Head of School Circle Celebration

Sara Cohen Rich '87

Sara Cohen Rich ’87 credits her attendance at CESJDS to her grandparents Joseph (z”l) and Guta Wolke, who are Holocaust survivors and wanted their grandchildren to experience a Jewish education.

Sara graduated from Duke University summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in History and Spanish and continued her studies at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. She practices with her father Dr. Paul Cohen and her grandfather, Dr. Morris Cohen.

In the CESJDS community, Sara served as the Lower School Ma’ayan Chair in 2014 with her husband, Norm Rich, and on the parent transition committee that provided feedback to Rabbi Malkus. Sara is a member of the Building Our Future Campaign Cabinet. She is active at the Edlavitch DCJCC serving on the Capital Campaign Committee, on their Film Council which supervises the yearly Film Festival and where she received the Volunteer of the Year award in 2015.

It is because of her studies at CESJDS and its incredible community that Sara now sends her four children Amelia ’20, Sean ’22, Julia ‘24 and Lauren ‘25 to CESJDS.

Marshall Einhorn '94

Marshall Einhorn '94 has been the Executive Director of Brown RISD Hillel in Providence, RI since 2010. Marshall's passion for pluralistic Jewish communities is rooted in the 13 years he spent at CESJDS and his four years as a student leader at Tufts Hillel.

At Brown RISD Hillel, he has helped foster a "big tent" approach to Jewish life and he enjoys helping students forge a deep and abiding relationship to Judaism and to one another. Marshall recently moved back to Brookline, MA with his wife, Deborah, and their three children in order for their oldest child to continue her Jewish day school education at the Jewish Community Day School there. Marshall's family is still getting a kick out of his May induction into the JDS sports hall of fame and marvel at how quickly his athleticism has gone downhill.

Jonathan Lerner '03

Jonathan Lerner '03 is an Executive at Lerner Enterprises.

Jonathan credits CESJDS for instilling him with a lifelong curiosity and a strong Jewish foundation. This curiosity led him to major in Religious Studies at NYU. While in law school at the Georgetown University Law Center, Jonathan worked closely with the Criminal Defense & Prisoner Advocacy Clinic. Following law school, Jonathan practiced

corporate law at Proskauer Rose LLP with a focus on mergers and acquisitions.

Jonathan is also co-founder of On Rye, a modern sandwich shop inspired by Jewish deli coming soon to Chinatown, DC.

Dr. Yael Mossé '89

Yael Mossé '89 is an internationally recognized pediatric oncologist and physician scientist specializing in neuroblastoma at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is an associate professor with tenure at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and is the first pediatric resident at Children’s Hospital who graduated from a foreign medical school (Israel).

The Mossé family moved to the United States from France to escape anti-Semitism. A year after arriving, Yael began CESJDS in the fourth grade and was joined by her brother, David. Unlike many international students at CESJDS whose first language is Hebrew, Yael’s first language is French. But the presence of other students who didn’t use English as a first language proved to make the transition to life in America a bit easier. Ita Milstein, an English language tutor, made it possible for Yael and others to assimilate. She developed a passion for learning, academics, a moral compass, and a profound connection to her Judaism and the State of Israel.

Yael’s two primary interests in English literature and biology can be traced to the classrooms of Annette Lakein and Laura Jacobs. Roz Landy was also inspirational.

The faculty provided “education with passion” and tapped into each student’s individual needs. The Israel trip after graduation also nourished Yael’s passion for the Jewish state.

Today, Yael’s connections to Israel, the Jewish community, and her medical work intertwine seamlessly. Her professors from the Sackler School of Medicine call her often, and Israeli families come to her in their time of need. Yael lives in Wynnewood, PA, with her daughter Noa Rachel and her son Yoni Aaron, both of whom attended the Perelman Jewish Day School. Her parents, Georges and Danielle Mossé, made Aliyah in 2014.

“CESJDS gave me the tools to believe in myself and instilled in me the passion to help others.”

Rachel Ain '95

Rachel Ain '95 is the spiritual leader of Sutton Place Synagogue in New York City and is the only female rabbi in Manhattan to head a Conservative Congregation.

