Our Clergy, Staff and Lay Leaders
Team Adas
Meet the Amazing Humans of Adas
Adas Israel is a sacred, collaborative undertaking made possible through the dedicated, loving, visionary work of our talented team of clergy, professional staff, and lay leadership. Here, you can learn more about some of the extraordinary humans who strive, day in and day out, to make the world of Adas GO. Clergy & Leadership Team | Staff | Lay Leadership
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
Cantor Arianne Brown loves her work in this dynamic community, where she has a large musical, educational, and pastoral portfolio. Arianne’s primary goal is to inspire our people to love and connect to Judaism through prayer, education, and the beautiful music of our tradition. Fluent in Hebrew and Yiddish, Cantor Brown is an expert Torah and Megilah reader, pianist, composer and arranger, and theatre director. A renowned specialist in Yiddish music, Cantor Brown performed in off-Broadway productions of the Folksbiene Yiddish Theater, and has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Safra Hall, Disney Hall, the Krakow Jewish Music Festival, and Warsaw’s Ida Kaminska State Theatre. Cantor Brown previously served at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. She graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Voice/Music Education, and JTS with a Master of Sacred Music and Jewish Education. She is featured in the Cantors Assembly’s New Voices of the Cantorate video series. Arianne’s recordings include a Yiddish theater album entitled Eternal Flame¸and her trio Ashira’s Suddenly Spirited - available at www.cantorari.com, and Shabbat Sing! with our very own Gan students. She is married to Rabbi Randy Brown and loves spending time with her three young sons! Cantor.Brown@adasisrael.org
Rabbi Sarah Krinsky received her ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in the spring of 2018, and holds a BA from Yale University. Most recently, she served as the Rabbinic Fellow at B’nai Jeshurun in New York City, where she co-led a wide variety of musical prayer services throughout the year for adults, families, children, and teens. She also managed the synagogue’s conversion process, and was involved in teaching, counseling, and mentoring Jews by choice. Her work with teens and young adults included teaching and curriculum development for religious schools, B’nai Mitzvah preparation, and summer camp. Rabbi Krinsky has served as a member of the Rabbinical Assembly’s Social Justice and Public Policy Staff, and a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. She has developed social justice programming, including community engagement opportunities, for all age groups. She is the recipient of several awards from UJA and JTS. Rabbi Krinsky is thrilled to be part of the Adas Israel community along with her husband, Rabbi Daniel Novick. Rabbi.Krinsky@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
Marcy Spiro, Acting Chief Operating Officer, joined the Adas Israel family in 2013 after working in theatre education at Shakespeare Theatre Company and Round House Theatre. In her role, Marcy oversees all building operations and leads our programming team, ensuring that every aspect of our synagogue runs smoothly. She also works closely with lay leaders, clergy, and staff to create a welcoming environment for members, potential members, guests, and school parents, helping each person find their pathway or niche within our large and diverse synagogue community. Marcy is a warm, talented, creative, and entrepreneurial team player, dedicated to enhancing the overall experience at Adas. Feel free to reach out to her at Marcy.Spiro@adasisrael.org to learn more about membership, upcoming events, or to grab a cup of coffee and chat.
Photography by Washington DC Headshots
Stanley Rabinowitz, z"l
Rabbi Emeritus
Jeffrey A. Wohlberg
Rabbi Emeritus
Avis D. Miller
Rabbi Emerita
Arnold Saltzman
Cantor Emeritus
Gil Steinlauf
Immediate Past
Senior Rabbi
Noah Hichenberg, Gan HaYeled Preschool Director. Noah has served as a preschool director since 2013, first at JCC Manhattan and since 2019 at Adas Israel; he was a 3s classroom teacher at JCC Manhattan from 2009-2013. Noah received his MA in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from Fordham University and earned his Doctorate in Early Childhood Teaching and Curriculum at Teachers College, Columbia University. For his dissertation he spent a year conducting an ethnography of a two-year-old child throughout her daily life at home and school, from which he developed novel and critical insights into how children experience the social construction of early childhood. He has used this work to highlight the transformative power of a young child's agency in the face of adult expectations; his work includes a chapter on this topic (“I Don’t Want You to Say No, I Want You to Say Yes”) as well as a forthcoming book, A New Vision for Early Childhood (Routledge, 2025). Noah has hosted regular Coffee Chats for preschool parents for several years as well as written a regular newsletter about preschool, parenting, and community. Noah currently serves as an adjunct professor at the American Jewish University, where he teaches a doctoral class on current research trends in ECE and has served as the ECE Faculty for the New Director’s Institute of USCJ (United Synagogue of Conservative Synagogue) since 2021, a role in which he teaches and coaches Jewish preschool directors across the country. Noah lives in Maryland with his wife and four children.
