Rabbah Arlene Berger

Rabbah Arlene Berger graduated from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. She has served as a congregational leader, chaplain, Jewish educator and community rabbi. Prior to becoming a rabbi she spent many years as a social worker and gerontologist.

Rabbah Arlene’s rabbinate is built upon the premise that there are many paths to being Jewish. Her deepest conviction is that it is the responsibility of each human being to leave the world a better place than the world they were born into and that Judaism contains the blueprint for how to do this. Her vision for the future includes nurturing each person’s inner spark so that he or she finds a true home within Klal Israel, the Jewish People.

Arlene lives in Rockville with her husband Warren. She has two adult children and is the proud grandmother of an amazing baby girl.  She is an active community rabbi and chaplain in the Metro DC area.

Cantorial Soloist Joan Wolf

Joan Wolf is thrilled to kick off 2021 as Cantorial Soloist for Hevrat Shalom. Way back in the 70’s, she served as Vice President of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization Chicago Council and was a member of their auditioned choral ensemble.  She possesses a degree in Music (Vocal Performance) from The American University where she produced and performed in theatrical productions as President of the Green Room Players and in a multitude of choirs, madrigal groups and recitals.  Joan is currently the President of Zemer Chai, the Jewish Chorale of the Nation’s Capital (www.zemerchai.org) who has sung from Israel to the North American Jewish Choral Festival to the White House Chanukah Party.  In her ‘day job’, Joan is Vice President of Gerlach Real Estate, Inc. and has been a real estate sales agent since 1980—she will sing for her clients if things get dull!

Rabbi Emeritus Arnold Saltzman

Rabbi Arnold Saltzman, previously Cantor and Cantor Emeritus at Adas Israel Congregation of Washington, D.C. was ordained in 1980 at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. In 2015 the Maryland General Assembly recognized him for 10 years of service and dedication as a rabbi in Maryland. Rabbi Saltzman has degrees from Brooklyn College, Columbia University Teachers College, and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, including a Doctorate, honoris causa. He studied three years in the rabbinic program at the Academy for Jewish Religion in Riverdale, NY where he was ordained by Rabbi Joe Gelberman. His responsibilities include oversight for our religious services, adult and youth education, life cycle events and pastoral counseling.

Rabbi Saltzman is also a well-known cantor, serving for twenty-seven years as cantor of the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, DC. His recordings, national broadcasts, and original symphonic compositions have won national critical acclaim. He currently is a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Education Directors Council of the Jewish Federation, the American Conference of Cantors (URJ), the Cantors Assembly, and the Calvert Interfaith Council. In 2014 he was singled out for a special award for his work on behalf of Alan Gross, a former prisoner in Cuba. Rabbi Saltzman writes as a guest columnist for the Washington Jewish Week on Torah and as Music Critic. He is married to Carol Nissenson.