Staff

A Team of Dedicated and Talented Professionals

Monica Saff, Executive Director

Monica grew up in New Jersey and lived in Colorado for 10 years before settling in the Baltimore area about 22 years ago. She spent many years as a stay-at-home mom and returned to the workforce in 2010. For eight years, Monica worked at Har Sinai Congregation in various roles, including Director of Communications and Temple Administrator. She also served as Executive Director of B’nai Shalom of Olney and Administrator at Bolton Street Synagogue.

Monica has a BA in English. She is a graduate of the Darrell D. Friedman Institute’s L’Atid Leadership Program. She is a member of NAASE (North American Association of Synagogue Executives) and a Senior Member of NATA (The National Association for Temple Administration). She served on the Editorial Board for the NATA Journal. Monica considers it a privilege to do meaningful work in the synagogue setting and to be part of a team that is inspired by Jewish values and a sense of community.

More than anything, she loves spending time with her three kids, Sam, Sophie, and Rachael, with her stepsons, Alex and Robert, and with her husband, Jeff.

Direct Line: (240) 450-3486    Email: MSaff@OhrKodesh.org

Rabbi Batya Glazer, Director of Lifelong Learning

Batya Glazer was ordained as a Conservative rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1998 where she also studied at the Davidson School of Jewish Education. She has decades of experience in Jewish education at all levels and in both formal and informal settings. She identifies her first experience as a Jewish educator was as an eight-year-old consultant for her mother who taught 3rd graders in Hebrew school. Working in Jewish Community Relations Councils, Batya built relationships through designing and leading educational programming, dialogue, and coalition-building. She is committed to listening deeply and developing an understanding of the concerns and the cultural context of diverse communities and working closely with lay leaders to bring together representatives and diverse perspectives of the Jewish community. Rabbi Glazer has a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University, a Master of Hebrew Letters degree from The University of Judaism, and a Master’s degree and Rabbinic Ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Batya is the proud mother of Elana, Noah, and Meirav.

Direct Line: (240) 450-0676    Email: RabbiGlazer@OhrKodesh.org 

Laura Smolar, Administrative Assistant to the Clergy

A native of Baltimore, Laura is a highly trained administrator with a background working in the nonprofits, including in philanthropy, fundraising, and legislative research. Laura also has over twenty years of experience teaching students with a wide range of learning styles. In addition to her expertise in organizational and administrative management, Laura has an extensive Jewish educational background and experience in Hebrew language instruction. Laura holds a B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University, a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and a postgraduate degree in Education from George Washington University. Laura is excited to be working with Rabbi Helfand and Cantor Labovitz and getting to know the members of the Ohr Kodesh community.

Direct Line: (240) 450- 3489    Email: LSmolar@OhrKodesh.org

Molly Zatman, Communications Manager

Molly is the new Communications Manager at Ohr Kodesh. She is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, where she received a B.A. in journalism with focuses in investigative journalism and features writing. In her free time, Molly enjoys completing the New York Times crossword, painting in acrylics and oils, and expanding her music taste.

Direct Line: (301) 589-3880 Ext. 215 Email: MZatman@OhrKodesh.org

Mia Kaufman, Young Children Engagement Specialist

Mia Kaufman (she/her) is excited to come back to the Ohr Kodesh team as the Young Children Engagement Specialist. In the past, she taught seventh grade at ABRS and has helped with High Holiday youth services. She grew up in Baltimore County and currently resides in Washington, DC. During the week, she is a special education teacher in Montgomery County. In her free time, she enjoys long-distance running, playing board games, hiking, and trying out new recipes for Shabbat. She can’t wait to meet all of the kiddos and have an awesome year together!

Laila Akselrad, Shaliach (Israel Emmisary)

Laila was born in La Plata, Argentina, but her family moved to Spain soon after, where they lived for 10 years. When she was 12, Laila’s family made aliyah and lived in Kfar Saba. In 2019, she enlisted in the Israeli army and served as a commanding officer in the first phase of training for air force troops, a role in which she taught the soldiers values and love for the country. Her passions are education, dance, and exploring the world and different cultures. She is excited to bring her fields of knowledge to this wonderful community.

Email: laila@moedcommunity.org