Our Clergy, Staff and Lay Leaders

Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt, ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary and recognized by the Forward as one of the “32 most inspiring rabbis,” has not only radically transformed Adas Israel and led it to a period of unprecedented success, but her influence extends far beyond the pulpit. As a key figure in spiritual leadership and national Jewish and interfaith engagement, she has welcomed two sitting U.S. presidents and numerous world leaders into our community, facilitating meaningful dialogue between them and the broader Jewish community. She has officiated at significant national events, including the funeral of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (z”l), a historic moment that held the nation in mourning, and has been featured in The New York Times, Time Magazine, and The Forward, and was honored on the “Forward 50” list. A proud senior fellow of the Schusterman Fellowship and a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet at JTS, she also serves on the national board of Avodah and the joint steering committee of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). At Adas, she has revitalized our caretaking (Hesed) and bereavement efforts, co-created the acclaimed MakomDC adult learning curriculum, launched wildly successful worship services, and directs the Jewish Mindfulness Center of Washington, recognized as a top innovative Jewish project. Previously, she served as the Hillel Foundation Director of Campus Initiatives, Associate Rabbi at Yale University Hillel, and was a rabbinic fellow at B’nai Jeshurun in New York. Rabbi Holtzblatt is married to Ari Holtzblatt, and they have two children, Blumah and Elijah. Rabbi.Holtzblatt@adasisrael.org.

Rabbi Aaron Alexander served for ten years as Associate Dean and Lecturer in Rabbinic and Jewish Law at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles, where he also received his ordination. He is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading authorities on Halacha (Jewish law)--he has long sat on the prestigious Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS) for the Conservative movement, the governing body determining Jewish law and practice for our entire movement. Currently he is the Chair of the Kashrut Subcommittee on the CJLS. Rabbi Alexander served on the Board of Jews United for Justice, was appointed as a Rabbi Samuel T. Lachs Fellow of LEAP, a joint program of the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and Clal-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. He now serves on the Leadership Circle of One America, the D.C. Attorney General’s Faith-Based Advisory Committee, and the City Council’s Interfaith Working Group. Among his achievements here at Adas, Rabbi Alexander has elevated our Social Action work to a high level of recognition throughout the Washington, DC community, and has reinvigorated our adult learning, bringing it to a level and quality that now serves as a model for synagogues across the country. Rabbi Alexander and his wife, Rabbi Penina Alexander, have three young sons, Ariel, Eliav and Amos. Rabbi.Alexander@adasisrael.org

Rabbi Anina Dassa was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2025, earning a Certificate in Spiritual and Pastoral Care and Counseling. She grew up in Los Angeles, where she attended and worked at Camp Ramah in California for a total of 14 years. She holds BFA in Interarts Performance from the University of Michigan (2018), an interdisciplinary program combining studies in the School of Art & Design and the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Anina has studied as a fellow at Yeshivat Hadar and worked as a preschool teacher at the Chabad of Tribeca. Anina has served as the rabbinic intern at Princeton University and as a chaplain intern at JASA Geriatric Mental Health Clinic. Most recently, Anina served as a BJ Fellow at B’nai Jeshurun in New York City where she co-lead spiritual, and musical prayer services for all ages including young children, 20’s and 30’s and the broader community. She also created an Artist Beit Midrash series designed to help participants prepare meaningfully for the Jewish holidays. Anina is thrilled to be joining the Adas community along with her husband Judah Schvimer. 
Rabbi.Dassa@adasisrael.org

Rabbi Andy Weissfeld (he/him/his), Rabbinic Director of Education and Judaics,  was born and raised in Pittsburgh, also having spent formative years in the DC area, where his family still lives. He was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2023 and holds a master’s in Jewish Education. Before joining Adas Israel, he served as the Campus Rabbi and Senior Jewish Educator at Texas Hillel in Austin. His experience includes a range of internships at synagogues, campuses, and Jewish organizations, as well as chaplaincy work with survivors of elder abuse. He’s spent many summers at Camp Ramah New England as a unit head and previously worked at Ohr Kodesh Congregation before starting rabbinical school. He’s married to Emma, and they share their home with a very good dog named Derek. In his free time, Rabbi Weissfeld enjoys cooking, playing board games, and spending time with family and friends. 
Rabbi.Weissfeld@adasisrael.org

Steve Himmelfarb, President

Bio Coming Soon

Daniel Rosenthal, Vice President of Membership & External Affairs

Bio Coming Soon

Ian Halpern, Vice President of Development & Financial Affairs

As unlikely a synagogue officer as there could be, Ian grew up in New York. He is quite sure his Hebrew school teachers (and principal) would plotz if they could see him now. An active congregant, member of the Board of Directors and Co-chair of the Gan HaYeled Director Search Committee and member of several others, Ian and his family are incredibly thankful to call Adas their Jewish home.  Ian is the co-founder of Larkspur Energy Group and lives in  Washington, D.C. with his partner, Sarah Wildman, and their two daughters both graduates of the Gan.  

Jared Sutton, Secretary

A native Floridian, Jared Sutton spent much of his childhood running around the synagogue his family attended in the Ft. Lauderdale suburbs. After attending college in New Jersey, Jared relocated to D.C. in 2019 and immediately joined Adas, where he quickly became involved in the Young Professionals program. During the pandemic, Jared continued to be involved with Adas, taking Adult Education classes and playing a role in facilitating Hesed Cooking @ Home programming. Jared joined the Board of Directors in 2022 and is humbled and excited to now serve the Adas community as the Secretary. Jared and his wife, Ciara, were married at Adas in 2024 and live in the North Michigan Park neighborhood in Northeast D.C.

Janet Scribner, Treasurer

Janet L. Scribner is a CPA in private practice for over 33 years.  She is an active congregant at Adas Israel Congregation, a member of the Board of Directors for 9 years, serves as Chair of the Mikvah Committee, the outgoing Chair of the Ritual Practices Committee and a member of the Budget and Audit Committees. She also serves as Treasurer of Anne’s Place, an independent  non-profit organization providing permanent supportive housing for DC residents who would otherwise be homeless.  Anne’s Place (formerly Anne Frank House) was originally founded as an offshoot of Adas’ Social Action Committee in 1987.

She earned a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and a Masters of Science in Taxation from American University and has a B.A. in history from York College of Pennsylvania.

Beth Heifetz, Immediate Past President

Bio Coming Soon

Judith Bartnoff

 Michael Leifman

Melanie Nussdorf

Betsy Strauss

Rob Satloff