As one of the founding members of Congregation Beth Shalom, Russ Klem has established himself as a congregational leader and practitioner in Jewish theology. Russ is co-Gabbai, or director of Torah reading, during Sabbath services. He has been a B’nai Mitzvah tutor since 2001 and a member of the CBS choir since its inception. Russ has been the presiding chairman of the Avodah (Worship) Committee for over ten years. He graduated from the Chicago Board of Jewish Education High School and earned his doctorate in physics from the University of Chicago