Kol Shalom welcomed Rabbi Salomon Gruenwald as its spiritual leader in June 2026.
Rabbi Gruenwald believes deeply in egalitarian and inclusive Judaism — creating spaces where all feel welcome and valued. Music and soulful prayer are central to his rabbinate, as are creative approaches to teaching and community-building that make Judaism accessible, relevant, and deeply meaningful.
“Jewish learning isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about growth. I try to teach in ways that reach both the head and the heart, inviting people to explore text, art, and life in conversation with one another. I create imaginative educational experiences that engage multiple learning modalities.In every setting, I want learners to feel curious, connected, and a little more awake to the world and to themselves.”
Rabbi Gruenwald served as the Jewish Chaplain at The Claremont Colleges, supporting Jewish students across seven campuses and fostering spiritual growth, community, and meaningful exploration of Jewish identity. Previously, he was the Senior Rabbi of the Hebrew Educational Alliance, a Conservative Movement synagogue in Denver, Colorado, where he served for nearly 20 years.
In his free time, Rabbi Gruenwald enjoys drawing, painting, ceramics, and Hebrew caligraphy. He believes that beauty, music, and aesthetic intention are essential pathways to spiritual life. He also enjoys yoga, meditation, watching films, hiking, camping, snowboarding, and cycling.
He is a first-generation American whose grandparents were refugees and survivors who fled Europe on the eve of WWII. They rebuilt their lives in Peru where his parents were born and raised. Their legacy has given Rabbi Gruenwald an abiding sensitivity to questions of belonging, resilience, and moral responsibility.
Rabbi Gruenwald has a master’s degree in anthropology and women’s studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara and is a graduate of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles. He is married to Melanie Sasson Gruenwald, a lifelong Jewish professional. Their children are son Koby, of blessed memory, and twins Hannah and Micah.
From the time of her youth, Sally had a love of Jewish music. The child of survivors, growing up in Buffalo, NY, Sally’s parents infused music into her life and encouraged her at a young age to play piano and sing. Sally earned a BA in Judaic Studies from SUNY Binghamton and a Masters in Social Work from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University. Sally studied abroad in Israel and returned to Israel after college to volunteer with neglected children and Ethiopian youth in a development town. Early in her career, Sally worked in Jewish communal work at the JCC of Greater Washington – first with youth, then families, and then with children and adults with disabilities. She taught Jewish music in several synagogue schools, the Jewish day school, day camps, overnight camps, and several Jewish preschools. Sally produced two children’s CDs (Sally and the Daffodils) and performed in a Klezmer band for several years.
When the Heckelman family joined Kol Shalom in 2005, Sally began participating as a Shlichat Tzibur in the services. She discovered a new calling and in 2011 became Kol Shalom’s High Holiday and festival chazzan. After years of studying on her own, Sally started taking classes, attended Davening Leadership Programs, and began formal training in Aleph Jewish Renewal cantorial program. In January of 2023 Sally received her cantorial ordination.
Sally is married to Dan and they have four grown children, Shira, Josh, Adina, and Sara.
Link to Sally’s current recordings here.
In the winter of 2002 Kol Shalom elected its first rabbi, Jonathan Z. Maltzman who was installed in May of 2002. Rabbi Maltzman comes to Kol Shalom after having served as senior rabbi of Congregation Beth El in Bethesda, Maryland. His previous positions include serving as spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Des Moines, Iowa, and the Jewish Community of Japan in Tokyo where for three years he was the only civilian rabbi in Japan. He also spent many years as a chaplain in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Rabbi Maltzman grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is the son of a Conservative rabbi. A product of Jewish day schools in Philadelphia, Rabbi Maltzman graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania and received his Masters Degree and Rabbinic Ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. In December 2007 he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree (honoris causa) from the Seminary for distinguished service to the Conservative movement and the Jewish people.
Rabbi Maltzman is a former president of the Washington-Baltimore region of the Rabbinical Assembly. He served on the board of MAZON for many years and chaired MAZON’s Jewish Leader’s Council.
Rabbi Maltzman retired as Kol Shalom’s rabbi in the summer of 2019. He was chosen to be Rabbi Emeritus by the synagogue board in the spring of 2019 and honored at a gala dinner in June 2019. He can be reached at: jzmaltzman@gmail.com.