Cantor Arianne Brown, It is my joy and privilege to guide our Adas Israel families on the journey to becoming B’nai Mitzvah. I enjoy the large opportunities and the small details of this important work. Our program is unique in many ways. From the Kabbalat Parsha (receiving the Torah portion) ritual after receiving dates, to a B’nai Mitzvah family Shabbaton as we near your date, we strive to infuse all aspects of this process with meaning and connection. We also provide individualized one on one training, as you’ll hear if you wander the halls of the 3rd floor on any given afternoon. I have trained over 1,000 B’nai Mitzvah students in both one-on-one and large group settings! I enjoy teaching trope in an active and colorful manner, helping students internalize the skills of reading Torah, Haftarah, and leading prayers, and working with students of many differentiated learning needs and styles. Most rewarding of all is to continue our connection long after the B’nai Mitzvah day. Cantor.Brown@adasisrael.org
Senior Rabbis Aaron Alexander & Lauren Holtzblatt, Assistant Rabbi Sarah Krinsky, Our interaction with b’nai mitzvah and their families provides a unique opportunity for personal connection within the context of preparation. Our sessions begin with the whole family (first session) and continue with the student (remaining sessions). As we guide our students into exploratory study of their Torah portion, we encourage them to ask questions, to challenge and strengthen their beliefs, and to connect with themes from within our tradition to issues that are current and relevant to their lives. Our discussions become the springboard for the Divrei Torah that our students deliver, as they become teachers of the congregation.
Jessica Lefkow, Administrative Assistant to the Ritual Department, Since Fall 2023, I’ve served as the logistical liaison for the B’nai Mitzvah program. I co-ordinate events, keep and update records for each B’nai Mitzvah class, serve as the frontline for program communications and scheduling, as well as fielding questions from our families about all things B’nai Mitzvah for the team. It’s a great feeling to facilitate this important life event for the Adas Israel community.
Melissa Adler, Chief of Staff to the Rabbis and Ritual Programming, As the Chief of Staff to our Rabbis, I’ve had the privilege of supporting our B’nai Mitzvah families since 2021. One of my primary roles is helping families coordinate the scheduling for their D’var Torah preparation and ensuring a smooth and meaningful connection with our rabbis throughout the process. I am truly honored to play a small part in facilitating this milestone and to support our rabbis, students, and families along the way.
Juliana Nieto, Food & Beverage Manager, As the Food and Beverage Manager at Adas Israel Congregation, I have been proudly managing all aspects of food and beverage service for the past six years. Since 2019, I’ve worked closely with B’nai Mitzvah families to coordinate private Shabbat dinners, Kiddush, and celebration parties. My role includes planning and executing community and private events and ensuring that all offerings meet dietary and kosher standards. I’m dedicated to providing a warm, meaningful, and seamless experience for every family and guest.
Hazzan Rachel Goldsmith, Ritual Director & Weekly Tutor, I take great pride in helping each and every student achieve their potential as they unlock the beauty and complexities of adult Torah study. My students and I are productive together while managing to have a lot of fun, and I enjoy figuring out the key to connecting with each child. I prepare many of our b’nai mitzvah students and their families for their celebrations in one on one b’nai mitzvah lessons. This includes coordinating tutoring schedules and being the go-to person for questions about Ritual celebrations at Adas Israel. I’ve been with Adas Israel since 2016, and previously taught at CES-JDS, JPDS and B’nai Israel Congregation. My degrees are from Bryn Mawr College, the University of Michigan and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Hazzan.Goldsmith@adasisrael.org.
Cantor Mitchell Martin, Tutor, My name is Mitchell Martin and I’m overjoyed joining the outstanding team of B’nai Mitzvah tutors at Adas. To me, one of the most important lines in the Torah is: “V’Shinantam L’Vanecha” – You shall teach your children. Throughout my career as a Hazzan I have prided myself on having not only taught but hopefully inspired numerous of our “kindelach.” Becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a monumental event in the lives of Jewish families. Observing that milestone should be a treasured opportunity to celebrate the transition from youth to a “countable” member of the Jewish community and I look forward to nurturing our students and making this an experience to remember.