Growing up in a home where Jewish values were important, Rachel enrolled in CESJDS in middle school and was later joined by her sister, Dorie Ain Ravick ’01. “When I was thinking about where I wanted to attend the end of middle school and more importantly, high school, I wanted to be in a school where I could continue my love of Jewish learning that I had experienced at my synagogue’s Hebrew school and Jewish summer camp. I knew I wanted to be in a place that had strong Jewish values and a strong academic reputation,” Rachel explains.

Jewish traditions and values grew even more important and influenced her decision to become a Rabbi. After CESJDS, she attended Barnard College and the Albert A. List College of Jewish Studies. She was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary, concurrently receiving her MA in Jewish Education. Additionally, during Rabbinical School she served as a commissioned Lieutenant (JG) for the US Navy Chaplains Corp. “As a rabbi, I am motivated by the opportunity to study Jewish tradition and to help create a thriving community based on these values.”

Rachel is married to Rabbi David Levy, the Director of Teen Learning and the International Director of USY, for the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. They are the proud parents of two sons, Jared and Zachary.

Stephen Krupin ’00

Stephen Krupin ’00 is a Senior Presidential Speechwriter at The White House. He previously launched and led the Executive Communications practice at the public affairs and political consulting firm SKDKnickerbocker, served as the chief speechwriter at the U.S. Department of State, and held the same position on President Obama’s re-election campaign and to then-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Stephen has also taught graduate-level speechwriting courses as an adjunct professor at Georgetown, George Washington and American universities.

Stephen is a third-generation Washingtonian and was a “lifer” at CESJDS, having started in kindergarten and graduating 13 years later. His nephew, Kyle, is now at CESJDS kindergartner.

Stephen considers the people who made CESJDS special an extended family. “Many of the relationships and friendships I started at CESJDS are still with me today, 25 years later.”

While at CESJDS, Stephen was active with the Lion’s Tale student newspaper and class government, and he particularly remembers Mrs. Annette Lakein in the English department for helping him to perfect his writing and analytical skills. He also recalls Mr. Jeffrey Coster, a history teacher who instilled in him an understanding that there is not just one American history, but many.

After CESJDS, Stephen went to Northwestern University, where he majored in journalism and political science. Later he earned a master’s degree at the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs.

He has written for the President of the United States, the U.S. Secretary of State and other Cabinet Secretaries, the Senate Majority Leader and numerous congressional leaders, ambassadors, Fortune 500 CEOs, philanthropists, university presidents, foundation heads, and non-profit advocates.

“At CESJDS, I was educated through the lens of a pluralistic Jewish perspective, learning that every practice and point of view has value. That’s essential when you’re writing in someone else’s voice for diverse audiences on a wide range of issues, whether around the country or around the world.”

“From day one, we were learning about different cultures, histories, and languages – so we always had a strong sense that there was a bigger world beyond our classroom walls,” Stephen said. “We learned that we have a responsibility to make that world better – tikkun olam. That’s at the heart of public service.” Every day, through his profession, Stephen is continuing the work that he started while at CESJDS.

Stephen lives in Washington, D.C., and is an avid runner in his spare time or when he needs to clear his head while writing. In 2015, he completed the Havana Marathon.

Julianna Goldman '99

Julianna Goldman ’99 is an award-winning television journalist and has been a correspondent with CBS News since 2014. She reports from the CBS Washington Bureau and is part of the 2016 Presidential campaign team. For more than ten years, Julianna was at Bloomberg News, working her way up and eventually becoming a White House correspondent.

With a passion for excellence and coming from a family where her parents emphasized public service, Julianna attended Barnard College and majored in political science. At Barnard, she pursued several internships and realized that she had a passion for politics. Ultimately, her inquisitive mind and desire for asking tough questions translated into a successful career.

Julianna has been at the forefront of her profession, covering all the major events of the Obama presidency, including the President’s fi rst trip to Israel. Accomplishments include appearing as a panelist on Political Capital With Al Hunt, the fi rst interview with President Obama after his re-election (one of three she has done with the President), moderator of the Bloomberg 2011 Republican Primary Debate, coverage at the White House the night Osama bin Laden was killed, and travel to Afghanistan one year later.

Julianna and her husband, Michael Gottlieb, live in Washington, DC.

“Balancing the demands of the CESJDS dual curriculum was a 13-year lesson in multitasking that has proven to be invaluable throughout my career.”

