B'Nai Mitzvah Team

Senior Rabbis Aaron Alexander & Lauren Holtzblatt, Assistant Rabbi Sarah Krinsky, Our interaction with b’nai mitzvah and their families provides a unique opportunity for personal connection within the context of preparation. Our sessions begin with the whole family (first session) and continue with the student (remaining sessions). As we guide our students into exploratory study of their Torah portion, we encourage them to ask questions, to challenge and strengthen their beliefs, and to connect with themes from within our tradition to issues that are current and relevant to their lives. Our discussions become the springboard for the Divrei Torah that our students deliver, as they become teachers of the congregation. 

Hazzan Rachel Goldsmith, Ritual Director & Weekly Tutor, I take great pride in helping each and every student achieve their potential as they unlock the beauty and complexities of adult Torah study. My students and I are productive together while managing to have a lot of fun, and I enjoy figuring out the key to connecting with each child. I prepare many of our b’nai mitzvah students and their families for their celebrations in one on one b’nai mitzvah lessons. This includes coordinating tutoring schedules and being the go-to person for questions about Ritual celebrations at Adas Israel. I’ve been with Adas Israel since 2016, and previously taught at CES-JDS, JPDS and B’nai Israel Congregation. My degrees are from Bryn Mawr College, the University of Michigan and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Hazzan.Goldsmith@adasisrael.org.

Cantor Mitchell Martin, Tutor, My name is Mitchell Martin and I’m overjoyed joining the outstanding team of B’nai Mitzvah tutors at Adas. To me, one of the most important lines in the Torah is: “V’Shinantam L’Vanecha” – You shall teach your children. Throughout my career as a Hazzan I have prided myself on having not only taught but hopefully inspired numerous of our “kindelach.” Becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a monumental event in the lives of Jewish families. Observing that milestone should be a treasured opportunity to celebrate the transition from youth to a “countable” member of the Jewish community and I look forward to nurturing our students and making this an experience to remember.

Teddy Klaus, Tutor, Teddy Klaus recently retired as the Music Director at Temple Micah in Washington, D.C/, where  he conducted the choirs and instrumentalists, accompanied t’filah on the piano, taught music in the religious school, and tutored the B’nei Mitzvah students.   He delights in transmitting our Jewish musical heritage and enjoys writing new music for the synagogue.  Teddy is proud to be the conductor of HaZamirDC, a chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir.

Teddy has taught music at many Washington area Jewish Day Schools, including the Jewish Primary Day School (when it met at Adas Israel), Gan HaYeled, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, Gesher Jewish Day School, Hebrew Day Institute, and the Berman Hebrew Academy.

Teddy has tutored hundreds of Bar/Bat Mitzvah students in the Washington, DC area.  He enjoys taking the journey with his students, as they take on the responsibility of becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah. 

Hazzan Henrique Ozur Bass served as Hazzan at Congregation Har Shalom, Potomac, for the past 28 years. Along with his wife, Rabbi Janet Ozur Bass, they are thrilled to have found a spiritual home at Adas Israel. In the course of his career, Hazzan Ozur Bass has adopted a student-centered approach, with the understanding that connection and relationships are the drive to a spiritual life. He has learned much from his students in the past, and hopes to continue learning and discovering with future students.