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Clergy at Adat Shalom

Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb. Full-time at Adat Shalom since his 1997 ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Fred was previously our student and then interim rabbi. He is involved in nearly every aspect of synagogue life, background and fore. Fred brings a collaborative approach to the rabbinate, empowering members to "do it themselves;" he also emphasizes education, for adults and youngsters alike, with a wide-ranging focus this year on American Jewish history. Among numerous things he loves about Adat Shalom, its conscious and inclusive sense of community is his favorite.

Rabbi Fred helps lead not only Adat Shalom but the movement, as Board member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, co-author of a major Israel curriculum, and member of JRF's Tikkun Olam commission. He has written and lectured widely on Judaism and ecology, and remains the Reconstructionist movement’s representative to the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. Vice-President of the Washington Board of Rabbis, Fred is also active in numerous Jewish, interfaith, and civic causes.

Fred's love of Jewish life and tikkun olam is shared with his wife, Minna Scherlinder Morse, who serves as the DC Director of Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps. Look for Rabbi Fred riding his bicycle to shul from his home in DC, or poring over a Chumash late at night, or coming soon to an event or meeting or service near you.

Hazzan Rachel Hersh Epstein. Recently invested in the Conservative movement's Cantors Assembly (hence the change of title from “cantor” to “Hazzan”), Hazzan Rachel has a unique background, with training in voice, counseling and Judaics. Truly Adat Shalom's bat bayit (beloved “daughter” of the community), Hazzan Rachel has grown from a talented lay leader to seasoned professional on our bimah. While she could do each of the tasks we need done by clergy if there were enough hours in the day, Hazzan Rachel is also raising three young children (Gideon, Gabriel and Koby) with her husband (and frequent gabbai) Jonathan Epstein.

Rabbi George Driesen, a founding Board Member of Adat Shalom Congregatoin, is currently serving as its Adjunct Rabbi.After over thirty years as a lawyer George left his practice to attend The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College from which he graduated in June, 1999. Since then then has served as the Adjunct Rabbi of Temple Isaiah (Reform) in Columbia, Maryland (2000-2003) and the Interim Rabbi of the Columbia Jewish Congregation (Reconstructionist) in Columbia, Maryland. (1999-2000) .

George became a lawyer after he graduated Cum Laude from the Yale Law School in June, 1961. George began his legal career as law clerk to David L. Bazelon, former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He served both as a Government lawyer and in private practice. In his practice George represented labor unions and individual employees. While in practice, George held adjunct professorships at Yale, Georgetown, George Washington, and Virginia University law schools and published several law journal articles.

George's ambition to become a rabbi was long standing. He prepared for entry into the Jewish Theological Seminary privately and at Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1954 Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. George attended the Jewish Theological Seminary for one year, and has contributed articles on a wide variety of religious and ethical subjects to Jewish and non-Jewish periodicals and served as Board Member of Tifereth Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C.. Last year, as Adat Shalom's Interim Rabbi, he initiated a year-long program in Science and Judaism at Adat Shalom, the first its kind in any Jewish synagogue.

Rabbi Sidney Schwarz, Sid Schwarz is the founding rabbi of Adat Shalom. After serving the congregation for eight years, he stepped down to devote his energies to PANIM, the educational foundation he also founded in 1988. Sid's book, Finding a Spiritual Home: How a New Generation of Jews Can Transform the American Synagogue (Jewish Lights, 2000), brought national attention to Adat Shalom. Sid now speaks and consults around the country on the topic of synagogue transformation. He continues to contribute to Adat Shalom by leading occasional services, teaching adult education and delivering the Yom Kippur morning sermon.

Sid's day job is president of PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values, an organization of 14 professionals dedicated to the renewal of American Jewish life through the integration of Judaic learning, values and social responsibility. He has been instrumental in the creation of all of PANIM's major programs including: Panim el Panim: High School in Washington, the Jewish Civics Initiative, the E Pluribus Unum Project and Summer JAM. Sid previously served as the executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington D.C.

A Ph.D. in Jewish History, Dr. Schwarz has been on the faculties of the University of Maryland, Temple University and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He has served as faculty for the Wexner Summer Institute and the Whizin Family Education Institute. He is one of the co-chairs of Rabbis for Human Rights, serves on the board of the American Jewish World Service and is a member of the Religious Advisory Council of the Points of Light Foundation.

Sid is the co-author of Jewish Civics: A Tikkun Olam/World Repair Manual (1994) and Jews, Judaism and Civic Responsibility (1998). His new book is Judaism and Justice: Values, Community and Identity, to be published by Behrman House. He has also contributed over 100 articles to journals such as Moment, Tikkun, Sh'ma and The Reconstructionist, and is a frequent lecturer on Judaism, the American Jewish community, and contemporary Jewish affairs. Sid was honored with the 2002 Covenant Award for his singular contributions to the field of Jewish education.

Sid is married to Sandy Perlstein who plays a large role in Adat Shalom in her own right. She co-chaired the dedication of Adat Shalom's building, chaired the women's seder for the past two years and is currently co-chair of the membership committee. Together, Sandy and Sid are the proud parents of Danny (19), Joel (17) and Jennifer (15).

Adat Shalom Staff

Exeuctive Director Sheila Feldman joined Adat Shalom in 1993 and quickly became one of our most active members. Her volunteer work for the congregation has included serving as High Holiday Coordinator, Newsletter Editor, and Co-Chair of the Community Life Committee (a Board position). In November 1999, Sheila accepted a full-time, salaried position as our first executive director. She remains in that position and has become a member of the National Association of Temple Administrators (NATA).

Sheila honed her administrative skills while holding executive positions at the National Naval Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health. She has long been active in the Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) and continues to serve that organization as a certified parent educator, leading parenting workshops and giving talks in the larger community. She finds that her work in PEP and in Adat Shalom complement each other nicely, and she remains strongly dedicated to both organizations. She and her husband, Bill Blackburn, live in Silver Spring. They have six grown children and two grandchildren from previous marriages.