Meet Our Rabbi & Staff
Rabbi Toba Spitzer
Senior Rabbi
t.spitzer@dorsheitzedek.org
Rabbi Toba Spitzer has been the spiritual leader of Congregation Dorshei Tzedek since graduating from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1997. Rabbi Spitzer has long been active in peace and justice work both in the U.S. and in Israel/Palestine. She currently serves on the Board of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, and as President of the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis. She brings her love of music and her guitar-playing to CDT services, and her passion for teachings to adults and children both at CDT and throughout the greater Boston area.
You can find more information about Rabbi Toba and links to her writings here.
Margaret Farmer
Executive Director of Operations
m.farmer@dorsheitzedek.org
Margaret Farmer (she/her/hers) comes to Congregation Dorshei Tzedek after several years in non-profit management and fundraising. She will add more to this space as soon as she can.
Earnest Arky Solomon
Education Director
e.arkysolomon@dorsheitzedek.org
Earnest Arky Solomon (he/him/his) is honored to be the Education Director and is eager to support CDT in creating inclusive, meaningful, and justice oriented Jewish learning opportunities. In addition to working at CDT, Earnest is a SVARA Teaching Kollel fellow, which equips trans and queer teachers to lead empowering Talmud learning communities. Earnest received an M.A. in Jewish Studies at the Graduate Theological Union and a B.A. in Near Eastern Studies at UC Berkeley. Earnest draws on his education to create learning experiences rooted in history, storytelling, cultural arts, and social justice. Prior to moving East, Earnest ran an outdoor Jewish religious school in the Oakland Redwoods and a Jewish farming program at URJ Camp Newman. Earnest is married to Emma Arky Solomon and they enjoy playing board games, studying Torah, spending time with their two cats, and working to build a more equitable world.
Hours: Sun 8:30-1:30pm; Mon, Wed, Thurs 10-4; Tues: 11-6pm
Alistaire Webbe
Administrative Assistant
a.webbe@dorsheitzedek.org
Alistaire Webbe (they/them/theirs) is honored to be a member of the Dorshei Tzedek family as the Administrative Assistant and the one who answers the phone when you call! With their Sephardic background, they treasure the opportunity to celebrate some less commonly recognized traditions and practices with their community. Alistaire brings with them a plethora of academic experience, ranging from arachnology to legal studies to library science, in addition to a long history of peer tutoring in various subjects.
A lifelong Massachusetts resident, Alistaire currently lives in Boston with their wife, Emelia (who also happens to be the Kitah Bet assistant teacher at the CDT Religious School!), and their little family of two cats, a rat, and a beloved tarantula named Buttercup. In their free time, they enjoy playing the piano and cello, writing, and modern Sephardic cooking. They also have an abundance of passion for spiders, singing, libraries, ASL, and curly hair care.
Akiva Nelson
Rabbinic Intern
a.nelson@dorsheitzedek.org
Akiva Nelson (he/him/his) is a rabbinical student in Shanah Gimel (3rd year) at Hebrew College. Born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he graduated from Columbia University in 2012. Post-college, Akiva worked in renewable energy for 4 years in Detroit. Simultaneously, he began exploring the Jewish roots he’d left dormant since his teenage years, falling in love with a Judaism infused with song, meditation, joy, and justice - including becoming involved as a lay leader in an amazing Reconstructionist synagogue, Congregation T’chiyah. For the past 6 years, Akiva has designed curricula and taught about the Divine, Jewish identity, the changing American religious landscape, and entrepreneurship to groups ranging from Jewish clergy and teens to recent college graduates and university-based scientists and engineers. A dedicated meditation practitioner and song leader, he’s studied Jewish text, prayer, and mysticism in communities like the Pardes Institute, Nava Tehila, the Romemu Yeshiva, Yeshivat Hadar, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. Akiva is excited to teach inclusive and accessible forms of Jewish wisdom to learners of any faith or Jewish educational background, and is so lucky to be joining the CDT team for this upcoming year.
Jess Green
Inclusion Coordinator
inclusion@dorsheitzedek.org
Jess Green (she/her/hers) is thrilled to be joining Congregation Dorshei Tzedek as the Inclusion Coordinator. She will also be teaching first graders in her eighth year at Temple Beth Shalom and leading the Family Learning Circle at Nehar Shalom for the second year. Jess earned her Master's degree on Jewish education with a focus on special education from Hebrew College. She has a strong focus on Jewish spaces that are inclusive for her and believes that everyone can and should learn and live Jewishly and in community. Jess loves to teach about social justice, Jewish food, holidays, and ways to make ritual our own. Originally from New Jersey, Jess has lived in Boston for 16 years and is a member of several different local Jewish communities. She loves to cook for her chosen families, hang out with the kiddos in her life, and be at the beach.
Dennis Maler
Audio/visual engineer
Dennis Maler (he/him/his) is a host, producer, and audio engineer currently residing in Boston. His introduction to audio started at 8 years old when he fixed his father's old record player in the garage so he could listen to his Chipmunk Rock vinyl record. He has worked in radio, television, movies, live entertainment, and alongside award winning artists, productions, and teams. He is currently a freelance performer, producer, and recordist for hire throughout the New England area. Dennis is available for hire to produce and edit your audio and video projects, as well as host your live and/or recorded event. He is a true entertainment Renaissance man who is as talented and comfortable in front of a mic, camera, or on-stage, as he is behind the scenes making sure everything goes smoothly from pitch to air.