Leilah Mooney Joseph, Senior Director of Schools, K-12, A seasoned nonprofit manager and education advocate, Leilah most recently served as Senior Director of Communications at Hillel International, where she led both external and internal communications, managing Hillel’s public voice and supporting the work of Hillel professionals and students at more than 850 colleges and universities around the world. She also previously led communications for the Institute of Educational Leadership and worked in communications and educational policy roles with the American Federation of Teachers. Leilah is a graduate of Barnard College and earned a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from The George Washington University. A Cincinnati native and the daughter and granddaughter of teachers, Leilah lives in the 16th Street Heights neighborhood of DC with her husband David, and their sons Tom, Elijah, and Ronan. Reach Leilah at Leilah.Mooney.Joseph@adasisrael.org.
Hazzan Rachel Goldsmith, Ritual Director, joined Adas Israel in the summer of 2015. She was invested as a Hazzan by the H. L. Miller Cantorial School of the Jewish Theological Seminary where she also received an MA in Sacred Music. She also holds degrees from Bryn Mawr College and the University of Michigan. Hazzan Goldsmith has extensive experience as a Hazzan and Ritual Director and has taught all ages from pre-school through senior adults. In the Washington Metropolitan area, she taught at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, the Jewish Primary Day School and was a service leader at The Hebrew Home of Greater Washington. Hazzan Goldsmith brings impressive administrative, organizational, and Jewish skills to our congregation – as well as a deep love for Torah, Jewish life, history and community. Hazzan Goldsmith and her husband, Howard Ungar, are the parents of three emerging adults. Reach Rachel at Hazzan.Goldsmith@adasisrael.org.
Rabbi Elianna Yolkut, Rabbinic Scholar, strives through challenging questions, dynamic study and meaningful engagement to help Jews at all life stages reach a deeper understanding of and connection to Judaism. Raised with three brothers in her native St. Louis (go Cardinals), where as a toddler she would often lose herself in the folds of her father's tallit. Elianna is a connector, writer and educator who seeks to help create intersections and integrations between wisdom texts, human beings and ritual. She serves throughout the metro DC area helping people with a diverse set of backgrounds and interests engage with Jewish wisdom, practice and study of Jewish texts. Rabbi Yolkut is a Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Hartman Institute North America. Elianna is also the co-host of the podcast Not Your Jewish Mother. Ordained as a Conservative Rabbi in 2006 by the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, she later served an adjunct faculty member, while serving as Assistant Rabbi at Adat Ari El in nearby Valley Village. Elianna, who holds a BA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and Sociology from Brandeis University, now lives with her wife and their three children in Washington D.C. When she isn’t parenting or teaching Torah she is likely to be found mixing a new cocktail, dripping a high quality cup of coffee or on her Peloton. rabbi.yolkut@adasisrael.org
Synagogue Staff
Accounting & HR
Chloe Chemla
Controller
Rita Nicholls
Accounting Manager
Jane Baldinger
Accounting Assistant
Lynn Forkell Greene
Human Resources & Administrative Director
Programming and Administration
Melissa Adler
Chief of Staff to the Rabbis and Ritual Programming
Bianca Saget-Matthews
Administrative Site Coordinator
Juliana Nieto
Food & Beverage Manager
Alexx Bowles
Operations Manager
Jessica Lefkow
Administrative Assistant to the Rituals Department
Communications
Brenah Srour
Director of Marketing and Communications
Education Department
Robin Jacobson
Library & Literary Programs Director
Darci Lewis
Gan HaMishpacha Family Center Director & Gan HaYeled Preschool Senior Educator
Lizzie Mintz
Education Department Manager
Operations Team
Deron DaCosta
Operations Staff
Andrew Cooper
Operations Staff
Roxana Fajarda de Cruz
Operations Staff
Security Team
Diamond Calhoun
Security Officer
Craig Gaddy
Security Officer
Kortez Anderson
Security Officer
Herbert Montague
Security Officer
Charles Weedon
Security Officer
Steve Himmelfarb, President
Bio Coming Soon
Emilie Hyams, VP for Administration
Bio Coming Soon
Daniel Rosenthal, Vice President of Membership & External Affairs
Bio Coming Soon
Alan Ronkin, Vice President for Ritual Programs & Adult Education
Alan Ronkin, Regional Director of American Jewish Committee Washington DC is an accomplished advocate and career Jewish professional who has been involved in Jewish community relations for over 30 years. In that time, he has worked in Jewish communal institutions in Los Angeles, Cleveland, Seattle, and Boston.
