Lauren F. Werber, Rabbi Chief Executive
Rabbi Lauren Werber came to Congregation Beth Adam after 17 years serving a congregation near Cleveland, Ohio. In addition to leading services, she brings experience in education, pastoral care, community activism, programming, and outreach.
Rabbi Werber chose the rabbinate because of Judaism's vision of social justice and because of a love of teaching people of all ages. She is especially interested in Jewish ethics, social justice, and creating meaningful and creative communities and traditions. She believes congregations are extended families in which we celebrate our connections and honor our differences.
Following graduation from St. Mary's College of Maryland with a BA in sociology/anthropology, Rabbi Werber received a Masters of Hebrew Arts and Letters and her ordination from Hebrew Union College--Jewish Institute of Religion. In her final year of rabbinical school, she interned at Congregation Beth Adam, which she credits with deeply impacting her approach to Judaism and Jewish education.
In addition to synagogue responsibilities, Rabbi Werber is active in an interfaith clergy group and completed fellowships with American World Service, the ADL, and Rekindle, which brings together African Americans and Jews for dialogue, learning, and action.
When she is not working or schmoozing, you are likely to find her cycling, boxing, crafting, or spending time with her family.
Robert B. Barr, Founding Rabbi Emeritus
Robert B. Barr is the Founding Rabbi of Congregation Beth Adam and OurJewishCommunity (our online initiative). Known for his irreverent and often witty presentation style, Barr is a popular speaker on a wide range of topics including contemporary Jewish thought, religious fundamentalism, and ethics. Recognized by his peers as a leader in the evolution of modern, liberal Judaism, his writings have been published in journals, books, and websites around the world.
Barr currently serves on the Faith Advisory Council for Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Barr is active in the leadership of many Jewish organizations and has twice served as president of the Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis. He was ordained and awarded a Doctor of Divinity from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Barr is the longest tenured pulpit rabbi in Greater Cincinnati.
Rabbi Barr's midrashim (Jewish Legends) can be purchased at the Apple iTunes Bookstore. Five of his most popular legends can be found there - The Stuff of Legends; Adam, Lilith and Eve - Their Stories; The Pudgy Moses; Lot's Daughters Betrayed; and The Bush Had Not Been Consumed.
In 2017, Rabbi Barr made history as only the third rabbi in our nation to ever run for the United States Congress. Because of this, his campaign received national and international attention.
Melissa D. Weiss, Executive Director
Melissa Weiss spent the majority of her career in health care as a management consultant. The focus of her work centered around strategic planning for health plans and providers, operational redesign for hospitals and working with a wide variety of health care professionals to create efficient and cost effective models of care delivery. She also owned her own confectionary business.
She served two terms ( 8 years) on the Sycamore Community Schools Board of Education where she served as President for two years.
She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Berkeley.
Melissa appreciates the supportive and innovative Jewish community in Cincinnati.
In her spare time she enjoys all things cooking and baking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Anne Cooper, Administrative Assistant
Anne Cooper brings a diverse set of skills and interests to the job of administrative assistant. With degrees in Classics from Miami University and the University of Michigan, she has a deep appreciation for language and historical scholarship. When she's not providing administrative support, Anne enjoys teaching Latin part-time and channels her love of nature as the owner of a small business specializing in native plants and ecological garden design. She also finds joy in playing the flute, hiking, spending time with family and friends, and getting lost in a good book.