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AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
 

Community leaders creating compassionate, inclusive, and respectful communities. 

JCADA's Ambassador Program engages clergy and community leaders in the sacred work of creating safe spaces for survivors of IPV and their families in Jewish congregations and community spaces. 

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The Ambassador Program is a two-year initiative. A cohort of Ambassadors learn together quarterly with JCADA's Education team, working to build positive professional relationships and helping each other through difficult situations relating to IPV in their communities.

SESSIONS 1-4

Ambassadors learn together quarterly and build skills to foster compassionate, inclusive, and respectful communities. Topics include building accountability, an introduction to intimate partner violence, trauma, safety planning, and abuse in the Jewish community.

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SESSIONS 5-8

Ambassadors meet quarterly to discuss relevant issues and concerns in their own congregations and communities. Ambassadors bring questions or concerns for engaging group discussion along with educational material and case studies presented by JCADA staff.

CURRENT AMBASSADORS

AMBASSADOR COHORT DALET (ד) 2025-2027​

  • Rabbi Mitch Berkowitz, Congregation B'nai Israel, MD

  • Rabbi Atara Cohen, EDCJCC, DC

  • Rabbi Warner Ferratier, Beth Emeth, VA

  • Hazzan Asa Fradkin, Beth El, MD

  • Rabbi David Helfand, Shaare Torah, MD

  • Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt, Adas Israel, DC

  • Rabbi Tamara Miller, Private Rabbinical Services

  • Rabbi Steven Rein, Agudas Achim, VA

  • Rabbi Abbi Sharofsky, JCRC

  • Rabbi Ben Sigal, Olam Tikvah, VA

  • Rabbi Kerrith Solomon, Private Rabbinical Services

  • Rabbi Lauren Tuchman, Avodah

  • Rabbi Baht Weiss, Beth Ami, MD

AMBASSADOR COHORT

HAY (ה) 2026-2028

  • Rabbi Eric Abbott, Bethesda Jewish Congregation, MD

  • Rabbi Daniel Braune-Friedman, Charles E Smith Life Communities, MD

  • Rabbi Josh Gischner, Temple Shalom, MD

  • Rabbi Amalia Mark, GatherDC, DMV

  • Rabbi Amy Sapowith, Beth Chaverim, VA

  • Rabbi Andy Weissfeld, Adas Israel, DC

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AMBASSADOR COHORT ALEPH (א)

2022-2024

  • Rabbi Aderet Drucker, the Den Collective

  • Rabbi Nora Feinstein, Sixth & I, DC

  • Rabbi Lizz Goldstein, Congregation Ner Shalom, VA

  • Rabbi Marc Israel, Tikvat Israel Congregation, MD 

  • Rabbi Jeremy Kridel, Machar, The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism, DC 

  • Rabbi Michael Safra, B'nai Israel Congregation, MD  

  • Rabbi Jake Singer-Beilin, Bet Mishpachah, DC 

  • Rabbi Uri Topolosky, Kehilat Pardes, The Rock Creek Synagogue, MD

  • Rabbi Neil Tow, Congregation Sha'are Shalom, VA 

  • Rabbi Ilana Zietman, Georgetown University, DC

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Ambassador Cohort Alef (א) Brit (Covenant)
 

AMBASSADOR COHORT BET (בּ)

2023-2025

  • Rabbi Corey Helfand, Ohr Kodesh, MD

  • Rabbi Rachel Hersh, Jewish Social Services Agency (JSSA)

  • Rabbi Daria Jacobs-Velde, Oseh Shalom, MD

  • Rabbi David Kalender, Olam Tikvah, VA

  • Rabbi Jesse Nagelberg, B'nai Shalom of Olney, MD

  • Rabbi Daniel Novick, George Mason University Hillel, VA

  • Rabbi Sarah Tasman, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (JFGW)

  • Rabbi Fabián Werbin, Kol Shalom, MD

  • Rabbi Michael Werbow, Tifereth Israel, DC

  • Rav Amelia Wolf, Etz Hayim, VA​

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Ambassador Cohort Bet (בּ)Brit

(Covenant)

AMBASSADOR

COHORT GIMMEL (ג)

2025​

  • Cantor Susan Bortnick, Washington Hebrew Congregation

  • Rabbi Eliana Fischel, Washington Hebrew Congregation

  • Cantor Suzanne Hamstra, Washington Hebrew Congregation

  • Rabbi Rachel Schmelkin, Washington Hebrew Congregation

  • Rabbi Sue Shankman, Washington Hebrew Congregation​

  • Stefanie Bloom, Temple Rodef Shalom

  • Cantor Sydney Michaeli, Temple Rodef Shalom

  • Rabbi Jeffrey Saxe, Temple Rodef Shalom

  • Rabbi Amy Schwartzman, Temple Rodef Shalom

  • Cantor Michael Shochet, Temple Rodef Shalom

  • Rabbi Alexandra Stein, Temple Rodef Shalom

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Ambassador Cohort Gimmel (ג) Brit (Covenant)

CONTACT US!

Email Lauren Wistreich (lauren@jcada.org) for more information or to participate!

All Hands In

ADDRESS

P.O. Box 2266 

Rockville, MD 20847

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PHONE

Services: 

1-877-885-2232


Office:

301-315-8040

EMAIL

Services:

support@jcada.org

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Office:

jcada@jcada.org

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If you are a current client of JCADA and you connect with your provider via text, please click here for JCADA's texting terms and conditions.

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If you feel you have experienced discrimination at JCADA, please contact Executive Director, Amanda Chorowski, amanda@jcada.org or 301-315-8040, x101.

​Documents, training, workshops, and services produced by the Greater Washington Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, JCADA, are funded, in part, under grants and contracts awarded by the following agencies: Office on Violence Against Women, The United States Department of Justice; Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants, Executive Office of the Mayor, District of Columbia; the Family Services Administration of the Department of Human Services, Government of the District of Columbia; the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, State of Maryland; Department of Criminal Justice Services, Commonwealth of Virginia; and the Montgomery County Government. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of JCADA and do not represent the official position or policies of the organizations or government agencies that have provided the grant or contract funding. 

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