Warmly welcomed by our Congregation, Rabbi-Cantor Hutchings joined the synagogue in 2014.
A national award-winning educator, Rabbi-Cantor Jessica Hutchings has spent almost a decade conveying the beauty of Jewish music to children and adults in Southern California as well as Las Vegas. Rabbi-Cantor Hutchings did her undergraduate work at California State University, Long Beach’s Bob Cole Conservatory from which she received a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in Vocal Performance and a concentration in Opera. She then continued her studies at the American Jewish University’s Fingerhut School of Education, receiving a Bachelor’s in Literature in Hebrew Letters as well as a Master’s of Arts in Education. In May 2014, Mrs. Hutchings was ordained as a Chazzan/Cantor and received a second Master’s in Jewish Sacred Music from the Academy for Jewish Religion, CA. In May 2025, Mrs. Hutchings was ordained a Rabbi from the Academy for Jewish Religion, CA.
Rabbi-Cantor Hutchings has worked as a Hebrew and post-B’nai Mitzvah teacher at Congregation B’nai Tzedek (Fountain Valley, CA), a Cantorial Soloist at Valley Outreach Synagogue (Las Vegas, NV), a B’nai Mitzvah coordinator at Temple Shalom of the South Bay (Hermosa Beach, CA) and as the Youth Director (grades 3-12) of Congregation Tikvat Jacob (Manhattan Beach, CA). A long-time educator and Guest Cantor at Temple Israel (Long Beach, CA), she also was a Guest Instructor there teaching an Adult Education class entitled “Contemporary Jewish Music.” Between 2010-2014, Rabbi-Cantor Hutchings served as the Cantorial Soloist and Director of Music Programming and Education at Temple Menorah (Redondo Beach, CA). In addition to co-leading all Shabbat and holiday services as well as the B’nai Mitzvah, Rabbi-Cantor Hutchings established and directed the Kol Hakavod youth choir, established Jews Next Dor, a young adults social chavurah for singles and couples ages 21-36, an adult choir and band, and worked with the Director of Education to develop and implement music curriculum. Rabbi-Cantor Hutchings’ renown as a superlative Jewish educator received national validation in 2009, when she won the national Grinspoon-Steinhardt Excellence in Jewish Education Award for being an “Exceptional Teacher, Mentor and Leader.” That same year, she also received the Smotrich Family Foundation Educator Award. Rabbi-Cantor Hutchings has performed in a number of major concerts all over the world, from Carnegie Hall in NYC to historic venues in Europe, of both Jewish and secular music. And she also proudly sang the National Anthem at a Los Angeles Dodgers game as well as at two games of the Los Angeles Kings.
In July of 2014, Jessica, her husband Jeremy, and their two dogs: Matzah Ball and Latke, moved back to Las Vegas so that she could begin her tenure.
Rabbi Julie Bressler is thrilled to join the team at Congregation Ner Tamid. She previously served as Associate Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Oakland, CA, and Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, MA. At both Congregations, Rabbi Bressler spearheaded social justice and social action programming, supported the Synagogues’ education programs, oversaw the Intro to Judaism and Choosing Judaism programs, and connected with Congregants through pastoral care, worship, lifecycle events, and more.
Rabbi Bressler earned Rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles in 2019 and a Master of Arts in Jewish Education from HUC in 2017.
Rabbi Bressler grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where she was an active participant at her Synagogue (Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, CA) and attended URJ Camp Newman for seven summers. She returned to Camp Newman on the camp leadership team for four summers during Rabbinical school and now loves to serve as camp faculty each summer.
She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2010 with a degree in Women and Gender Studies and American Culture Studies. Before attending Rabbinical school, Rabbi Bressler worked as a youth and teen programming professional in St. Louis and the Bay Area.
Rabbi Bressler is a passionate teacher, community builder, and social justice advocate. She enjoys supporting others through their Jewish journeys, sharing the power of Jewish tradition, and asking and discussing big questions. She can’t wait to meet you!
Yiddish singer/ creator, composer, prayer leader, instrumentalist, and producer Heather Klein follows her passion for special projects based in history that breathe life into the stories of the past and present day that might have been overlooked or forgotten.
Klein is a classically trained and crossover singer performing musical theater, Yiddish classical song, and folk music. She has performed across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Most recently, she has performed at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum and The Breman Museum in Atlanta on tour with her show “Shanghai Angel: Finding Rosa” and with the lecture/ concert “Wild Burning Rage and Song: Replies to Scottsboro,” most recently seen at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History (PA), The YIVO Institute (NYC), and several universities and Synagogues.
Klein has also appeared on PBS.com in the documentary “Harbor from the Holocaust,” and has worked on the “Chanukah Spectacular” with the Folksbiene Theatre (NYC). She acted in and helped compose “The God of Vengeance” (SF Critics’ Choice Award) with Yiddish Theatre Ensemble (CA), worked with Sundance (MA), and Music Theatre Group (NYC), among others.
