Leadership

Rabbi | Associate Rabbi | Cantorial Solist

Rabbi: Reuben R. Levine

Rabbi Reuben R. Levine is a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary where he received his Rabbinical Ordination as well as his Master of Hebrew Literature and Doctor of Divinity degrees.

In the early 1950's he was rabbi of the B’nai Jacob Congregation in S.E. Washington.  This was followed by his tenure at Temple Beth Ahm in Springfield, New Jersey where he was spiritual leader for thirty-two years, from 1955 to 1987.

On becoming Rabbi Emeritus of that congregation he and his wife Shirley returned to the Washington area where he remains active in rabbinic, pastoral and communal endeavors.

Throughout his career, Rabbi Levine has also been a scholar of and lecturer on Jewish Art History, and has collaborated with prize-winning artists creating Judaica.

Associate Rabbi: Arnold Saltzman

Arnold Saltzman is our Associate Rabbi and Educational Director of Hevrat Shalom. He also serves as Rabbi and Educational Director of Beit Chaverim in Frederick, Maryland and is “Chair in Jewish Music” of the Adas Israel Congregation where he served as Hazzan for twenty-four years.

Well known as a singer, composer, youth choir director, and educator, Rabbi Saltzman, has lectured at the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center, and the National Cathedral. His credits include many recordings, videos, and television broadcasts.

Rabbi Saltzman has degrees from Brooklyn College, Columbia University Teachers College, and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He is currently completing his rabbinic studies at the Academy for Jewish Religion in Riverdale, New York. Also, he has received many Solomon Schechter Awards and foundation grants for innovative synagogue programming.

Rabbi Saltzman is also the Educational Director of Hevrat Shalom.

Cantorial Soloist: Audrey Katz

Audrey Katz has been leading contemporary Jewish music for services since 1976, when she was encouraged as a shy teenager to seek out new paths for Jewish music by her rabbi, Arnold Fink. He encouraged her to implement these new ideas in a guitar-led, participatory service. Soon after, Audrey created a student-led service for pre-B’nei-Mitzvah-aged students, Junior Congregation, which became very popular with the students and their families. Her role expanded to include Family High Holy Day, Junior Congregation High Holy Day, B'nei Mitzvah, Tot Shabbat, and "Beth El in the Neighborhood" services. After Audrey graduated high school, she continued leading the music for services while attending the University of Maryland. After Audrey graduated, she began teaching Sunday School at Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, Maryland, as well as songleading for their retreat program and Family Services.

Since 1995, Audrey has been the Religious School Music Director at Washington Hebrew Congregation. In addition to teaching music for their Kindergarten through Confirmation ages, she also leads the music for their Family services, High Holiday Family Services, as well as their annual interfaith Freedom Seder. Audrey has also led the music for Woodmont Country Club’s first-night Passover seder since 1998.

Presently, Audrey is a member of a singing trio, Shir Synergy, who in August of 2005, released their first CD; Find the Sunshine.

Audrey's main goal is to help create a comfortable, participatory, spiritual environment in which all ages feel welcome to express ruach and raise their voices together in song.

www.shirsynergy.com

www.audreykatz.com