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2. 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.
It is my joy to help families
connect with tradition and
bring rituals to life with music
and meaning.
Crafting life cycle events
that are meaningful and
joyful is my passion.
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.
Working with families to create something
meaningful and special brings me intense
joy.
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3. 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.
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.
Disclaimer: Content Copyright © From Backyard
Mitzvah
I enjoy helping to create a
personalized bar/bat mitzvah
or wedding, elevated through
music and tradition.
A lifelong musician, cantorial soloist Caitlin
McLaughlin has been a service leader and
band member at Temple Emanuel of
Kensington, MD since 2011, has led alternative
High Holiday and Women’s Retreat worship
services, and has also taught music in the
Religious School since 2020. She joined the
Jewish Studio worship leading team in
Rockville MD in 2021.
Caitlin completed vocal studies at Temple
University in Philadelphia, PA and a master’s
degree in Music (Choral Conducting) at the
University of California, Irvine. She has led
About Caitlin McLaughlin

4. choral groups in schools and congregations in
California, New England and Minnesota
before settling in Maryland. Beginning in
2021, Caitlin will be a member of Cohort 11 of
the Davennen Leadership Training Institute.
She has taken part in other Jewish music
workshops including Shabbat Shirah and
Hava Nashira at OSRUI, NewCAJE and the
Jewish Collaborative Songwriters’ Retreat.
She lives in Silver Spring MD with her family.
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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.
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