Leadership (Clergy)

Rabbi | Rabbi Emeritous

Principal Rabbi: Arnold Saltzman

Rabbi Arnold Saltzman, serving the greater Washington, DC, community for many years as Rabbi, Cantor, composer, and recording artist. He has been profiled by America's leading newspapers, magazines and television stations (NY Times, Washington, Post, The New Republic, Opera News, ABC, NBC, PBS, TV2 - Denmark). He is known for his spiritual services, teaching, and creative work with choirs, and as composer of symphonies and opera. He began his career as a child singer with the Metropolitan Opera in NYC, RCA Victor (The Sound of Children, Mm, Mm, Good! commercial). He sang with world famous cantors, Moshe Ganchoff, David and Moshe Kusevitzky, and Sholom Katz.

With a MA in Music from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a BA from Brooklyn College, Rabbi Saltzman continued his training at the Jewish Theological Seminary H.L. Miller School of the Cantorial Arts, graduating with highest honors. From 1977 to 1981 he served congregation Beth El  in Plainfield, New Jersey as their Cantor.

Upon graduating JTS, Rabbi Saltzman was elected as Cantor of Adas Israel in Washington, DC, one of the largest conservative Congregations in the United States. During his tenure at Adas Israel he established a series of creative and innovative musical services and programs. In 2005 he became Cantor Emeritus and assumed a new post, Chair in Jewish Music, a unique chair in Jewish Music for composers. During his twenty-five year association with Adas Israel his work has been recognized by the United Synagogue of America with ten Solomon Schechter Awards in Music, Drama, and Special Programing.

We welcome Arnold Saltzman, now as our Principal Rabbi and Educational Director.

Rabbi Emeritous: 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.