Rabbi A. Nathan Abramowitz (pictured with his wife Babs) guided Tifereth Israel in Washington, D.C for nearly 40 years, from 1960 to 1996, leading the congregation during its formative development and growth as a Conservative synagogue. He is a graduate in economics of Johns Hopkins University and of the Jewish Theological Seminary. Following ordination, he joined the US Army to serve as a chaplain from 1955-1957. A passionate supporter of Israel, and a liberal thinker, Rabbi Abramowitz provided critical leadership during the turbulent 1960's and 1970's, taking outspoken positions on the civil rights movement and Vietnam war. Notably, he provided rabbinical justification and support for TI’s becoming the first Conservative congregation in the Washington area to extend equality to women in all areas of ritual participation.