Meet Our High Holiday Service Leaders

Name: Rabbi Greg Harris
Service: Main Service

Rabbi Harris is Beth El’s senior rabbi. He has a passion for social justice and interfaith activities. Rabbi Harris began his tenure at Beth El as associate rabbi in 2002 and was elected by an overwhelming majority to succeed Rabbi Bill Rudolph z”l as our senior rabbi in 2015. Rabbi Harris was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a fan of the Giants. He is a proud dad to Benjamin, Maayan, and Shosh

Name: Rabbi Deborah Megdal
Service: Main Service

Rabbi Deborah Megdal joined Beth El as associate rabbi in 2021. She also serves as a fellow on the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, which sets policy for the Conservative Movement. A graduate of Yale Law School, she previously clerked for a federal judge and worked in commercial litigation and international arbitration. She was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she also earned a master’s degree in Talmud and a Certificate in Applied Halakhah. She previously served Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (NYC), the largest LGBTQ synagogue, and completed a chaplaincy rotation in hospice. Rabbi Megdal lives with her partner, Karen Benezra, and their rescue dog, Bennie Zahav.

Name: Hazzan Asa Fradkin
Service: Main Service

Hazzan Asa Fradkin joined Beth El in 2017. Raised in Baltimore, Hazzan Fradkin spent his younger years on an ashram outside of Philadelphia where he learned yoga and meditation, practices that he continues to incorporate into and blend together with traditional worship. According to Hazzan Fradkin, the most rewarding part of his job is building community and being actively involved in congregational life. He strives to “rouse the soul,” to make prayer a moving and spiritual experience for all congregants.

Name: Rabbi Rami Schwartzer
Service: Kol Haneshama

Rami Schwartzer is an American-Israeli rabbi, educator, artist, and facilitator. He was the founding director of the Den Collective and Ramah Day Camp Greater DC, and has developed programs with Honeymoon Israel, the Jewish Federation, Hillel, Mem Global, and Camp Ramah. As a crisis responder, Rami has led disaster relief teams in southern Appalachia, assisted in the recovery of Israeli villages impacted by war and terror, and worked as a hospice chaplain. He lives a mostly nomadic life—often in nature—and draws strength from hiking, climbing, dancing, and time with his home communities in Tel Aviv, New England, DC, and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Learn more at www.ramischwartzer.com.

Name: Josh Dickstein
Service: Outdoor High Holidays

Josh Dickstein has been an active participant in Congregation Beth El since 2008. His journey in leading High Holiday services began in 2002, at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.

In 2009, Josh brought his leadership to our community, leading the Shacharit prayers on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In 2017, he expanded his role, leading most aspects of the High Holiday services.

Josh lives in Chevy Chase with his wife, Lauren, and their two sons, Henry and Andrew.

Josh is a regular participant in the early morning service at Congregation Beth El, often leading Shacharit and Musaf. Professionally, he owns and operates a private physical therapy practice in downtown Bethesda, Dickstein Physical Therapy.

In addition to his professional and religious commitments, Josh serves on the board of the North Chevy Chase Swimming Pool Association and is an enthusiastic pickleball player.

Name: Matthew Jacobson
Service: Outdoor High Holidays

Matthew Jacobson grew up in Montgomery County, coming to Beth El for as long as he can remember. Worship at Beth El, as well as the formation of meaningful relationships among peers and the clergy, contributed to his strong sense of Jewish identity, and led him to pursue a career in education. Entering his fifth year teaching at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, Matthew is excited to continue pursuing passions of education and Judaism, and is looking forward to another incredibly meaningful high holiday season.

Name: Ben Miller
Service: Outdoor High Holidays

Ben Miller is part of the team that organizes and leads Beth El’s Early Shabbat Service each week and is a member of that service’s cadre of regular Torah readers. He lives in Bethesda with his wife, Abby, and their children, Sammy and Rebecca. He works for ICF as a government contractor. The whole family volunteers for Friends of Cabin John Creek and can be found hiking on the Cabin John Trail. His hobbies include guitar, running… and being Jewish!

Name: Karen Berman
Service: Family Service for Families with Young Children (ages birth to Pre-K)

This year will be Karen’s 22nd at Beth El Preschool, and her 9th year as the music teacher. Before she had her 26-year-old twins, she taught kindergarten and first grade in MCPS. Karen’s favorite things are her dog, her family, musicals, and spending time with preschoolers- definitely not in that order!

Name: Dan Goldman 
Service: Family Service for Families with Young Children (ages birth to Pre-K)

Dan Goldman is excited to welcome the High Holidays and lead kids’ services for his 20th year. He is a proud graduate of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (sometime in the 80s) and Beth El Preschool (sometime in the 70s). He and his two children are longtime congregants at Beth El. In his free time, he enjoys travelling with his family, friends, and girlfriend, trying new Bethesda restaurants, and cheering for the Washington Capitals (was at T-Mobile for The Save in 2018 Stanley Cup Finals).

Name: Sarah Roark 
Service: Junior Congregation (student service for 6th and 7th graders)

Sarah Roark loves leading and teaching prayer to elementary and middle school students. She has been doing just that at Beth El and CESJDS for a very long time. She attended Junior Congregation at Beth El as an elementary schooler herself. Sarah holds multiple degrees in education, Judaics, and school library media. When she’s not in the library or synagogue, she is often out on the local trails walking, running, and biking.