2024-2025 Board of Directors
ARIELLA BOCK: EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Ariella is a lifelong member of egalitarian minyans, having grown up in Newton MA. She is a long term DC Minyan member, joining in June 2002, and has served in a number of leadership roles including as the first special events coordinator, and 20th anniversary shabbaton coordinator. She lives in Columbia Heights and works as an international public health advisor focused on health supply chains at the U.S. Agency for International Development. Ariella loves tennis, scuba diving, hosting "women's whiskey club" (new aficionados are welcome!), and camping in National Parks.
EYTAN DEENER-AGUS: EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Hi! My name is Eytan Deener-Agus. I grew up in Newton, MA, studied at Yeshivat Ma'ale Gilboa and UPenn, and moved to DC in 2020 to volunteer as an Avodah Service Corps Fellow—but I wasn't truly settled until joining DC Minyan in 2021. When not seeking out egalitarian davening across the eastern seaboard, I serve as the Director of Housing, Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives at Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, a refugee resettlement agency serving the DMV. Otherwise, you will find me hiking, biking around town, or playing with some-might-say-DC's-second-
MIRIAM CROSS: SECRETARY
Miriam has attended DC Minyan since she moved to DC from Toronto, Canada, 11+ years ago to write about personal finance for a monthly magazine. Now, as a reporter covering bank technology and fintech for a trade publication, she takes detailed notes on a near-daily basis and regularly juggles multiple stories, which feeds her love of meticulous recordkeeping and organization. As a former magazine fact-checker, she also takes great satisfaction in ensuring details are accurate and up-to-date -- all reasons she zeroed in on the Secretary position for DC Minyan's board.
BENJAMIN EPSTEIN: GABBAI CHAIR
Benjamin has extensive experience over the course of his life as a gabbai of various minyanim, and has been the head of the DC Minyan Gabbai Committee for the last 1.5 years after a couple of years of being on the DC Minyan Gabbai Committee. He has a good feel for our community and its religious needs, both as a whole and on an individual level.
ZACH EPSTEIN: COMMUNITY RELATIONS CHAIR
Since stepping foot at the Sushi Summer Oneg in 2021, I've felt grateful to be a part of this Minyan and relished opportunities to bring us all together, helping organize Simchat Torah, the DC Minyan Annual Farbrengen™, and our upcoming Retreat Shabbaton. I am excited at the prospect of bridging our generations in a more consistent and formal role as Community Relations Chair, reciprocating the warmth provided to me over the last 2.5 years. Outside of DC Minyan, catch me training outside during early mornings for my next marathon, playing softball on the National Mall, or discussing why it's Geshmak to be a Yid with anyone and everyone willing to listen.
ISAAC BROOKS FISHMAN: FINANCE CHAIR
Isaac Brooks Fishman started attending DC Minyan while living in DC temporarily in 2016, and he became a member when he moved here permanently in 2018. He has served as DC Minyan’s Treasurer since September 2018, during which time he has created the Finance Committee, and he has increased the committee input and collaboration during the budget process, making it easier for new programming ideas to happen. Outside DC Minyan, Isaac works as an administrative law and tax procedure attorney for the IRS, watches a lot of movies, and plays the harp (but is very out of practice). Isaac is privileged to be married to the fabulous Eliana Fishman.
DEENA FOX: LIFECYLE CHAIR
Deena Fox is a lifelong member of traditional independent minyanim. Originally from Chicago, Deena arrived in DC in 2008 after law school and served on the Steering Committee shortly thereafter. Since rejoining the Leadership Council in 2021, Deena has been focused on strengthening DC Minyan's programs for families, including the establishment of the Judaics Coop, developing a bnai mitzvah guide for families, and engaging our older kids in leading shabbat programs for children. Having experienced both births and losses as a member of the DC Minyan community, Deena is also committed to our work to support new parents, those experiencing other challenges, and mourners. When she is not at DC Minyan, Deena is enforcing civil rights at the Department of Justice, running in Rock Creek, exploring national parks with her family, serving as a persistent advocate for local causes, and baking fabulous one bowl-recipes.
RIVKA FRIEDMAN: GOVERNANCE AND STRATEGIC PLANNING CHAIR
Rivka Friedman is a DMV native and has been a member of the Minyan since 2007. She's served previously on the Gabbai Committee and Steering Committee, and she's excited to be running for the Governance and Strategic Planning board seat because she wants to help the Minyan evolve its policies to meet the community's emerging needs. In her spare time, she runs the health care innovation lab at Morgan Health, JP Morgan Chase's health care unit. She lives in Mount Pleasant with her wife, Dena, and three daughters, Adi (9), Amit, (6), and Alma (3).
ABIGAL ROMIROWSKY: PROGRAMMING CHAIR
Abigail Romirowsky grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, but has lived all of her adult life in the DMV as a graduate of the University of Maryland for both undergrad and grad school. DC Minyan has been her davening and Jewish community home since 2007, and she has served in an eclectic variety of volunteer roles over the years related to davening, programs for kids and parents, and volunteer organizing. She also remains the co-chair of the Bereavement Subcommittee, which she co-founded in 2017. She works as a private practice psychologist and spends her free time reading memoirs or fiction and dreaming about the next time she can escape to the beach. She lives in Adams Morgan with her husband, Shai (whom she met in their Jewish a capella group!), and three kids
SARAH KORALNIK: VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Sarah Koralnik has been attending DC Minyan since 2021, and became a member last year (shout out Membership Drive!). She is excited to throw her hat in the ring for the Volunteer Coordinator role to increase engagement with this wonderful community. Outside of DC Minyan, Sarah is a Consultant for Deloitte's Government & Public Services offering, and enjoys spending her free time reading Stephen King and crocheting sweaters.
DENA ROTH: IMMEDIATE PAST EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Dena (at center of photo) has been a member of DC Minyan since 2007. On any given Shabbat, you may have observed Dena at DC Minyan services supporting the gabbai team by keeping official time and correcting leyning from her seat (oh sorry, was that not actually helpful?). Sensing that her self-appointed "gabbai emeritus" position was perhaps not being taken seriously, Dena thought the time was ripe for another stint on Leadership. She is a lawyer and lives in Mt. Pleasant with her wife, Rivka Friedman (herself an SC alumna who thought one 2-year term was plenty), and their kids, none of whom existed the last time around. She enjoys hiking with her family, the letter A, and reboots.