Rabbi Denise L. Eger is our spiritual leader at Congregation Kol-Ami. Rabbi Eger holds a B.A. in Religion from the University of Southern California. She received her Masters Degree from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion and was ordained at the New York campus in 1988. She has worked in congregations with people of all ages, families and individuals, and has done extensive work with people with AIDS.

Rabbi Eger is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. She has served on numerous Rabbinic boards and organizations. Rabbi Eger has published extensively on human sexuality, interfaith dialogue and human rights and has appeared on television and radio as an expert in these areas. An accomplished educator, and a dedicated spiritual and community leader, Rabbi Eger has been at the forefront of building new and more accessible Jewish communities.

Cantor Mark Saltzman rounds out the spiritual leadership of our congregation, a well-known singer and musician for almost 20 years. Whether chanting traditional prayers, or teaching contemporary Jewish music, Mark helps create the warm atmosphere for which Kol Ami is known. Cantor Saltzman is a noted composer and serves as director of the Opera UCLA Workshop, as well as directing special programs of educational outreach for the L.A. Opera. He frequently serves on committees and as a musical consultant to the American Conference of Cantors and Guild of Temple Musicians.

Student Rabbi Ari Margolis is a 4th-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College.  He grew up in the other Hollywood - the one in Florida.  Attending Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, he achieved a B.S. degree in chemical engineering in 2002.   He has worked as a Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow at Rutgers University Hillel, in New Jersey, and he has had the honor to serve as a rabbinic intern for Temple Solel in Hollywood, FL and for Temple Beth Jacob in El Centro, CA.  Last year, he achieved a M.A. in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College while also working as an educational rabbinic intern at Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles.  He was part of the initial cohort of the Mandel Fellowship for rabbinic educational leaders last year, as well.