Personal Vision Statement:
“My sacred task as rabbi is to ignite the God-given hidden spark (Or HaGanuz) within each person, and connect this light to others through building spiritual community. The tool of ignition, inspiration, and agitation is our Torah, 70 Faces and all, and my task is make Torah come alive (through diverse venues) in the present so it will live in the future. I seek to be a madrich/guide and leader who can help others traverse through the windy pathways of life. I strive to connect to my congregants and students through our stories, finding each other within our own narratives and journeys.”
Rabbi David Baum has served as the first full-time Rabbi of Congregation Shaarei Kodesh since the summer of 2009. Rabbi Baum received his rabbinical ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary and received his Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from the Davidson School in May 2009.
Born and raised in South Florida, Rabbi Baum attended Conservative Synagogues in both Miami and Plantation, Florida. He attended the University of Florida where he graduated with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a minor in business administration. During college, he engaged in leadership roles at the University of Florida Hillel and with Koach, the Conservative Movement’s college outreach movement, and spent summers working in various capacities at Camp Ramah Darom, the center for Southern Jewry.
As a rabbinical student, Rabbi Baum developed his rabbinic voice in various settings including: pulpits across the country; teen and adult education; Hillel work at the University of Florida; interfaith work at the Auburn Theological Seminary; and social justice work as a Seminary Summer Intern with Interfaith Worker Justice and The Seminary Leadership Project through JOIN for Justice.
Rabbi Baum is the immediate past President of the Palm Beach County Board of Rabbis, past president of the Southeast Region of the Rabbinical Assembly (RA), served on the board of directors for the Levis Jewish Community Center of Boca Raton, and as rabbi director on the board of directors for the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. He is now an honorary board member of JARC, the Jewish community’s central address for people seeking help with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Nationally, Rabbi Baum is the former co-chair of the Rabbinical Assembly’s Resolution’s Committee, former co-chair of the RA’s Strengthening Democracy Committee, was a long time member of the Rabbinical Assembly’s Social Justice Commission, and currently sits on the RA’s Executive Council.
Rabbi Baum has presented at various national conferences including the Rabbinical Assembly, the Jewish National Fund, and JOIN for Justice. Rabbi Baum was a Rabbi for Israel with the Jewish National Fund and is currently a member of the Rabbinic Advisory Committee with Israel Bonds.
Rabbi Baum is an alumnus of the Clergy Leadership Incubator (CLI) Fellowship (cohort 2), a two year program that supports and encourages rabbis in areas of innovative thinking and institutional transformation, and was one of fourteen rabbis chosen to be a Global Justice Fellow with American Jewish World Services from 2019-2020. Rabbi Baum was part of the Institute of Jewish Spiritualites 5th cohort as part of IJS’s Clergy Leadership Program.
He created the Elul Challenge Podcast, a daily podcast for the month of Elul combining study and action, and the Torah from Boca podcast, where he posts his sermons and teachings weekly.
Rabbi Baum lives in Boca Raton with his wife, Dr. Alissa Baum, the Assistant Clinical Director of the Renfrew Center, and their three children, Avi, Harrison and Layla.
Cantor Yakov Hadash has served as the Cantor of Congregation Shaarei Kodesh since 2013. He was invested as a Cantor from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2011 with degrees from both the Cantorial School and Davidson School of Jewish Education.
Cantor Hadash grew up in Long Island, NY where he was a member of Huntington Jewish Center. Later on, he attended University of Pittsburgh where he majored in Music. After that, he studied Hebrew at the WUJS Ulpan in Arad, Israel. While studying at Jewish Theological Seminary, he worked at Camp Ramah in Canada and Beth Jacob in Norwich, CT.
When not singing at Congregation Shaarei Kodesh, he teaches Hebrew, Music, and Jewish Studies classes at Meyer Jewish Preparatory School in Palm Beach Gardens.
Kim Beame, is a seasoned leader in Jewish education with over four decades of experience dedicated to nurturing Jewish learning, identity, and community engagement. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree in Jewish Education from Siegal College.
Throughout her career, Kim has inspired generations of students, families, and educators with her passion for meaningful Jewish learning. She is deeply committed to creating inclusive, engaging, and spiritually rich educational environments.
Kim is the proud mother of two accomplished daughters. Elana, a graduate of Hebrew Union College with a Master’s in Jewish Education, currently serves with Tzedek America in Los Angeles, California. Paige is a fourth-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. She also holds a Master’s in Jewish Education and serves as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves, where she is training to become a Chaplain.
Originally from Miami, Kim relocated to Boca Raton in 2001 with her late husband, Jason z’’l, and their daughters. Since then, she has become an integral part of the local Jewish community.
Beyond her professional life, Kim enjoys traveling—especially cruising – reading, film, and studying Talmud. She values quality time with her partner, Gregg, and cherishes her spiritual connection to Israel, having visited twelve times. Each visit has further deepened her love for the country and strengthened her Hebrew language skills.
Kim brings a unique blend of warmth, leadership, and lifelong learning to her role as Executive Director and continues to make a meaningful impact on all who are part of the CSK community.
Outside of work, She is passionate about ice hockey and enjoys cheering on her favorite teams – the Florida Panthers, LA Kings, and New York Islanders. She is also a devoted cat mom to five wonderful cats. Treating others with kindness, respect, and compassion is at the core of who she is.
In addition to my professional role, she find great fulfillment in giving back to the community, particularly through volunteer work with local animal shelters – a cause that is close to her heart.
It has been a privilege to be part of the CSK Chaverim family for nearly two years, and she truly considers it her second home.
Gina is our Administrative Office Manager. Gina was a Registered Dental Hygienist for 20 years in New Jersey and New York before moving to Boca Raton in 2003 with her husband Michael and their two sons. Gina began as a volunteer, then was hired to work in the office at Congregation Beth Tikvah before merging with Congregation Shaarei Kodesh in 2007. She currently is a part-time employee and continues to assist the Executive Director, Kim Beame, in managing the office. She enjoys spending time with her family, grandchildren and traveling.
Copyright © 2025 Congregation Shaarei Kodesh. All rights reserved. Website designed by Addicott Web.
