Our Education Team
Contact us using our emails below. You can also email us at EdDept@adasisrael.org.
Rabbi Kerrith Solomon, Director of Education
Rabbi Kerrith Solomon (she/her) joined Adas Israel as Director of Education in the summer of 2014, overseeing and directing all aspects of congregational education for members age 0-18, and their families. She has a rich and varied background in education and Jewish learning and her educational practice and philosophy is based on her experiences working in synagogues, day schools, camps, campus, Federation and Israel. She previously served as Senior Jewish Educator at Tufts University Hillel and Director of Teen Programming and Family Life Educator at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York and has worked in a variety of other formal and informal settings. Kerrith completed the Hartman-Hillel iEngage Fellowship for Campus leaders and is currently a participant in the second Senior Educators Cohort of M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education. She enjoys sharing her learning with the Adas community.
Leilah Mooney Joseph, Director of Schools, K-12
Leilah.Mooney.Joseph@adasisrael.org
Leilah Mooney Joseph (she/her), a seasoned nonprofit manager and education advocate, joined the Adas staff after serving 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 Woodside Park with her husband David, and their sons Tom, Elijah, and Ronan.
Leah Ragen, Manager of K-12 Education
Leah Ragen (she/her/hers), manager of k-12 education, joins the Adas Israel team after almost 10 years of teaching in San Francisco and D.C. schools. She also works as a tour director and guide, leading trips across the East Coast. Leah has traveled to 47 countries and 47 states (ask her for travel recommendations!). A D.C. native, Leah received her BA and Master's at University of San Francisco. She lives in the Capitol Hill neighborhood and can be found playing arcade games, practicing tennis, listening to audiobooks at super high speeds, and getting involved in community organizing.
Lizzie Mintz, Education Department Manager
Lizzie Mintz (she/her/hers) joined Adas Israel in the summer of 2023. She is thrilled to collaborate with the education department and the whole Adas team to serve our diverse family community. Previously, Lizzie worked for Metro Chicago Hillel, where she led Hillel programs at Loyola University Chicago and for students across Chicago. Before joining MCH, she interned for organizations such as Hillel International and Brady: United Against Gun Violence. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism from the George Washington University. Lizzie lives in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of D.C. and can likely be found exploring new coffee shops and plant stores across the city.
Annalee Thompson, Youth Engagement Coordinator
annalee.thompson@adasisrael.org
Annalee Thompson (she/her/hers) is thrilled to be joining the Adas Israel team as the Youth Engagement Coordinator! Born and raised in Chattanooga, TN, she attended Roanoke College in Salem, VA, where she obtained a B.A. in History. For the past 2 years, she has served as the Ezra Springboard Fellow at Hillel at Virginia Tech, where she engaged students in immersive Jewish learning and supported them on campus. Outside of the classroom, Annalee loves cooking, singing (she trained as an opera singer for a period), sewing, reading, and collecting Pokémon cards. She is also a proud alum of the Pardes Summer Program and the Jewish Studio Project Educator’s Studio.
