Clergy & Staff

Rabbi Norman T. Roman

Rabbi Norman Roman has been the Rabbi at Temple Kol Ami for 25 years. Since he joined the Temple in 1986, it has grown in both size and stature. His knowledge and love of Judaism, his spiritual presence and his leadership have been at the forefront of Temple Kol Ami’s existence moving into the 21st century.

Rabbi Roman, born in New York City, raised in the Cleveland area, was educated at John Carroll University (1971) and was ordained at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati (1975). He received the title of “Reform Jewish Educator” from the URJ and the National Association of Temple Educators in 1991. Additionally, he earned a Master’s Degree in Hebrew Letters and an honorary Doctor of Divinity from HUC-JIR. He has served at congregations in Cleveland, Santa Monica, California and Birmingham, Michigan before coming to Temple Kol Ami. The Rabbi serves on numerous civic committees and boards and is an Adjunct Instructor in Religious Studies at the University of Detroit Mercy.

Rabbi Roman is an accomplished folk singer and guitarist, performing at Temples, Universities and community functions throughout the United States and Israel. He is recognized nationally for his work with Jewish youth and his service as Rabbi-in-Residence at the NFTY Leadership Institute (Camp Kutz) and the Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. His love for and commitment to Israel are very strong. He is descended from chalutzim (pioneers) who were early settlers of Zichron Yaakov and he visits Israel at least once per year.

The Rabbi, his wife, Lynne, and their children live in West Bloomfield.

Rabbi Ariana Jaffe Silverman – Assistant Rabbi

Rabbi Ariana Jaffe Silverman was raised in Chicago, where she was deeply influenced by her years at Temple K.A.M. Isaiah Israel and six summers at OSRUI. She graduated from Harvard University with an A.B. in History, and was actively involved throughout college in social justice programs, theater, and Hillel. Following her passion for environmental education and advocacy, she has worked at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, the Sierra Club, and Hazon.

During rabbinical school, she served congregations including Temple Beth Israel in Steubenville, OH, and Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York. She is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship Program, CLAL’s Rabbis Without Borders Student Fellowship, and the American Jewish World Service (AJWS) Rabbinical Students’ Delegation. She trained in chaplaincy at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ. Among her multiple awards and honors during rabbinical school, she earned the top prize in homiletics. She was ordained by the Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion in 2010.

After living in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, and Israel, she is now a proud resident of the city of Detroit. She lives with her husband, Justin R. Long, who is a professor at Wayne State University Law School.

Nicole Jahr — Director of Education

Nicole Jahr joined Temple Kol Ami as the Director of Education in 2012.  Most recently she was the Interim Director of Education at Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park, MI. Prior to that, she served as Assistant Education Director, religious school teacher, and teacher mentor at Temple Beth El, in Bloomfield Hills, MI for 10 years.

During her 25+ year career as an educator, Nicole has taught religious school kindergarten, 3rd and 5th grades and High School.  She has trained over 80 teachers in the Detroit area as a Professional Development for Teachers facilitator with the Congregational School Initiative (CSI²).  CSI² is a program of the Alliance for Jewish Education, part of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.

Nicole earned her bachelor’s degree at California State University, Fresno, and her teaching certificate from Oakland University in Auburn Hills, Michigan. She lives in Southfield with her wonderful husband and two beautiful daughters.

Tiffany Green – Cantorial Soloist

Cantorial Soloist Tiffany Green came to Temple Kol Ami in 2008, bringing over 10 years’ experience as a synagogue musician and Jewish educator.  She carries on a proud family tradition of professional musicians, choosing to follow in the footsteps of her mother, Cantor Penny Steyer of Temple Shir Shalom.

Tiffany graduated Cum Laude from Oakland University in Rochester, MI, with a B.A. in Music. Passionate about Jewish education, she is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from The William Davidson Graduate School at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

Tiffany is most fulfilled when creating beautiful music and working to instill a strong sense of Jewish pride in our youth. In addition to teaching in the middle and high school program, Tiffany supervises the KATY youth group, and is involved with many Jewish organizations, including J-SERVE, the Youth Professional Council, LEAP, the Michigan Board of Cantors, and the Guild of Temple Musicians.

Having been singing in recording studios since age 12, Tiffany enjoys singing with her mother and brother in the vocal harmony group Heller, Steyer & Green. She and her husband, Curin, live in Sylvan Lake.

Nathalie Conrad – Music Director Emerita

Temple Kol Ami’s Music Director Emerita, Nathalie Conrad, worked with her husband, Rabbi Ernst Conrad, of blessed memory, from the founding of the Temple in 1966 until his death in 2009.

An accomplished musician, Nathalie has coordinated much of the music heard at Temple Kol Ami. She is a member of the Guild of Temple Musicians.

Born in Baltimore, Nathalie began playing piano as a child and graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of Music there in 1954. Over the years as Kol Ami’s Music Director, she has directed the Temple choir, composed and arranged music for services, played at numerous life cycle events and worked with Bar/Bat Mitzvah families to prepare the musical portion of the ceremony.  Nathalie still remains active in Temple musical life, occasionally coordinating the music for special musical Shabbat services, and sometimes even including her own musical compositions.

Nathalie has two grown children and one grandchild.