Religious School Teachers and Staff 5786
Rabbi Toba Spitzer (she/her)
Senior Rabbi & Tefillah As Experience Teacher
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.
Rabbi Beck Epstein (they/them)
Director of Congregational Learning
b.epstein@dorsheitzedek.org
Rabbi Beck is excited to join Congregation Dorshei Tzedek as the Director of Congregational Learning after a year of serving as CDT's rabbinic intern. They graduated from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in May 2025. Rabbi Beck grew up in Lincoln, MA between the Reform & Conservative movements, and their Judaism bears the unmistakable marks of their east coast Transcendentalist upbringing, as well as an Irish Celtic sense of magic and mischief that they get from their mother's side. Beck loves davening, song, and all things Torah. Prior to rabbinical school, Beck worked for 10+ years in LGBTQ community mental health, with an emphasis on teaching and training. When Beck is not working, they love to do crosswords, read aloud, and spend time in the woods with their sweet and boisterous Bernese mountain dog named Me'od (Hebrew for "much" or "a lot").
Jess Green (they/she)
Inclusion Director
inclusion@dorsheitzedek.org
Jess is the CDT RS Inclusion Director and is thrilled to be in their 5th year at CDT. Jess also teaches children at a temple-based after-school program and a local circus center. Jess has taught at Boston Worker’s Circle Shule, run the nature department at Camp Tel Noar, and served as the Family Learning Circle teacher at Nehar Shalom. Jess earned her Master's degree in Jewish education with a focus on inclusion from Hebrew College in 2020. With a focus on co-creating Jewish spaces that are truly inclusive and accessible and a belief that everyone can learn and live Jewishly and in community, Jess also supports staff and lay-leadership efforts to increase accessibility in the CDT community as a whole. Jess loves to celebrate holidays with chosen family, hang out with the kiddos in their life, take circus classes, and be at the beach.
Rahab Hiram Webbe (they/הוּא)
Administrative Assistant
rh.webbe@dorsheitzedek.org
Rahab Hiram treasures being a part of the Dorshei Tzedek family as the Administrative Assistant. They love to experiment with ways of fusing their Greek Sephardic background with Reconstructionist minhag, and they have recently become more involved with contributing to Jewish ritual life. In addition to their work at CDT, they are currently persuing the completion of their BA in Jewish & Hebrew Studies online at the University of Wisconsin. Rahab Hiram currently lives in Boston with their wife, Rakiyah (who also happens to be an educator at the CDT Religious School!), and their little family of two cats, two rats, and a beloved tarantula named Buttercup. In their free time, they enjoy playing the piano, studying spiders, and watching horror movies.
Yoni Slubin (they/them)
Madrichimot and Teen Program Coordinator
Yoni is excited to be the teen coordinator at CDT this year! After teaching Kitah Hey last year and spending the past summer at Camp Havaya, Yoni is looking forward to returning to the CDT community this fall. Originally from Evanston, IL, Yoni has been living in the Boston area for the past 3 years. They are entering their second year at Hebrew College this fall, pursuing rabbinic ordination. Yoni lives in Brighton with their partner Hilary and cat Lester where they love to craft, read fantasy and science fiction, and spend time outside.
Devora Rohr (she/her)
Godly Play Specialist
Devora Rohr (yes, "RAWR!") has been teaching at CDT since 2014. Trained in Godly Play and Torah Godly Play, Devora is a master storyteller and professional wonder-er. She is an Advisory Committee Member for the Beloved Me Beloved We Initiative at the Godly Play Foundation, formed out of the Foundation's anti-racism work. During the week, Devora teaches Hebrew at The Rashi School and tutors students for B'Mitzvah. Four of Devora's five children are enrolled in CDT's religious school, the youngest being yet too young, and so Sunday mornings are truly a family affair!
Rakiyah Webbe (they/she)
Floating Educator
Rakiyah is delighted to be returning in 5786 as a floating educator. They are passionate about art in all forms and disability rights. They are currently enrolled at Bunker Hill Community College pursuing the studio arts. When not creating or working, you can find them playing games of all kinds or hanging out with their two cats and their wife who you may know as CDT's admin assistant Rahab Hiram!
Bella Grace Harris (they/she)
Nitzanim/Gan Lead Teacher (3 y/o-Kindergarten)
Bella is eagerly anticipating being the lead teacher for the second year with Nitzanim! Bella aims to teach little ones from a place of compassion, flexibility, and play. A graduate from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, you may have seen them performing in Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s Shakespeare on the Common, the Lyric Stage Company of Boston, or in T: an MBTA Musical at the Rockwell. But they also have a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, which has served them well in their additional passion, working with kids. Bella was a preschool/ mommy and me teacher at Gymboree in Manhattan, the head of day school at The Tiny Scientist in Brooklyn, and has been working with little ones professionally for over a decade. Bella loves the fiber arts, autumn, and their cat Pearl.
