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, Executive Director

Rabbi/Director: Rabbi David Shneyer

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.

Managing Director: Carolyn Horowitz Amacher, MSW, MSG

Carolyn Horowitz Amacher has a 30-year nonprofit leadership career specializing in community engagement and outreach, board governance, program outcomes and evaluation, and professional development and recruitment. She holds a dual BA in newspaper and psychology from Syracuse University, an MSW from Yeshiva University, and a Master's in Gerontology from the University of Missouri, where she also earned a graduate certificate in nonprofit management and the Chancellor's Certificate in Neighborhood Leadership. She recently completed her professional coaching certification with George Mason University's Leadership Coaching for Organizational Wellbeing.


Executive Administrative Assistant: Melanie Winick

Melanie Winick is Am Kolel's new Administrative Assistant.  After graduating from Towson University (Go Tigers!) in 2022 with a B.S. in Mass Communication, she spent three years working as an administrator at Ohr Kodesh Congregation in Chevy Chase before joining the Am Kolel team. She is passionate about community engagement, disability advocacy, and sustainability. In her free time, Melanie enjoys hiking around the DMV, discovering delicious and affordable eats, scrapbooking, and going to concerts.

 
 
 

Governance

Founder & Director

Rabbi David Shneyer

Board of Trustees

President — Larry Uman
Vice President — Hanna Weissberger
Secretary — Sandy Lerner
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

Rabbi — David Shneyer

Rabbi — Miriam Hoffman

Rabbi — David Kuperman, PhD

Rabbi — Gilah Langer

Rabbinic Pastor — De Herman

Melavah Rukhanit — Janeane Marks

Staff

Rabbi/Director — Rabbi David Shneyer

Managing Director — Carolyn Horowitz Amacher

Executive Administrative Assistant — Melanie Winick

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