the interim rabbi for KAM Isaiah Israel in Chicago, IL.

Prior to joining KAMII, he served as Senior Rabbi at Congregation B’nai Tzedek in Fountain Valley, CA for ten years. While there, he served as Regional Rabbi for NFTY-SoCal, sat on the Advisory Board of the Orange County Alzheimers Association, as well as the Huntington Beach Interfaith Council and the Orange County Board of Rabbis. He also earned a URJ Belin Award for his Social Action work in New Orleans, LA, bringing teens there to repair flood damage that still remains following Hurricane Katrina.

He has a wealth of youth, teaching, camping, and pulpit experience  He has served congregations in Fountain Valley, CA; North Miami Beach, Florida; New York, New York; Fairbanks, Alaska; Steubenville, Ohio; Weldon, North Carolina, and has taught middle school, high school, and adults. 

He grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was very active in his high school theatre troupe and in B'nai Brith Youth Organization. He received a B.A. in Theatre from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, New York, in 2006. Rabbi Young brings all of his passionate commitment to Jewish life to his innovative teachings and programs. He is especially passionate about summer camp, and he has served as faculty or staff at Camp Newman, Kutz Camp, Hess Kramer, Camp Coleman, Crane Lake Camp, Gindling Hilltop Camp, and Camp Livingston. He credits Jewish summer camp with igniting the passion for Jewish life that inspired him to become a rabbi.

Rabbi Young is married to Cantor Natalie Young who he met at Gindling Hilltop Camp in Malibu, CA, and they are the proud parents of three children: Gabriel, Alexander, and Isabella. They also have a dog, Orion, who they rescued in 2014. Off the bimah, he enjoys theater, cooking, and escape rooms. He also is currently on the CCAR Convention Planning Committee, hosts a podcast called Torah Smash! The podcast for nerdy Jews, DMs a weekly D&D game for other rabbis, and is a member of the FBI Citizens Academy.

 

 

Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Cantor Berger received a BA in Religious Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, an MA in Philosophy at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and a Masters of Sacred Music and cantorial ordination at the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. Cantor Berger also earned a certificate in Jewish education at the Melton Centre for Jewish Education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He currently serves on the board of the American Conference of Cantors as the chair for Continuing Professional Development. As a performer, Cantor Berger is especially known for his expertise in traditional Ashkenazic chazzanut (cantorial singing) as well as his knowledge of Jewish world music.

 

Cantor Berger previously served as the cantor of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City from 2005 to 2009 and then at Congregation Tikvat Jacob Beth Torah in Manhattan Beach, CA from 2009 to 2014. Cantor Berger frequently brings his sons, Matan and Avraham, to services at KAM Isaiah Israel. His husband, Rabbi D'ror Chankin-Gould, is the Assistant Rabbi at Anshe Emet Synagogue.

 

Visit www.cantordavidberger.com to hear excerpts of Cantor Berger's music.