Rebecca Keren Eisenstadt ’03

Rebecca Keren Eisenstadt ’03 is an accomplished actress and theater professional in New York and is a member of the company at The National Yiddish Theatre – Folksbiene. She is also known for her work as a Hebrew/B'nai Mitzvah tutor, having worked with more than 400 students.

Rebecca graduated from CESJDS at the height of the Iraq war. Because of the conflict, the senior trip to Israel and Europe was delayed. Before the trip's start, Rebecca used the down time to audition for some professional acting companies and landed a role with the Washington Savoyards in their production of "Mikado." This was the impetus for the start of her acting career.

After CESJDS, Rebecca attended New York University's Tisch School for the Arts. At Tisch, Rebecca’s mix of strong acting skills, combined with mastery of Hebrew and Judaics, made her well-known. The National Yiddish Theater – Folksbiene awarded her a scholarship to learn Yiddish, and she is now a professional member of the company.

As a skilled B'nai Mitzvah tutor, Rebecca works with approximately 30 young people at any given time. Additionally, she uses her theatrical skills to find creative ways to assist her students with learning differences.

“CESJDS instilled strong values in me that are central to who I am. As an artist and as an actress, I try to also be a teacher – spreading our understanding of the Jewish experience.”

Max Levitt ’07

Max Levitt ’07 had three major influences in his life – his parents, his CESJDS experience and an unending love for sports. It just wasn’t until the end of college that he realized how these influences would lead him to create a not for profit and having giving back as a central theme to his life.

After spending three years at JDS (K-2) his parents moved Max to the McLean school as a good environment to deal with his learning disabilities. However, Max credits their decision to return him to JDS for high school as the key to his success in college and his ability to rise above his disabilities and thrive. Max found the environment at JDS stimulating and abounding in a community feeling that clearly demonstrated the values of helping others and doing tikun olam. He sees his peer group as a very strong motivating force and he still travels with many of his classmates.

While at Syracuse University, Max worked as an equipment manager for the football team and for the first time had real relationships with kids that came from far less fortunate backgrounds. Kids who had struggled all their lives and for whom college was anything but a given. He also saw how important sports were to these kids and what a positive force it was in their lives. He also met a lot of privileged kids who had no appreciation for all they had been given.

His family often travelled to poorer areas of the globe and it just happened that they planned a vacation to Africa for the end of his junior year. Max had an idea about bringing sports equipment to donate in Botswana. In two weeks and with basically the use of just e-mail, he was able to assemble a significant amount of equipment and his parents helped him bring it along for donation. The exercise hit home in two major ways: 1) How incredibly appreciative the recipients of the equipment were; and 2) how relatively easy it was to make a very large impact on these peoples’ lives. From that point on, Max had his eyes open for an opportunity to do more.

After returning to college he decided to take a semester off and research how he might take his idea to a bigger level. He spent a lot of time in the library as well as interviewing people who started and worked for not for profits. He finished up his degree over the summer and his research continued as he began a successful career in sales. His not for profit, Leveling the Playing Field (LTPF) was his part time avocation then. However, in early 2013 he realized that he wanted to try to take it to the next level and made the leap of faith of making it his fulltime job. Leveling the Playing Field is a vehicle to give underprivileged children the opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of athletic involvement by collecting sports equipment from various collegiate athletic departments, county recreation departments, families and individual donors from across the nation and donating them to communities where they are needed.

Max now sees LTPF as his graduate school – just in the school of real life rather than a university. Leveling the Playing Field has grown immensely and now not only collects and distributes no longer used sports equipment but also hosts events including college and pro players coming out so that kids meet real life role models. Max’s future goals include expanding the current distribution from with the US to overseas due to the greater levels of poverty in the developing world. He believes that sports can make an incredible difference in those kids’ lives and he wants to be part of the difference.

Max hopes his classmates also find opportunities to give back and to be green. The obvious extra bonus of LTPF being that it is taking used equipment out of landfills as well as providing it to kids that can really use it. CESJDS is proud to see an alum carrying out the values of the school and the tenets of Judaism.

Joshua Frey '89

Joshua Frey ’89, is a life-long entrepreneur and has founded several businesses. He is the owner / founder of On Sale Promos, Inc., a promotional products company. While attending the University of Wisconsin, Josh partnered with his brother Seth ’88, and sold ice cream and treats around campus – thus starting his first business. After college, Josh started another business, Granny’s Goodies, a care package delivery company. In 2004, he founded On Sale Promos, and today has started yet another venture, The Swag Coach. Josh is often invited to speak to business students and is active in the leadership of the Washington, DC chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization.

