Our Leadership Team | cbi-galveston

Meet the Leadership Team of Congregation B'nai Israel

In an intimate congregation, everyone has a chance to take on a leadership role, investing themselves in the betterment of our Congregation and our community. Presently, this is the leadership team of CBI, including our Executive Committee and our Board of Trustees.

Please get to know us, as we are eager to get to know you:

Rabbi Peter Kessler

Congregation B'nai Israel Rabbi - rabbi@cbigalveston.org

Rabbi Peter Kessler was born and raised in Chicago and received his B.S. degree in Business Management from the University of Illinois. He received his Master’s Degree and Ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Rabbi Kessler received his Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) in May of 2021. Rabbi Kessler is the proud father of his son Floyd, an art student at Alfred University in upstate New York.

Rabbi Kessler is proud of his extensive work in interfaith and community outreach and his vision for a congregation that is open and welcoming to all types of Jewish families. His decision to come to Congregation B’nai Israel in Galveston is predicated on the warm and cohesive community he found during his search for a new pulpit. “I fell in love with the people at Congregation B’nai Israel”, said Rabbi Kessler, "and I look forward to being part of the wonderful community of Galveston”

Rabbi Todd Doctor

Interim Education Director - educator@cbigalveston.org

Rabbi Todd Doctor, a Houston native, is a dedicated educator who passionately believes that knowledge empowers individuals and shape lives. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. Rabbi Doctor went on to earn his Rabbinical Ordination from Zeigler School of Rabbinic Studies, Masters of Arts Degree in Rabbinic Studies, and Masters of Arts Degree in Education from the Fingerhut School of Education at the University of Judaism (AJU).

Rabbi Doctor has served as a teacher, consultant and educational leader for a number of Jewish schools and agencies, across the country. Rabbi Doctor founded Minds of Tomorrow to mentor and coach a variety of age groups and those of diverse religious backgrounds. He is committed to creating innovative approaches designed to enable children, adults, families, and groups to achieve their full potential by becoming conscious of who they are as a person through the process of mentoring and coaching to consciousness.

Rabbi Doctor moved to Galveston in 2011. He is married to Sarah Shabot and they have two fabulous children, Caleb and Jacob, and their dog, Dudley. Rabbi Doctor also serves as a Chaplain for the Galveston Police Department and lectures on Violence in Sacred Spaces.

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