Backyard Mitzvah

Working with families to create something meaningful and special brings me intense joy.

David Abramowitz was ordained as a Cantor by the ALEPH Ordination Program in January 2016 and received his certificate as a spiritual director in January 2017. David enjoys leading Shabbat morning services at the Charles E. Smith Life Communities in Rockville, Maryland twice a month and officiates life cycle events year round.

In his other professional life, David is the Mid-Atlantic regional technical lead at Trend Micro, a specialist in computer and network security. In his free time, he enjoys playing drums and singing in a rock cover band, and playing in an adult ice hockey league.

David graduated from Brandeis University with a B.S. in Computer Science and received his Masters in Computer Science from The George Washington University.

It is my joy to help families connect with tradition and bring rituals to life with music and meaning.

Stephanie Weishaar is a ritual artist who creates ceremonies that are unique to each family. She serves as spiritual leader of a part-time congregation for young families and as cantor for another congregation focused on empty nesters and retired folks. She has served several congregations in Maryland and Virginia as a religious school teacher and worship leader. Stephanie’s experience in Reform, Reconstructionist, Hasidic, and Renewal Jewish settings brings a range of music and ideas in her toolkit. She is currently the vice president for the Women Cantors Network and chair of the student board for the ALEPH Ordination Program, where she will be ordained in January. Prior to immersing in Jewish music and education, Stephanie studied Russian and International Relations at The American University in Washington, DC, and worked on development projects in Eastern Europe. She lives on a farm in Clarksburg, Maryland, with her husband, one of their two grown children, and their dog.

Crafting life cycle events that are meaningful and joyful is my passion.

Evan J. Krame was ordained as a rabbi by the ALEPH Ordination Program in January 2015. Evan is also a fellow of Rabbis Without Borders. Evan is the President of the Washington Board of Rabbis. He has also served as president of several non-profit organizations, including the Hillel at George Washington University. Evan’s goal is to make Jewish experiences meaningful and accessible.

I enjoy helping to create a personalized bar/bat mitzvah or wedding, elevated through music and tradition.

Sally Heckelman has been co-leading shabbat and B’nai mitzvah services with The Jewish Studio for the past five years. Sally has extensive experience in Jewish music, as a music specialist for children of all ages, camp songleader and lead singer for a klezmer band. She currently leads prayer services, spiritual and family programs at a conservative synagogue, officiates privately for B’nai mitzvot, performs Jewish/Hebrew music and teaches music in area preschools. Sally produced two CDs of her original compositions and other songs for children known as Sally and the Daffodils. She holds a BA in Jewish Studies from SUNY Binghamton and a Masters in Social Work from Yeshiva University. She is currently a cantorial student in the Aleph Ordination Program. Sally lives in Silver Spring with her husband Dan and they have four grown children.

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We thank Peter and Debbie Friedmann for their inspiration and support.

We thank Neil and Emily Kishter for their generosity and caring.