Board – IKAR

Ask

Are you a synagogue or what? Yes and no and kinda. Words like “synagogue” can feel constraining, and we want to think expansively about what Jewish life can be… so we think of ourselves as a spiritual community, and let the experience define itself.

Pray

“Prayer is meaningless unless it is subversive, unless it seeks to overthrow and to ruin the pyramids of callousness, hatred, opportunism, falsehoods. The liturgical movement must become a revolutionary movement, seeking to overthrow the forces that continue to destroy the promise, the hope, the vision.” –Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, “On Prayer”

Learn

“To educate means to cultivate the soul.” -Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Act

“Love your neighbor, and love yourself. That is the whole Torah. All the rest is commentary.” –Hillel

Meet

This community is crawling with good folks — from longtime members to newbies — and there are so many ways to connect.

Join

IKAR is fueled by the love, talent, and creative investment of each of our community members. Our membership is an expression of individual commitments and a way for each person to expand their Jewish horizons through learning and spiritual growth.

Donate

“All beginnings require that you unlock new doors. The key is giving and doing. Give tzedakah and do kindness.” – R’ Nachman of Bratslav

Search

We are all searching for something. What’s your thing?

Team

Each and every member of our staff and our board is integral to making our community run. From the clergy to our education team to our communications and program heads to our board members—each role is instrumental in making IKAR what it is.

Michelle Rosenthal (Board Chair)

Jeremy Rosenthal (Board Vice Chair/Treasurer)

Zach Lainer (Secretary)

Ethan Goldstine (Immediate Past Board Chair)

Aaron Applebaum

Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali

Daniel Inlender

Dr. Mark Krieger

Sophie Pritzker

Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug

Adam Scott Weissman

Jenny Weston-Newman

Melissa Balaban (CEO & Past Board Chair)

David Alpern (Past Board Chair)

Yoni Fife (Past Board Chair)

Karen Hanovice Hogan (Past Board Chair)

Todd Kessler (Past Board Chair)

Fred Kramer (Past Board Chair)

Adam Miller (Past Board Chair)

Rachel Waranch (Past Board Chair)