American culture has long romanticized the wilderness. We see untamed landscapes as places of retreat from the pressures of urban life, sources of spiritual renewal, and reflections of national identity. […]
I burst into tears watching Edan Alexander reunite with his mother. In that moment, Edan was not a soldier or a political symbol—he was her child. To his family, he […]
Last week, I attended a conference focused on building a more inclusive and welcoming Judaism. One session, in particular, stood out — finding the source for a “Torah of Safety, […]
“Purge the holy place from impurity.” – Leviticus 16:16 Arriving in New York, my grandparents and great-grandparents discovered a new holiness. American idealism supplanted Shtetl Judaism. The Mezuzah at the […]
When King Hezekiah fell gravely ill, the prophet Isaiah came to him and said, “Put your house in order, for you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah […]
Lately, everything I read is colored by a deepening concern for the state of our democracy. Even sacred texts, once sources of comfort and moral grounding, now provoke doubt. This […]
“This is a law for all time throughout the ages for you must distinguish between the sacred and the profane, and between the impure and the pure” Leviticus 10: 9 […]
“What’s the difference between depression and anxiety?” my friend asked over lunch. Depression keeps you fixated on the past. Anxiety traps you in fear about the future. Either way, many […]
Renewing Freedom Seder (A song of welcome framing the event) Circle ’round for freedom, Circle ’round for peace; For all of us imprisoned, Circle for release. Circle for the planet, […]
I have begun cleaning the house in preparation for Passover. My grandmother might have said we were getting rid of the schmutz. This year, the process is cathartic. It’s more […]
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 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.
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.
Evan J. Krame was ordained as a rabbi by the ALEPH Ordination Program in January 2015 and is currently a fellow of Rabbis Without Borders. He has served as president of several non-profit organizations, including the Hillel at George Washington University and Shared Horizons, Inc.
In addition to leading the Jewish Studio, Evan also serves as a founding builder of Bayit, a national organization that provides innovative tools to build a new Judaism. His honors include Hillel’s Exemplar of the Year, Israel Bonds Young Leadership Award, the Jewish Federation of Washington’s Campaigner of the Year, ORT’s community leadership award and the Shared Horizons Humanitarian award.
In addition to his religious activities, Evan is also a partner at Krame and Biggin, a Maryland law firm specializing in estates and trusts work with a focus on assisting families of persons with special needs. Evan is a graduate of Brandeis University and George Washington University Law School and has an LLM in Taxation.