His motto, “We Hook our People Up”, extends into both his professional and personal life, from mentoring business students and start-up entrepreneurs to being a resource to family and friends in connecting them with his business contacts both in DC and globally.

Josh lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Kathy and his two children, Maxwell and Delilah.

“JDS to me was and still is all about the relationships I started and experiences I shared with those individuals during my time there. Those relationships affect all parts of my life to this very day … as a son, a friend, a brother, a father, an entrepreneur, and of course, as a Jew. God Bless JDS!”

Rabbi Shira Stutman '91

Rabbi Shira Stutman ‘91 is Director of Jewish Programming at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, where she helps to infuse Sixth & I’s diverse programs with Jewish context and content. The main focus of her work is to make Jewish meaning and build Jewish community for young professionals. With that in mind, she teaches workshops for those interested in joining the Jewish community and for interfaith couples.

She graduated from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 2007, where she was a Wexner Graduate Fellow, and from Columbia University. She also serves as Scholar-In- Residence for the Jewish Federations of North America National Women’s Philanthropy program. Previously, she was the founding rabbi of Kesher Shalom Congregation in Abington, PA; worked at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia; and served as Executive Director of Lights in Action, a Jewish college student activist organization.

She is married to Russell Shaw and has three children, Caleb (10), Ma’ayan (8), and Natalia (5).

“Not a day goes by that I don’t call on my CESJDS education. Whether it’s wrestling with a complex problem, writing an op-ed, giving a sermon, collaborating with a team, or envisioning what’s possible for my organization, my professional life is perpetually informed by my education in Rockville. More importantly, CESJDS provided me with a moral compass, a deeply felt understanding of Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Hasadim. As I move through life’s daily challenges, I often draw on the “still, small voice” that is the imprint of my learning at CESJDS.”

Heather Brooks Karatz '02

Heather Brooks Karatz '02 is Vice President and Legal Counsel for Relativity Sports, LLC, a sports management company in Beverly Hills, CA. She has held legal positions with the National Hockey League and the National Football League. While at the NHL, Heather played an active role in the recent collective bargaining negotiations and has represented several professional sports franchises in negotiations with players.

Heather earned her law degree from the UCLA School of Law and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Philosophy from Vanderbilt University. She is an active member of the Milken Institute Young Leader’s Circle and the Sports Lawyers Association.

Heather is also the founder of Sportsgirl, a brand that attracts women to sports by detailing the relationship between sports headlines and current topics in entertainment, fashion, gossip and politics.

Heather lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, Teddy.

Adam Bonnett '86

As Executive Vice President of Original Programming for the Disney Channel, Adam Bonnett '86, is responsible for developing and overseeing today’s most popular programming for kids and tweens around the globe, including Girl Meets World, K.C Undercover, Liv and Maddie, Austin & Ally, BUNK’D, and Lab Rats: Elite Force. In addition to iconic hits Wizards of Waverly Place and Jessie, he also developed Hannah Montana which catapulted Miley Cyrus to international stardom and was built into a hugely successful television franchise for The Walt Disney Company including multi-platinum soundtracks, a record-setting 3D movie and top-grossing feature films.

Adam recalls how his time at CESJDS helped shape his outlook. “I started at CESJDS not knowing how to speak Hebrew,” Adam said. “A few years later I was on stage performing plays (and attempting to sing) entirely in Hebrew! I didn’t know what I was singing or saying, but CESJDS taught me the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone when I wanted to accomplish something. Fortunately, I realized in high school that I couldn’t sing, but to this day I think of CESJDS when I take on new personal and professional challenges.”

Johanna Paretzky '99

Johanna Paretzky '99, serves as a key member of the NFL’s Consumer Products Department, overseeing the long-term strategic planning for the NFL’s apparel, headwear, and non-apparel items, which include on-field uniforms, sideline and training gear, home décor, accessories and more. She also manages retail marketing strategy and product development for the NFL’s partnerships with Nike, New Era, Under Armour and NFLShop.com. In 2010, Paretzky served as a strategic lead in the NFL’s most recent apparel negotiations, the largest sports licensing deal of its kind.

