Our Clergy

Rabbi Sharon Sobel, Interim Rabbi

Rabbi Sobel began working with us on July 1, 2025, for one year as our interim Rabbi while we search for a new settled Rabbi.

Rabbi Sobel served congregations in Massachusetts, New York, Chicago and Toronto. Her philosophy echos that of Dr. Ron Wolfson, who states in his book, Relational Judaism: 

“What really matters is that we care about the people we seek to engage. When we genuinely care about people, we will not only welcome them, we listen to their stories, we will share ours, and we will join together to build a Jewish community that enriches our lives.”

Rabbi Sobel served as Executive Director of the Union for Reform Judaism’s Canadian Council for Reform Judaism and ARZA Canada for over 9 years. Later, as Judaic Consultant for the York Region of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Rabbi Sobel was responsible for developing and enhancing spiritual life in the York region, the fastest growing Jewish population in all of North America.

The daughter of a Reform rabbi (Rabbi Richard J. Sobel, z״l, from Glens Falls, NY), Rabbi Sobel was ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in May, 1989. She received her undergraduate degree in mass communications from Boston University’s School of Public Communications
 

Zemer Lexie Nuell, Director of Music and Community

Zemer Lexie has served as the Music Director of Temple Beth Or since 2008.  A native of Kansas City and a graduate of the University of Kansas, Zemer Lexie and her husband, Isaac Nuell, now consider themselves North Carolinians.  They are the proud parents of three Temple Beth Or Preschool graduates, Mira, Noa and Ayla.

In her 17 years at TBO, Zemer Lexie has worked hard to keep TBO’s love of music and communal singing going strong.  She has created unique, music focused services that speak to folks across the generations. Congregants rave about the music during High Holy Days and our children love singing together at Religious School. 

Zemer Lexie's music team currently teaches music every Sunday in our Religious School for grades K-6.  She is the  director our B'nai Mitzvah program and also leads the temple’s audition-based volunteer High Holy Day Choir.  In 2019, she started our extremely successful Mazel Tots program, serving families with children aged 0-5.

Zemer Lexie believes in the power of bringing people together. Over the years, her duties have expanded to include leading our community programs and member engagement initiatives. She is trained as a Chaplain, completing 800 clinical hours in Clinical Pastoral Education at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh.  She is passionate about Interfaith community work and currently serves on WakeMed's Spiritual Care Professional Advisory Group.