Congregation Iyr Ha’Melech is pleased to introduce Religious Educator Sue Potechin.
Sue is a life-long member of Temple Israel, a Reform congregation in Ottawa.
Sue has taught Judaics and Hebrew for many years at Temple Israel Religious School (JK – grade 10) and is now the Principal. She has tutored children and adults for B’nai Mitzvah, and has taught Hebrew in a public high school as well as Hebrew and various topics in Judaics to adults. Sue is a graduate of the “Para-Rabbinic Fellow/Shaliach Kehillah” program at HUC-JIR. While Sue reminds us she is not a Rabbi, she comes with many years of experience in leading Shabbat and holiday services and all lifecycle events as either the officiant or coofficiant alongside a Rabbi through the lens of an educator and congregational soloist. I was privileged to enjoy a beautiful Bat Mitzvah celebration led by Sue, in 2019. Music plays an integral part in Sue’s life as a devoted Shlicha Tzibur (Lay Cantor) and a member of the Temple Israel Liturgical Choir (with her husband, Mark). Sue and Mark have 4 children between them (Shira, Joel, Sam and Maya) from previous marriages. Some of you may remember her daughter, Sam Ruckenstein, from when she taught in the Iyr Hamelch religious school and tutored for B’nai Mitzvah. Sue is currently working to obtain an EMA in Jewish Education at HUC-JIR.
We are very fortunate and excited that Sue has so kindly accepted our offer to join our congregation as an educator and service leader.