Meet the heart and soul of Temple Beth Tikvah, Our Clergy, and Our Staff.

Our Clergy

Rabbi Brian Beal

A native of this region, Rabbi Beal grew up in Monmouth County, NJ and served as the JFTY (now NFTY-GER) Chaplain. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Emory University and went on to serve as a professional fundraiser for his alma mater for seven years. Rabbi Beal received a Masters of Arts in Hebrew Letters in 1997 and ordination in 1998 from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1998, where he wrote a thesis on Judaism and the Twelve Steps. 

Rabbi Beal served Temple Shaari Emeth in Manalapan, NJ, where he was particularly focused on engaging youth and young families. He was the rabbi of Temple Beth Torah in Nyack, NY–now called the Reform Temple of Rockland–for thirteen years, where he worked with staff and volunteers to develop award-winning social justice experiences, initiated an interfaith symposium in partnership with local synagogues, churches and a mosque, and fostered a welcoming environment for people with disabilities. Most recently, he served as the interim rabbi at Beth David Reform Congregation in Gladwyne, PA, Temple Beth-El in Jersey City, and Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction.  

Rabbi Beal can be reached via email: rabbibeal@templebethtikvahnj.org

Cantor Emeritus Charles Romalis

After arriving at Temple Beth Tikvah, Cantor Emeritus Romalis set out to create an atmosphere of joy and celebration through his cantorate and to create a wonderful and meaningful musical legacy second to none. In the process, he also helped ensure that Temple Beth Tikvah serves as a spiritual home to everyone.

Cantor Emeritus Romalis embodies the title Sh’liach Tsibur, a sacred term for what it means to be a cantor: a messenger for the community. He has a gift for focusing on the positive aspects of life and making people feel good and better about their own lives. He truly is the eternal optimist.

During his 50 years as Temple Beth Tikvah’s Cantor, he has worked with people of all ages, including teaching all grades in the Religous School and adult Hebrew Learning. He has been involved in all aspects of clergy leadership and education like youth director, principal of the primary grades, and adult and children’s choir director. He has officiated at many life-cycle events such as weddings, renewal of vows, funerals, unveilings, baby naming, and more.

Cantor Romalis has been a guiding light that has helped Temple Beth Tikvah embrace the diverse and enriching musical traditions of the Jewish people. He has created an extraordinary legacy that will continue to serve Temple Beth Tikvah’s congregation into the future.

Cantor Lois Kittner

Cantor Lois Kittner will join us as Interim Part-time Cantor for the 2023-24 year. Cantor Lois will work with our B’nai Mitzvah students to learn trope and prepare to chant their Torah and Haftorah portions. Cantor Lois will lead our monthly Tot Shabbat service and join Rabbi Beal on the bima for approximately two Erev Shabbat Services per month as well as for our Shabbat morning B’nai Mitzvah services this year. 

Cantor Lois began a singing career as a cabaret performer before turning her love of performing to singing at her synagogue, later taking on leadership roles as a cantorial soloist and service leader. She also has experience as an educator, which is apparent in her approach to teaching her students, young and old. Cantor Lois received cantorial training at the Academy of Jewish Religion and was ordained in 2016. Cantor Lois lives in Bogota with her husband Nathan, an attorney in NJ. They have two adult sons and three cats.

Cantor Kittner can be reached via email: CantorKittner@TempleBethTikvahNJ.org

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Our Staff

Alissa Okrent – Director of Education

Alissa has been a Jewish educator for over 27 years, serving as the principal of Temple Shalom in Succasunna, NJ, for the last five years. Over the years, she has taught every grade level, from kindergarten through high school, utilizing an array of established Jewish curriculums. During her tenure as principal, Alissa created a Madrichim program for classroom support, introduced virtual learning to support classroom activities before COVID forced other religious schools to do the same, established regular communication vehicles with faculty and parents, and was recognized as an outstanding mentor.

Alissa can be reached via email Principal@TempleBethTikvahNJ.org