Victor Finkelstein, First Vice President

Debbie Bass, VICE PRESIDENT

Amy Kane, vice president

Richard Hellman, Treasurer

Stefanie Benson-Hebberd, Secretary

Larry Myer, immediate past president

Emily Albano
Jim Appelbaum
Alison Cohen

Amy Franklin
Jack Garfinkle
PHil Meltzer
Elizabeth Lenz

Clifton Rope
Nina Shik
David Spizman
jeri Swinton

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Rabbi Craig Lewis

Rabbi Craig Lewis was confirmed at Congregation Beth Torah in 1991, and since then has become even more involved in Jewish life. He is thrilled to have come home to Kansas City and serve the congregation that helped to shape his Jewish identity and has supported his family for more than thirty years. After graduating from Shawnee Mission East, Rabbi Lewis studied Business Administration and French at the University of Kansas where he was awarded a fellowship that took him to France where he earned a degree in international business. He has never forgotten the warm welcome he received from the Jewish community in Clermont-Ferrarnd, and his experiences spending holidays with a Tunisian Jewish family would later inspire some of his studies in rabbinical school. After returning to the USA, Rabbi Lewis moved to Orange County, California where he worked in customer service and education, always holding part-time roles in Jewish education. Most importantly, during this time, he met his wife Jennifer. They soon moved to Memphis, Tennessee where Jennifer worked for the Jewish Community Center and Rabbi Lewis continued to teach part-time in synagogue schools. He ultimately decided to take the leap and make Judaism his full-time job.  He was accepted into Hebrew Union College's rabbinical studies program, and the couple soon found themselves in Jerusalem in the Summer of 2003, along with their faithful Chow Chow mix Nala. Spending the next four years at HUC in Cincinnati, Rabbi Lewis served congregations in Mattoon, Illinois and Muncie, Indiana, and he completed a two-year term as rabbinic intern for the Valley Temple. Upon completing his studies, and having written a rabbinic thesis about French Literature of North African Jewish communities, an homage to the families who had shown him kindness years before, Rabbi Lewis was ordained in 2008. Since then, he has served congregations in Irvine, California, as an Assistant Rabbi, and as a Senior Rabbi in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. He returned to Beth Torah to become its third senior rabbi in Summer of 2026. Rabbi Lewis and Jennifer have a son Eden who is in college studying drama. They own two English bulldogs, Atlas and Gamora (named for the Marvel Comics character, not the biblical city) and two cats, Daisy and Mushu (named for the Disney dragon, not the Chinese pancake).

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Stephanie Kolb, Interim Weiner Religious School Cooridinator

Stephanie has more than twenty-five years of professional experience as a pre-K and kindergarten teacher in Blue Valley Schools, Beth Shalom, and most recently at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. She holds a Masters Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Reading. And she has been a part of our Beth Torah community for many years, serving as a teacher in the Weiner Religious School, as well as raising her three sons in our congregation. With her past experience as a camper, counselor, and unit head at URJ GUCI summer camp and her professional expertise, she has the perfect balance of informal education know-how combined with solid educational and leadership theory.

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Lezlie Zucker, Director of Music & Worship Leader

Lezlie has been writing, performing, and leading music for most of her life. For the past decade she has been part of the local Jewish music community, helping to lead JFS’ Gathering for Spiritual Peace and Wholeness, participating in the Boogie-to-Broadway choral fundraiser, and singing at various programs throughout the Kansas City metro. Lezlie has worked closely with the Beth Torah staff since shortly after joining the congregation, and has been an integral part of the Beth Torah worship team for almost ten years. She was back-up worship leader for Linda Sweenie; acted as part of the interim team under Judith Evnen; and filled several roles for Emily Tummons, including worship leader back-up, worship team member, choir director, and religious school substitute. Lezlie also had a hand in our Yom Kippur creative afternoon service, first participating as a soloist, then leading, and eventually creating a new iteration of the program. During the recent rabbinical transition period, Lezlie also served as the congregation’s Program Coordinator. She is happy to be back as an official part of the Beth Torah Staff. When not working for the congregation, Lezlie writes music, books, musicals, and plays (which she sometimes directs). Her music has been produced by a local record label and published by Transcontinental Music Publications. Her plays continue to be produced both locally and nationwide. Lezlie is married to Dave Zucker, who has probably made you laugh at least once.

Sharon Altman, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Sharon has held a part time position with Beth Torah since 1995. She is responsible for donations and yahrzeits as well as assisting staff members as needed. She also has been involved in the congregation’s Golf Tournaments and Directory Fundraising efforts. Sharon and her husband have two grown children. They have been members of Beth Torah since 1991. 

Alex Mead, Administrative Assistant

Hello, my name is Alex Mead and I manage the front desk, some bookkeeping, and whatever else they need me to manage. I’m from Overland Park and have previously worked at the Jewish Community Center. Some things to know about me... I am a huge Kansas City sports fan (Go Royals!), I graduated with a degree in kinesiology from Kansas State University, and I love to draw and read. My favorite book series/movie franchise is the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. That's just a little bit about me, and I cannot wait to share more when we connect over the phone or at Beth Torah!

RABBI MARK H. LEVIN, FOUNDING RABBI & Rabbi Emeritus

Rabbi Mark H. Levin is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. Graduated in 1971 from Boston University, magna cum laude with distinction in religion, Rabbi Levin received his Master of Arts in Hebrew letters from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in 1974, his Certificate in Jewish Communal Studies in 1974 (Los Angeles), and was ordained in 1976 (Cincinnati). Most recently, Rabbi Levin completed his Doctorate of Hebrew Letters through HUC-JIR in New York in May, 2001, and his honorary Doctor of Divinity in 2001 in Cincinnati. He has been the congregational Pulpit Rabbi for Congregation Beth Torah since its inception in 1988 up until his retirement from this position in June 2014. In July 2014 he accepted the position of Beth Torah’s Founding Rabbi. Rabbi Levin is the father of three children and grandfather of two grandchildren. He is married to the former Kacy Childs-Winston, the mother of Kyle and Seth Winston. Rabbi Levin serves on several local boards and writes religion columns for the Kansas City Star, and answers questions for the “Ask the Rabbi” service of the Union of Reform Judaism.