Temple Israel Clergy
Rabbi Wendy Love Anderson loves teaching, writing, and building Jewish communities. She holds a B.A. from Williams College, a Ph.D in History of Christianity from the University of Chicago, and an M.A. in Jewish Studies from the Academy for Jewish Religion, where she also received her rabbinic ordination.
Her academic interests include Jewish-Christian relations, childhood and religion, and making Jewish history more engaging than the way she originally learned it. Her rabbinic interests include interfaith family inclusion, intergenerational learning, and making Jewish tradition more open and accessible.
Before coming to Temple Israel, Rabbi Anderson taught at several universities, most recently Washington University in St. Louis, and held rabbinic internships at Kol Rinah in St. Louis, MO, and Temple Israel of Vestal, NY. She is currently a member of AJR's Board of Trustees and part of the Sounding Board for Bayit: Building Jewish. She also teaches one course a semester in UAlbany's Judaic Studies Program.
She is married to Jeremy Buhler, a professor of computer science, and they have two children, Rayne and Zach.
Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Hazzan Marx’s journey has taken him across multiple continents, shaping his deep connection to Jewish life and music. He lived in Jerusalem, New York, and Texas, enriching his spiritual and musical path. Yet, it was in Albany, NY, where he truly found his home. At Temple Israel, he has built lasting relationships, fostering a vibrant and welcoming musical and spiritual community. His presence has been instrumental in shaping the congregation’s worship, life-cycle events, and educational programs.
Hazzan Marx is a 1995 graduate of the School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College (HUC) and later earned a Master of Arts in Judaic Studies from HUC in 1997. His academic background is both diverse and distinguished—before pursuing the cantorate, he earned an engineering degree in São Paulo and continued his studies at the prestigious Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. His excellence in scholarship and service has been recognized with multiple awards from Hebrew Union College, the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, and the Rich Foundation, among others.
As an active and engaged Jewish leader, Hazzan Marx is a proud member of the Cantors Assembly and the American Conference of Cantors. He remains dedicated to advancing Jewish music and worship, blending tradition with contemporary expression.
Beyond his professional life, Hazzan Marx is deeply devoted to his family. He is married to Dr. Naomi Falk, a vitreoretinal specialist who has been practicing in Albany since their arrival in 2002. He is also the proud father of Joshua, a college student at Western New England University and a member of the school’s tennis team. Together, they have built a life in Albany, embracing the region as their home and actively contributing to the broader Jewish and medical communities.