A graduate of Harvard University, Johanna served as president of the Kuumba Singers of Harvard College, the university’s largest multicultural student group, and received the Senior Leadership Award in 2003 for being a “face of excellence at Harvard.” She is also a part-time musician, currently recording her second album. Johanna resides in Brooklyn, NY.

Matthew Grossman '09

Matthew Grossman '09 re-entered CESJDS during 10th grade after spending eighteen months undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and bone marrow transplants to treat a brain tumor discovered when he was in 8th grade. Once in remission, Matthew was left nearly deaf in both ears. With a cochlear implant, he was able to rejoin his classmates and graduate, on time.

Matthew currently attends Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he is majoring in psychology and music. He is a leader on campus, holding a Board position on Clark’s Relay For Life committee, teaching music theory in a Worcester middle school as a volunteer, and singing in Clark’s premier co-ed A Cappella group, “The Clark Bars.”

Jeremy Bash '89

Jeremy Bash '89 served until recently as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense. He previously served as Chief of Staff to the Director of the CIA.

As a senior advisor to Leon E. Panetta in both roles, Bash worked on a number of key initiatives, including the creation of a new defense strategy, formulation of two defense budgets, the drawdown of two wars, counterterrorism operations, a new cyber strategy, and a range of sensitive intelligence operations. He traveled with Secretary Panetta to more than 50 countries. From August 2010 to May 2011, he was a member of CIA's senior management team overseeing the operation that killed Osama Bin Ladin.

From 2004-2008, Bashed served in a variety of roles on Capitol Hill, including Chief Counsel to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and as a senior national security advisor to Congresswoman Jane Harman.

From 2001-2003, Bash practiced law at O'Melveny and Myers LLP.

He is a recipient of the Department of Defense's highest civilian honor -- the Distinguished Public Service Medal, and the CIA's highest civilian honor -- the Distinguished Intelligence Medal.

In 2010, Time Magazine named Bash one of the nation's Top 40 Civic Leaders Under 40.

He graduated from Georgetown University, magna cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his law degree from Harvard Law School, where he graduated cum laude and was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.

He attended CESJDS for 12 years, graduating with the class of 1989.

Hannah Seligson '00

Hannah Seligson '00 is a journalist and author of three books. New Girl on the Job: Advice from the Trenches, a career guide for young women. The Washington Post said it "covers the key things any young women needs to know to thrive at those first couple of jobs." A Little Bit Married: How to Know When it's Time to Walk Down the Aisle or out the Door explored the long-term unmarried relationship. The book was optioned for a television series by CBS. Her most recent book, published in 2012, was Mission: Adulthood: How the 20-somethings of Today Are Transforming Work, Love, and LIfe.

Hannah's professional speaking includes conference and seminar presentations at universities, business associations and corporations, such as the Harvard Business School, Viva, Beijing Professional Women's Network, and the Culinary Institute of America.

Her reporting has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Slate.com.

Seligson serves as a mentor-editor at the Op-Ed Projects. She graduates with a B.A. from Brown University in 2004. Hannah lives in New York City with her husband, Andrew.

“My interest in writing about the intersection of gender, sociology, and culture was sparked in the 11^th grade when I wrote my junior year thesis on the portrayal of women in Disney movies for Dr. Worden’s class.”

Aaron Shapiro '07

Aaron Shapiro '07 is a medical student at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He is a member of the National Health Service Corp and is studying to become a primary care provider for trans youth, sex workers, and people struggling with addiction.

Aaron is the founder of Citizen Physicians, a chapter-based organization with a non-partisan, non-issue-based mission to train future healthcare providers in effective civic engagement. He is also the co-founder of noeasyway.org, an online community devoted to improving healthcare providers’ ability to deliver difficult news by learning from first-hand patient anecdotes. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Project Weber, a community non-profit that provides health and social services to the sex workers of Rhode Island.

After graduating from the University of Maryland in 2011 with a B.S. in Global Health, Aaron served as a Global Health Corps Fellow with Gardens for Health International in Rwanda. Aaron graduated from JDS in 2007. At JDS, Aaron organized assemblies about the crisis in Darfur, organized a school-wide teach-in about HIV/AIDS, and was editor-in-chief of Hidden Gems, a literary arts magazine that published the works of homeless people in D.C.