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Rabbi Howard Kaplansky received his B.A. degree from Ohio State University, and was ordained Rabbi at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion where he received his M.A.H.L. and D.D. degrees.
Rabbi Kaplansky is Senior Rabbi of United Hebrew Congregation in St. Louis, Missouri. He previously served congregations in Springfield, Massachusetts and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was the Director of the Midwest Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
Active in communal affairs, Rabbi Kaplansky has been President of the St. Louis Jewish Community Relations Council, the St. Louis Rabbinical Association, and the Association of Reform Rabbis. He has been on the Boards of Trustees of the St. Louis Jewish Federation, Jewish Family and Children's Service, the St. Louis Jewish Light, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and combined Health Services of St. Louis. He was formerly vice-president of the St. Louis Interfaith Clergy Council and of Doorways.
Every year for the spring semester, Rabbi Kaplansky teaches a course in Judaic Studies at Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis, under the auspices of the Jewish Chautauqua Society.
Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg shares with Rabbi Kaplansky involvement in all aspects of congregational activities.
Rabbi Rosenberg was Director of Admissions and Recruitment and supervisor of all youth programs for Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. Her responsibilities included the supervision of rabbinic student interns.
In addition, Rabbi Rosenberg was a Chaplain Intern and completed a program of Clinical Pastoral Education at The Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati. She served as Rabbi of Congregation Anshei Emet of Piqua, Ohio, and as Student Rabbi of pulpits in Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Texas.
Rabbi Rosenberg's youth work experience is extensive; in addition to her work at Hebrew Union College, she served as camp faculty at various UAHC camps and as Director of Education at UAHC Greene Family Camp in Texas. She was also NFTY North American President. Her awards include the Robert Adler Prize for contributions to the community, the Rabbi Frederick Schwartz Prize for contributions to camping and youth work, and the Rabbi Emil Leipziger Prize for the best essay in the area of social or community service.
Cantor Ronald Eichaker had an early interest in pursuing the cantorate, functioning as a student Hazzan while a teenager. He entered Northern Illinois University in 1974 majoring in music education and vocal performance on a full athletic scholarship in Track and Field. Subsequently, he enrolled at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and received the Diploma of Hazzan in 1982. At Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshuran in Milwaukee, Wisconsin he took a strong interest in the B’nai Mitzvah process, Family Educational Events and Programs, Adult Education, and directed the Torah Readers Academy and Adult Torah Institute. He also opened the doors of the congregation to the secular community through multi-cultural and interdenominational concerts and programs.
Cantor Eichaker has a warm and beautiful voice, and has dynamic skills as a Hazzan, as a teacher, and as a communicator with children. He is a highly skilled guitarist and percussionist, and interestingly, has competed on an international level in the javelin throw! He and his wife, Heidi, are the parents of two wonderful daughters, Lauren and Lindsay. He now serves as Cantor of United Hebrew Congregation in St. Louis and has done so since August, 1999.