Silvia Edenburg, Tutor, Shalom! My name is Silvia Edenburg, and I have been a teacher since I was 15 years old, teaching children in three countries. For the last 11 years I have had the privilege of teaching as part of the Milton Gottesman (JPDS) family. I have lots of fun with first graders, sharing with them Hebrew, Judaic Studies and Tefillah (prayer). I also enjoy teaching Spanish to our middle schoolers. I've always felt that supporting children as they learn Hebrew and Jewish culture is a great honor. Being able to do so during such an important time in their life as it is their Bar and Bat Mitzvah a fantastic opportunity for which I’m very grateful.
Teddy Klaus, Tutor, Teddy Klaus recently retired as the Music Director at Temple Micah in Washington, D.C/, where he conducted the choirs and instrumentalists, accompanied t’filah on the piano, taught music in the religious school, and tutored the B’nei Mitzvah students. He delights in transmitting our Jewish musical heritage and enjoys writing new music for the synagogue. Teddy is proud to be the conductor of HaZamirDC, a chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir.
Teddy has taught music at many Washington area Jewish Day Schools, including the Jewish Primary Day School (when it met at Adas Israel), Gan HaYeled, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, Gesher Jewish Day School, Hebrew Day Institute, and the Berman Hebrew Academy.
Teddy has tutored hundreds of Bar/Bat Mitzvah students in the Washington, DC area. He enjoys taking the journey with his students, as they take on the responsibility of becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
Yael Shamouilian, Tutor, Yael Shamouilian, Weekly Tutor. Hi everyone! My name is Yael Shamouilian and I am beyond excited to join the B'nai Mitzvah team at Adas this year. For the last 6 years, I have been a teacher at Adas' Hebrew School and the part that gave me the most joy was teaching and singing the Shabbat prayers with my students. Throughout my time as a Jewish educator, I have always strived to provide my students a balance of giving them the tools they need to prepare them for their Bnai Mitzvot but also an enjoyable and fun experience they can carry with them through the rest of their Jewish milestones in life.
Hazzan Henrique Ozur Bass served as Hazzan at Congregation Har Shalom, Potomac, for the past 28 years. Along with his wife, Rabbi Janet Ozur Bass, they are thrilled to have found a spiritual home at Adas Israel. In the course of his career, Hazzan Ozur Bass has adopted a student-centered approach, with the understanding that connection and relationships are the drive to a spiritual life. He has learned much from his students in the past, and hopes to continue learning and discovering with future students.
Sheldon Novek (Additional Tutoring Staff) I have been a Jewish educator for over 40 years now, which, besides classroom teaching and informal youth group staffing and planning, also included b'nai mitzvah instruction. I started out in Philadelphia, where I grew up, and then after three years in Greensboro NC, my wife Liat and I eventually moved here to the DC area. I had spent some time, as well, at the Jewish Theological Seminary with plans of becoming a rabbi, and although I chose a different path, the love of teaching has stayed with me. I have always greatly enjoyed teaching, interacting with and watching students learn, guiding them through that process, and celebrating with them in that "Aha moment", when they realize that they've learned and mastered something new. B'nai mitzvah preparation is even more rewarding, for, besides the mastery that takes place, the fact that I am part of that 12 year old's journey towards Jewish adulthood, the excitement and anticipation of the actual event, and the pride (and relief) that he or she feels after it's all over are simply extraordinary. I will look forward to working with some of your children during this process, as well as with you, their parents and families, as you are just as much a part of this whole exciting experience.
On a more personal note, Liat and I have two sons, Asher, married to Sara in Brooklyn, and Jonah, married to Kirsten who live in Milwaukee. We have three cats and have fostered many as well in the past years. We have also been a host family to a wide variety of international students over the years as well, which has been so rewarding in its own right. I enjoy live performances (theater and concerts), stand-up comedy and television drama and mysteries. I also enjoy photography, being an artist and calligrapher (and ketubah maker) and as close to two hours of walking in the woods as I can get each day!
Eleanor Brosowsky (Additional Tutoring Staff) I am currently a senior at the School Without Walls High School here in DC. I have lived my whole life in the district, and since I was born I have been a part of DC Minyan and Adas Israel. For grades 2-8 I attended Milton Jewish Day School, where I received a Jewish education that I will be always grateful to have.
I have been a b'nai mitzvah tutor since 2020, and in the past five years I have helped many children from a variety of communities reach this important milestone. I am a strong believer in the importance of community participation, and take every opportunity available to me to daven or leyn. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to work with more amazing students and I hope to make this experience as enjoyable and meaningful as possible for everyone involved. I look forward to working with some of you and your incredible children!