As an advocate, Alan focuses on relationship building and policy development to support a society that reflects the best of Jewish values including fighting antisemitism, supporting Israel, equity, and appreciation of difference. In his long career he has built relationships with numerous community leaders including elected officials and clergy, led successful campaigns to defeat anti-Israel ballot initiatives, and advocated on behalf of domestic concerns.
In addition to his work in Jewish communal circles, in 2013 Alan served as Policy Adviser and Constituent Manager for former Congressman Joe Kennedy III. In that role he assisted the congressman in enriching his relationships with Jewish constituents and in grappling with issues related to Israel and other Jewish causes.
He is a native of Bridgeport, CT, earned a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Masters in Jewish Communal Service and a Doctorate (honoris causa) in Jewish Non-Profit Management from Hebrew Union College. Alan also has a B.A. from Yeshiva University. He is married to Elizabeth Sternberg, has a son, David and a dog, Ginger.
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.
Tali Stein, Vice President of Education & Youth
Bio Coming Soon
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.
Herlene Nagler, Assistant Secretary
Until today Herlene can conjure up smell of the tuna fish from Junior Congregation kiddush over 6 decades ago! All this to say that as a 3rd generation congregant she has been an active participant and contributor to the Adas Israel journey. Professionally Herlene was an event planner and consultant for many years until the onset of Covid. Herlene looks forward to deliberating with members of this Adas Board all of whom are dedicated to honoring our Jewish heritage by building upon our past achievements and actively striving to remain relevant, engaging, and innovative for the future.
Janet Scribner, Treasurer
Bio Coming Soon
Jon Cutler, Assistant Treasurer
Jon grew up in Rockville, Maryland and graduated from the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. After college, Jon began a career in the health care consulting industry. Following graduate school, he moved abroad to the UK, where he had the opportunity to work with health care organizations across the globe. While living in London he was involved with The Saatchi Synagogue and the Centre for Jewish Life, two organizations serving London’s young Jewish professional community . He and his family returned to Washington DC in 2016, and Jon joined Salesforce’s health care team. The family settled in Cleveland Park, and immediately found a home at Adas Israel. He has served as an Adas Board Member since 2021. Jon is married to Nancy, and they have two sons, both proud graduates of the Gan, and current Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School students.
Beth Heifetz, Immediate Past President
Bio Coming Soon
Board of Trustees
Judith Bartnoff
Michael Leifman
Melanie Nussdorf
Betsy Strauss
Rob Satloff
Elected Board Members
|
Andrew Ackerman |
David Harris |
Life Board Members
|
Dr. Clement Alpert (z"l) |
Estelle Jacobs (z"l) |
Adas Israel Presidents
Beth Heifetz
Current President
Janice Mostow
2021-2023
Laurie Aladjem
2019-2021
Ricki Gerger
2017-2019
Deborah Joseph
2015-2017
Arnold Podgorsky
2013-2015
Johanna Chanin
2011- 2013
Robert Peck
2009-2011
Ed Kopf
2007-2009
Russell Smith
2005-2007
Patty Perkins Andringa
2003-2005
Reneé Fendrich
2001-2003
Jordan Baruch
1999-2001
Toni Bickart
1997-1999
Dr. Sander Mendelson
1993-1997
Bernard Segerman
1991-1993
Dr. Stuart Fidler
1987-1991
Jack Lish
1983-1987
Max Goldberg
1979-1983
Leon Shinberg
1977-1979
Donald Wolpe
1973-1977
Joseph Mendelson
1969-1973
Milton Baldinger
1967-1969
Samuel Lebowitz
1964-1967
Joseph Blumenthal
1961-1964
Stanley Wiener
1960-1961
Julius H. Wolpe
1956-1960
Fred S. Kogod
1956
Isaac Jacobson
1953-1955
Joseph Wilner
1929-March 1953
Fred Gichner
1928-1929
Louis Rosenberg
1924-1928
Simon Oppenheimer
1888-1924
Felix Greenapple
1887-1888
Jacob Rich
1882-April 1887
Manassas Oppenheimer
1880-1882
Julius Baumgertan
July-October 1880
Bernard Rich
April-June 1880
Jacob Rich
1877-1880
John Jacob Boyer
1874-1877
Nathan Gotthelf
June-July 1874
Jacob Rich
January-June 1874
Nathan Hotthelf
1872-1874
Bendiza J. Behrend
1869-1872