Klein has also performed at: YIVO/ Sydney Krum Young Artists Concert Series (NYC), Ashkenaz Festival (Toronto), YidStock at the Yiddish Book Center (MA), Mameloshn Festival (Winnipeg), KlezKanada (Montreal), JCC Budapest – Balint Haz (Hungary), Shalom Aleichem Center (Tel Aviv), throughout the Bay Area, and many residencies throughout the U.S.
Klein has also premiered the title roles in “Lilith the Night Demon,” a modern Yiddish/ English Opera on a West Coast tour and at the Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto, as well as the West Coast premiere of “Di Megile of Itsik Manger” (2 tours). She also premiered the role of Rosie in the world premiere of “Ravensbrück Project,” a cabaret opera based on the Holocaust, before a sold-out theater in Boston, as well as playing Rivka Shmuel for the West Coast tour of “MeshugaNutcracker!” (3Below Theatres, CA).
Klein has produced many events nationally, including in the Bay Area. Some highlights include “Yiddish Spring” in honor of Yom HaShoah at the Contemporary Jewish Museum (San Francisco, CA), performing newly composed Yiddish songs, and YidVegas (A Yiddish Culture and Music Festival) that Klein created in Las Vegas, where it enjoyed a seven-year run.
Klein has also produced and recorded four albums. Her most current releases of “Rooted Lullaby,” a tri-lingual live recording of original lullabies with colleagues Joshua Horowitz and Cantor Becky Khitrik (NV), and original songs from “Shanghai Angel” about her grandmother’s immigrant story. “Shanghai Angel” premiered at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, was written, composed, and produced by Klein, with music arranged by her collaborator Joshua Horowitz (Veretski Pass) and with officer, choreographer/ director Bruce Bierman. The show has continued to morph and is now called “Shanghai Angel: Finding Rosa.”
Klein has also enjoyed residencies at Synagogues with her new Jewish music for life and community, and her music has been showcased at NewCaje, Hava Nashira, and on Jewish Women Rock.
Klein lives in Las Vegas, loves trying new coffee and food spots with her husband and 8-year-old daughter, is working on new and current projects, and is a tutor and vocal teacher.
Our Rabbi is the spiritual leader of our Congregation and a leader in creating a vibrant Jewish community in Southern Nevada.
Sanford Akselrad has served as the spiritual leader of Congregation Ner Tamid since he came to Las Vegas in 1988. During this time, the Synagogue grew from approximately 60 to over 600 families, becoming the largest Reform Synagogue in the State of Nevada. In his 30 years of service to our Congregation, Rabbi Akselrad has served on a wide variety of community boards including the Humana Hospital Pastoral Advisory Board, the Jewish Nevada, Jewish Family Services and the National Conference of Community and Justice.
A firm believer in K’lal Israel and building a strong Jewish community, Rabbi Akselrad has spearheaded many community-wide Boards, Commissions and organizations that have helped shape the Jewish community we live in today. He is a founding member and current President of the Clark County Board of Rabbis. He is also a founding member and past Chair of the National Conference of Community and Justice’s Interfaith Council and of the Federation’s Community Relations Council (CRC). Rabbi Akselrad also spear-headed the effort to bring the Interfaith Hospitality Network model of sheltering homeless families to Las Vegas. Now called Family Promise, this model uses the facilities and volunteers from local faith communities to shelter, feed and encourage homeless families to live with dignity and hope, and ultimately end their period of homelessness.
In the wake of the Great Recession of the late 2000’s, Rabbi Akselrad envisioned Project Ezra, a partnership between the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, the Board of Rabbis, and Jewish Family Service Agency. Project Ezra helped over 600 people of all faiths secure new employment during this challenging economic climate.
Rabbi Akselrad is currently a board member of the Anti-Defamation League of Las Vegas and the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada. Rabbi Akselrad has served on the National Commission on Jewish Living, Worship and Music for the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) for over ten years. He has also served on the Outreach Committee (to interfaith families) of the URJ.
Rabbi Akselrad was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1984. His rabbinic thesis dealt with the moral implications of the Holocaust and how the Holocaust is taught in public and private schools. Because of his expertise, Rabbi Akselrad helped form the Governor’s Council on Holocaust Education, and he faithfully served as a member of that Board for over twenty five years.
Upon ordination in 1984 Rabbi Akselrad served as the associate Rabbi of one of the largest Reform Congregations in the mid-west, Temple Israel of Columbus, Ohio. In 2009, Hebrew Union College-JIR awarded Rabbi Akselrad an honorary doctorate of Divinity upon his 25th year in the rabbinate. Rabbi Akselrad also served as President of the Pacific Area of Reform Rabbis, one of the largest rabbinical organizations in North America.
Through his involvement in the interfaith community, he has been a constant presence in Interfaith forums, and the co-founder of the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving service.
Rabbi Akselrad’s community contributions and leadership are the best example of Congregation Ner Tamid’s commitment to Tikkun Olam and Social Justice.
Rabbi is married to Joni and has two children, CJ and Sam. His daughter-in-law is Ana and his granddaughter is Genevieve.
