Hazzan HenriqueOzur Bass
Hazzan Henrique Ozur Bass was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1989,
he left his native Brazil to study at the Cantors Institute of the
Jewish Theological Seminary of America, graduating in 1995. In addition to his
studies at the JTSA, Hazzan Ozur Bass studied voice privately under
Thomas Lomonaco and Thomas Cultice in New York.
Hazzan Ozur Bass came to Congregation Har Shalom in 1996 after serving several
congregations in Brazil, Israel, and the United States. He is a member of
the Cantors Assembly and American Society of Jewish Music.
Hazzan Ozur Bass is married to Rabbi
Janet Ozur Bass. They have two boys, Avichai and Kalman, and a daughter,
Bayla.
Executive Director Michael L. Simmons FSA,ATz
Michael L. Simmons, a native of Boston, attended Northeastern University (and Boston’s Hebrew College, the University of Tel Aviv, and the Jewish Theological Seminary Machina Program) and holds a B.A. in Government & Community Relations and a Masters of Public Administration (MPA). Between 1976 and 1991, he served in Senior Administration and MIS positions in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Service and was an Adjunct Professor at Northeastern University Graduate School (Public Budgeting and Finance) and Lesley College Graduate School (Computers and MIS).
Michael has served as Executive Director of the West End Synagogue in Nashville, Tennessee, and Temple B’nai Aviv in Weston (Ft. Lauderdale), Florida prior to coming to Congregation Har Shalom in 1999. He serves as Vice President of the North American Association of Synagogue Executives (NAASE), and is a Past President of the Mid-Atlantic Temple and Synagogue Administrators Association (MATSAA). Michael is certified as a Fellow in Synagogue Administration (FSA) by NAASE, and is the 4th Executive Director to be commissioned as an Amin Tzibur (ATz), “one who faithfully devotes oneself to the ministration of the community and the rebuilding of Eretz Yisrael,” by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS), the North American Association of Synagogue Executives (NAASE), and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ).
Director of Early Childhood Education - Liran
Laor
Liran Laor was born and raised in Israel. She served and became a
Lieutenant in the IDF. Liran graduated from Haifa University as a social
worker and had worked with children and adults in diverse settings. She
moved to the United States in 2004 and became involved with the Jewish
community. Liran is passionate about Jewish early childhood education
and about instilling the love of Israel among her students and their
families.
During her career, Liran had been a preschool teacher, directed a Jewish
summer camp, and taught Hebrew in religious school settings. Liran is
married to Jonathan who is employed by Montgomery County as a social
worker. Liran and Jonathan are the proud parents of Liam.
Youth Director - Julie Ashin
Julie Ashin, a graduate of Hofstra University, earned a dual degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and Interdisciplinary Studies in 2007. Currently, she teaches second grade at Ashuburton Elementary School in Bethesda. She has been teaching in Montgomery County for the past three years and has been a counselor and unit leader at Capital Camps and Bullis Bulldog Camp. Julie grew up at Har Shalom and was active in Har Shalom’s Youth Groups, serving as USY President in 2002. Julie is very enthusiastic about working with Har Shalom’s children and helping them define what it means to be Jewish.
Director of
Congregational Learning - Rabbi Deborah Bodin Cohen
Librarian - Carol Witt
Carol and her husband joined Har Shalom in 1971 and Carol immediately volunteered to start a library. Since then, the library has grown from about 30 volumes to well over 10,000, including over 2,000 titles for children. Over time, as the library space grew, space was set aside for a library office, and Carol joined the staff as Har Shalom’s librarian. Har Shalom's library is not only accredited by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) but recently received awards from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for excellence in library programming and for its new on-line library catalog. The library was also granted a meritorious citation from the Jewish Book Council. A long-time member of the AJL, Carol served for several years on their Sydney Taylor Children’s Book Award Committee. Carol received a BA in Personnel Administration from the University of Maryland and then worked at the CIA in its Office of Assessment and Evaluation.
