MEET OUR CLERGY
Rabbi Celia Surget
Rabbi Celia Surget joined Congregation Albert in July 2021.
Rabbi Surget grew up in a multicultural home in Geneva, Switzerland, her mother is American and her father French. Her family has been committed to Reform Judaism for several generations. Both of her parents were professional musicians with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, before her mother became a Jewish educator.
Rabbi Surget studied History of Religions, Hebrew and Philosophy at the University of Geneva and began her Rabbinic studies at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem and New-York, before transferring to the Leo Baeck College in London. On graduating, she spent four years working for the MJLF (Mouvement Juif Liberal de France) in Paris, where she worked both as a congregational Rabbi and as Director of Education. In 2011 she joined Radlett Reform Synagogue (just north of London in the United Kingdom) as the Associate Rabbi and Director of Education.
Rabbi Surget is a founding member of Kerem, the French Liberal rabbinic association. During her time in Paris, she co-wrote a Talmud Torah curriculum designed to meet the specific needs of the French Progressive congregations and she developed informal education programmes such as camps and Israel tours.
While in London, she served as chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors UK, chair of Arzenu UK and chaired the committee that brought a code of ethics and processes to the UK based Progressive movements.
In her free time, Rabbi Surget enjoys baking, slowly running marathons, going to the opera and the amazing New Mexico outdoors.
She looks forward to hearing from you!
Cantor Barbara Finn
Cantor Barbara R. Finn began her position as cantor at Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico in July of 2004. Previously she served as primary soloist and music director of Congregation Beth Torah in Overland Park, Kansas from 1990-2004. She also taught elementary school music in the Olathe School District from 1979-2004. Her degrees include a Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at Austin in Music Education and Voice with Minors in History, Yiddish Language and Literature, a Masters Degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City in Educational Administration and Cantorial Ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion School of Sacred Music. She also holds the prestigious title of R. J. E. Reform Jewish Educator.
Cantor Finn founded and coordinated the Kansas City Cantor’s Council from its inception until moving to Albuquerque. She is a founding member, current and Past President of RACAA, the Rabbinical and Cantorial Association of Albuquerque.
Nationally, Cantor Finn is a member of the American Conference of Cantors where she has served as chair of the Membership relations committee and several convention committees. She is also a member of Zamir Choral Foundation, Music Educators National Conference and American Choral Directors Association. She participated as a Leadership Team Member of the Synagogue 2000 National Reform Cohort. She is a trained facilitator of Dr. Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
Cantor Finn has led worship services at the American Conference of Cantors national convention on several occasions as well as at the North American Jewish Choral Festival, and the Union for Reform Judaism’s Pacific Coast Regional Biennial. She has served on faculty for URJ Camps Newman and Goldman Union Camp Institute. She has led workshops as well as sung in the CAJE (Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education) Cantor’s Choir at National CAJE Conferences. She has been a concert soloist for community events in Kansas City and Albuquerque as well as for the national convention of the American Conference of Cantors.
Cantor Finn and her husband David, a retired Teacher of English, have a son, daughter, and son-in-law of whom they are very proud, and an amazing grandson.
Rabbi Emeritus Harry Rosenfeld
Email Rabbi Emeritus Rosenfeld
Rabbi Harry L. Rosenfeld retired as Rabbi of Congregation Albert on June 30, 2021 and became the Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Albert on July 1, 2021. He had served as Rabbi of Congregation Albert since July 1, 2011. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and received a Bachelor of Science degree from John Carroll University in 1976. He received a Master’s degree in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1980, was ordained in 1981, and received the Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa in 2006. He has also pursued course work in the Jewish Studies doctoral program at Spertus Institute of Judaica. After ordination he served as Assistant Rabbi in Memphis, Tennessee (1981-1984), Rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom in Anchorage, Alaska (1984-2000), and Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo, New York (2000-2011).
In Buffalo, Rabbi Emeritus Rosenfeld expanded Temple Beth Zion’s outreach to its members as well as social justice programs in western New York including Mitzvah Day, becoming the first synagogue in the country to expand its Mitzvah Day partnership to include a church and two mosques. In addition, Rabbi Emeritus Rosenfeld led liturgical change culminating in the adoption of Mishkan T’filah, the new prayer book of the Reform Movement. He was adjunct professor at SUNY Buffalo and Canisius College and served on multiple boards and commissions including as President of the Buffalo Board of Rabbis.
In Alaska, in addition to his regular temple duties, Rabbi Emeritus Rosenfeld traveled throughout the state working with the Jewish communities in Fairbanks, Juneau, Kenai, and individuals in Bush Alaska. He served as an adjunct professor at Alaska Pacific University, and was a guest columnist for the Anchorage Daily News. Rabbi Emeritus Rosenfeld was also active in the Anchorage Human Services community and served on the board of Catholic Social Services and as president of United Way. He was honored by the Alaska State Legislature in 1994 for his community work against racism and again in 2000 for his 16 years of service to the people of Alaska. He served on the board of the Interfaith Council of Anchorage, which named their annual interfaith service award in his honor.
Rabbi Emeritus Rosenfeld enjoys salmon fishing, riding his bike and reading science fiction. He is married to Michele L. Hope, an archeologist recently retired from the Federal government.
