Am Kolel, Board of Directors & Staff

Am Kolel is directed by Rabbi David Shneyer and governed by a Board of Trustees. In addition, we have several gifted clergy, our Judaic consultants, to provide guidance and support to dozens of families and individuals in those special times in their lives, birth through death.

Rabbi David Shneyer is the founder, director and spiritual leader of Am Kolel. Reb David studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary and in Israel, earning degrees in Judaic studies from Rutgers University and Baltimore Hebrew College. He received his "semicha" ordination from the Aleph Seminary founded by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shlomi. The past president of Ohalah, the Rabbinic Association of Jewish Renewal Rabbis, Reb David is also an accomplished musician, founding and leading The Fabrangen Fiddlers, and a composer of new liturgical music. He also helped found Jews United for Justice, and is active in the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and T’ruach a Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, J Street, and other social justice organizations.

Rabbi Miriam Hoffman will begin work with Am Kolel in late July as the Program Director of the Judaic Resource Center arm of Am Kolel. Rabbi Miriam was ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in May 2023. At the University of Arizona, where she received her BA in Family Studies and Human Development, Rabbi Miriam worked for Hillel University of Arizona and also the USC Hillel in Los Angeles. She also holds Masters of Arts in Jewish Nonprofit Management and in Hebrew Letters. Rabbi Miriam has worked with the Avodah Jewish Service Corps and is a member of T'ruah, a Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. Among her duties includes creating programs, offering guidance for lifecycle events, pastoral needs, planning and leading monthly Shabbat dinners, offering courses in Judaism to our members and the public, and assisting Reb David with High Holiday services.

Governance

Founder & Director

Rabbi David Shneyer

Board of Trustees

President — Larry Uman
Vice President — Hanna Weissberger
Secretary — Vacant
Treasurer — Hal Rogoff

Trustees, At-Large

Chesed Chair - Audrey Shane
Membership Chair - Bobbie Goldman
Tikkun Olam Chair - Sandy Hoffman
At Large - Jim Schmitz

Immediate Past President
Frank Silberstein

Judaic Consultants

Melissa Eisen, Executive Administrative Assistant

Rabbi — David Shneyer

Rabbi — Miriam Hoffman

Rabbi — David Kuperman, PhD

Rabbi — Gilah Langer

Rabbinic Pastor — De Herman

Melavah Rukhanit — Janeane Marks

Staff

Executive Director — Rabbi David Shneyer

Director of the Judaic Resource Center — Rabbi Miriam Hoffman

Executive Administrative Assistant — Melissa Eisen

Librarians (Volunteers) — Susan Freiband, Michelle Schuster, Judy Furash, Roz Timburg