Rockville’s Rabbi Gary Pokras Reflects on Impactful Decade at Temple Beth Ami
As a teenager, Rabbi Gary Pokras wanted nothing to do with religion. He begrudgingly accompanied his parents to High Holidays services at the shul,...
Lisa Redisch Leads Ohr Kodesh’s Religious School to New Heights
Lisa Redisch cares deeply about Jewish education, which has been central to her life, and later, career.
For the past year, the Silver Spring resident...
Fairfax’s Alexandria Frisch Revitalizes George Mason’s Judaic Studies Minor
Four years ago, no students at George Mason University minored in Judaic studies. That number is now a consistent 10 thanks to Professor Alexandria...
DC Children’s Musician Ari Jacobson Spreads Jewish Joy Through Song
Ari Jacobson went from performing on cruise ships in Australia to leading musical programs for infants and toddlers in greater Washington.
The D.C. resident is...
Potomac’s Rabbi Michael Namath Merges Jewish Faith and Activism
Rabbi Michael Namath checked all the boxes to be a rabbinic student, according to the head of admissions for Hebrew Union College at the...
Bethesda’s Galia Messika Greenberg Brings Israeli Perspective to JCRC Board
Galia Messika Greenberg is prepared to take on a top leadership role with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington board in a...
Avid Cyclist Matthew Gever Leads DC Jews on Bikes, Holocaust Remembrance Efforts
Matthew Gever didn’t learn to ride a bike until he was 30. The Washington, D.C., resident now leads DC Jews on Bikes and makes...
Rockville’s Rabbi Deborah Bodin Cohen Makes Judaism Fun and Palatable for Youth
Rabbi Deborah Bodin Cohen got into writing midrashim — contemporary interpretations of classic stories — when she realized, “These would make a really cool...
Kensington’s Nancy Kotz Conveys Jewish Art History to Present-Day DMV
Nancy Kotz isn’t afraid to get up in front of a crowd and speak.
That’s what the Kensington art historian does on a regular basis...
After Long Path to Judaism, Rockville’s Rabbi Emily Howard Meyer Spreads Jewish Wisdom
Rabbi Emily Howard Meyer wears many hats in the DMV Jewish community — rabbi-in-residence, spiritual leader, artist, educator, musician and business owner.
She’s taught herself...