Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon became the Senior Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in June of 1999, and has brought vigor, excellence and depth to Arizona's first congregation. Rabbi Cohort's rich heritage and knowledge of Judaism has dramatically enhanced the Temple's congregational life. In the past two years at Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Cohon has helped initiate the creation of the only reform Jewish Preschool in Tucson, the writing of a new Torah in honor of Emanu-El's 90th anniversary, and has developed the Adult Education Academy, the largest, finest, and most comprehensive program of Adult Jewish education in Southern Arizona, which served close to 1000 students last year. He has also spearheaded an outreach effort to unaffiliated Jews in Tucson, including the enormously popular Taste of Judaism series of courses, and created the Temple Emanu-El Youth Choir, which now numbers 50 voices. Rabbi Cohon became a certified Conservative cantor in 1987, and was ordained at Hebrew Union College in 1995. He is a third generation rabbi, following his grandfather who taught at HUC for 35 years, and his father, a prominent cantor at Reform and Conservative congregations for many years, and now an Orthodox rabbi. Rabbi Cohon has been widely recognized for his contributions to the communities and congregations he has served. He has brought a new sense of vigor, spirit, and quality to Temple Emanu-El, resulting in an increase in membership from 350 to 680 families, as well as dramatically renewed enthusiasm and commitment among all congregation members. Rabbi Cohon, is married to Rhody, and they have two young sons, Boaz and Gabriel, and a daughter, Cipora.