David Lamden was named Executive Director in 2007, having relocated from Columbus, Ohio where he served two Reform congregations as Program Director, Director of Education, Technology Coordinator and Family Life Educator for over fourteen years. David grew up in Tucson in a Reform congregation, where, while in Junior High School and High School, he visited Temple Solel on many occasions. He has extensive Jewish camping experience in both Arizona and California, having held faculty positions and song leading responsibilities. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Judaic Studies from the University of Arizona. In his role as Executive Director, he will facilitate the recruitment of new members and increase opportunities for all members to be involved in congregational life. David will also be responsible for insuring that Temple Solel operates in a fiscally responsible manner.

a study in alchemy…

al•che•my: the power to transform something base into something precious.

Todd Herzog is an artist who takes the raw material of life experiences and creates soulful, spiritual, acoustic pop music along the lines of John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and Marc Cohn. The music is not intended solely as entertainment but also to promote healing and change in people’s lives. His songs invite us to slow down and take a closer look at how the simple choices we make each day affect the shape of our journeys. His first album entitled What I Wouldn’t Give deals with grief, healing and a return to life. His Proverbs album takes quotes from the Bible and other philosophical texts and puts them into a modern context, making this wisdom accessible to a wider audience. His latest release, Bridging The Gap, features Todd’s unique versions of traditional liturgy as well as songs that capture the spirituality found in everyday moments.

The music industry has taken notice of Todd’s talents. He has worked with some of the top songwriters in the world, including Burt Bacharach, Dave Koz, Craig Taubman and Harriet Schock. His debut album was named Best Pop Album in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards. His music and voice have been featured in television and film in shows such as The Young & The Restless, All My Children, One Life To Live, Who Wants To Marry My Dad, The Osbournes, and Melrose Place. Todd performed at this year’s URJ Biennial Convention in San Diego. He was featured in the cover story of the very first issue of Chosen magazine, a publication of the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. He was profiled on NBC’s Arizona Midday Show and he has been a highlighted performer at CAJE and Hava Nashira. Todd worked with students from four different Jewish day schools in the metro Phoenix area to create a special composition called "Hearts To The East" for Israel’s 60th Anniversary, and he will be the Artist-in-Residence for Vocal Music at the JCC Maccabi ArtsFest in Minneapolis this coming August. His live performances have captivated audiences around the country, and his melodies and lyrics are soothing and thought-provoking, appealing to a wide age range.

Please feel free to visit Todd Herzog’s website at: www.toddherzog.com or www.sonicbids.com/toddherzog to learn more about the music of this talented, creative, and special performer. His goal is to bring people together and move them to higher levels of understanding – to truly make a difference in Jewish communities across the country and around the world.