Hi! I am Phyllis Sommer, the Associate Rabbi at Am Shalom in Glencoe, Illinois, a north suburb of Chicago. I'm originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I was a member of Congregation Shalom as I grew up. I am married to Rabbi Michael Sommer and we are the proud parents of David, age 6, Sam, age 2, and Yael, 9 months. I blog about my family and Jewish family life at Ima on and off the Bima, and I blog about Jewish and world stuff at my other blog, Thoughts from Rabbi Phyllis.

I am so excited to be a Biennial blogger, because I know how many people aren't able to travel to be with the thousands of Reform Jews together and I truly hope that our blogging will bring the Biennial to everyone! I am really looking forward to the Biennial; I think the program looks wonderful and I know that I'm excited to see my colleagues and friends, study and visit, and celebrate Shabbat. There is also, of course, the shopping. I do like to shop! I'm always happy to see the newest and most creative Judaica that the Biennial has to offer. I look forward to sharing my experiences and hopefully conveying just a small bit of the incredible spirit and feeling that fills each moment of the Biennial weekend.