Our Staff - Adath Israel Congregation

OUR TEAM

CHRIS HANNON
Chief Operating Officer
(he/him)
(513) 793-1800 ext. 115
Email: chris@adath-israel.org
Chris comes with his family from West Lafayette, Indiana, and has significant management and leadership experience working with non-profits. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lafayette. Chris is skilled in strategic, goal-oriented thinking, talent management, budgets and finance, and communication.

MITCH COHEN
(he/him)
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Teacher and Coordinator
Director of Communications
(513) 793-1800 ext. 107
Email: mitch@adath-israel.org

Mitch heads our Bnai Mitzvah department teaching Bar and Bat Mitzvah students and coordinating with parents. This is his 13th year teaching our Bar and Bat Mitzvah students. He has directed our High Holiday choir for over 30 years and served as our High Holiday Cantor for the past 5 years. He also coordinates synagogue communications and administers this website. He is married to Sherry and has three children.

Rebecca Axelrod
(she/her)
Ritual Director
(513) 793-1800 ext. 127
Email: rebecca@adath-israel.org

Rebecca is the newest member of our team, having come on board in November. If you are interested in learning to read Torah or lead part of the services, Rebecca is here for you! In addition to teaching adults, Rebecca teaches in our religious school, and coordinates the various aspects of our congregation's ritual life. Rebecca came to Ohio from Connecticut, where she served as Choir Director, B'nai Mitzvah Tutor, and High Holiday cantor for 16 years. She has two degrees in music and a doctorate in education.

RACHEL BROWN
Director of Education and Youth and Family Programming
(513) 793-1800 ext. 104
Email: rachel@adath-israel.org

Rachel leads our Youth Department, which includes the Jarson Education Center Religious School and all of our Youth & Family programming. You can find her in the school building, leading programs in the youth lounge, or participating in many of our other programs throughout the synagogue or off-site. She received her Bachelor's degree in Classical Vocal Performance with minors in German and Judaic Studies and her Master's degree in Musical Theatre Performance. Rachel lives in Cincinnati with her husband.

AVI DAVE
(he/him/his)
(513)793-1800 ext. 118
Youth and Programming Coordinator
Email: avi@adath-israel.org

Avi supports the Jarson Education Center Religious School and its madrichim (teachers’ student assistants), supervises Youth & Family age-based groups from Mazel Tots (pre-K) through AIUSY (high school), and curates a well-rounded array of intentional experiences for Nefesh Young Professionals.

Avi knows from personal experience that Adath Israel is a Jewish Cincinnati cornerstone that offers exceptional opportunities for active community, learning, and growth, and is excited for this new chapter.

In his free time, Avi likes to cook (and eat) good food, play (and sometimes even win) table tennis, pickleball, and Nintendo Switch games, and travel (to Israel).

TAMMY GLIKMAN
Director of Congregational Programming
(513) 793-1800 ext. 129
Email: tammy@adath-israel.org

Tammy works with our Rabbi and senior staff to craft and execute programs to engage our congregation. She also works with our lay leaders to help plan events. If you have an idea for a program, give her a call!

Tammy was born in Tel Aviv. She came to NYC to work for the Ministry of Defense coordinating visits by Israeli military personnel. She relocated to Cincinnati with her family in 2021 as Marketing Manager for Light House LTD. She enjoys hiking in the Cincinnati parks, and spending time with her family.

LAURA KINNEY-PORTER
Digital Marketing Associate
Email: laura@adath-israel.org

Laura works with our Communications Department on our social media, graphics design, website updates, and weekly emails. Additionally, you may see her at an event capturing photo and video footage to document our programs. Laura holds a Bachelors of Science in Media Communications from Full Sail University, and is Cincinnati born and raised. She resides in St. Bernard with her husband, Kevin, and their three children. During her free time, she enjoys researching her family tree through genealogy and archiving family photos.

KATHY HAAS
Assistant Administrator
(513) 793-1800 ext. 106
Email: kathy@adath-israel.org

Kathy supervises all aspects of building usage, catering, office, and High Holidays as well as a myriad of other projects.

KIM AMBROSIUS
Administrative Assistant
(513) 793-1800 ext. 164
Email: kim@adath-israel.org
Kim was born and raised in Cincinnati and went to school for Computer Business Management. She handles Rabbi Smolkin's calendar scheduling, works with bar/bat mitzvah students and their families, arranges caring havurah deliveries, and handles registration for adult studies classes. If you have questions about conversion to Judaism or how to arrange for a bris or baby naming, she can help. In her spare time, she loves to volunteer and help any animal shelter or organization to find homes and dwindle the homeless.

TIM PATTON
Building Manager

Tim and his staff maintain the synagogue's physical plant and grounds with great care - much as they do in their own homes. Contact Tim through the Synagogue office at 513-793-1800.

BARBARA BRESLER
Librarian
barbara@adath-israel.org

Barbara Morrison-Bresler grew up in Dallas, Texas and holds a Fine Arts Degree from the University of Texas and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. She was a librarian at the University of Nebraska, the Archivist/Director for the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, and a consultant archivist with the Jewish Women’s Archive in Boston. Since moving to Cincinnati, Barbara has served as the Librarian at Adath Israel. Barbara is married to Scott Bresler and is mom of Lenny, Elka and Micah.