Rivka Nechemya Thrope (any/all)
Alef/Bet Co-Lead Teacher (First-Second Grade)
Rivka Nechemya is looking forward to joining the CDT religious school community for a third year! Rivka Nechemya is a rabbinical student at Hebrew College, and as an educator, aims to encourage creativity, playfulness, and caring community. He is excited to use his background as an outdoor educator to foster explorative learning, both inside and beyond the walls of our classroom. During Rivka Nechemya’s free time, ze loves to smell wildflowers, learn to knit, and pet hir wonderful calico cat, Chickpea.
Max Tendler 
(he/him)
Alef/Bet Co-Lead Teacher (First-Second Grade)
Max is excited to join the Dorshei Tzedek Religious School community as the Lead Teacher for Kitat Bet. He is looking forward to a year of curiosity, creativity, and connection as he explores with his students what it means to be a Jew and to be a mensch. Max brings joy and intention to his teaching, creating a welcoming classroom where every child can grow in their Jewish identity and values.
Outside the classroom, Max loves spending time with his family and their dog Ralph, playing board games, going to the theater, and recharging in nature.
Frieda Naumburg (she/her)
Kitah Alef/Bet Assistant Teacher
Frieda is excited to be back at Dorshei this year in the Kitah Alef/Bet classroom as an assistant teacher. She is a junior at Gann Academy and is involved in taking photos for the school newspaper. She loves to play basketball and tennis, and can often be found in the art studio at her school. Frieda spent this past summer working at Ramah Day Camp as a counselor for rising first graders, and traveling with her family and friends. Frieda is so excited to continue working at Dorshei this year!
Eliana Lippman (she/her)
Kitah Gimel Lead Teacher (Third Grade)
Eliana is so excited to be teaching Kitah Gimel at CDT this year! Eliana is a current junior at Brandeis University studying History and Theater Arts, and she has five years of experience in the education and childcare world, including teaching religious school at Kahal B’raira in Cambridge last year. Eliana has a deep love of Jewish history and textual studies that she brings to every classroom setting. While not at CDT, Eliana can be found stage managing shows for Brandeis’ theater department, spending lots of time outside or at home in Boston with her family, dog and cat, and interning in the archives at the Jewish Heritage Center downtown.
Eleanor Kaplan (she/her)
Kitah Gimmel Assistant Teacher
Eleanor is eager to be back at Dorshei Tzedek as an assistant teacher for Kitah Gimmel this year. She is a senior at Newton North High School, and enjoys all things visual art in her free time, especially drawing and making comics. Eleanor spent this past summer as a counselor at Camp Kaleidoscope at the JCC in Newton, and is very excited to be working with kids throughout the year as well. She is so grateful for this opportunity, and can’t wait to encourage creativity in Kitah Gimmel this year.
Jord Barnett (he/him)
Kitah Dalet Lead Teacher (Fourth Grade)
Jord is so excited to be teaching Kitah Dalet this year at CDT! He is a born and raised New Yorker, but is excited to explore his new home in Somerville. He believes in the transformative power of studying the natural world, Talmud Torah, and the collected works of Terry Pratchett.
Jord studied Physiology and Organismal Biology and Ancient Studies at Barnard College. He has previously taught at the Fort Tryon Jewish Center and at Keshet youth programs and he has studied Torah at Yeshivat Hadar, SVARA, and the Drisha Institute. Outside the classroom, he loves exploring Natural History Museums, crocheting, hiking, and befriending every cat he can meet.
Alyx Bernstein (she/her)
Kitah Hey Lead Teacher (Fifth Grade)
Alyx is thrilled to be lead teaching Kitah Hey and tutoring at Congregation Dorshei Tzedek! She is starting rabbinical school at Hebrew College this fall, and has spent the past two years working at The Jewish Education Project in New York, uplifting supplementary Jewish education across the country. Alyx also serves on the board of and works as shabbaton staff for Keshet, where she helps queer Jewish youth build their joyful Jewish selves. She loves all things Jewish text and bringing kids’ excitement, curiosity, and unique voices into conversation with our tradition. In her new home in Somerville, Alyx loves baking, cooking, cats, and great thrillers.
Andrea Kamens (she/her)
Kitah Vav Lead Teacher (Sixth Grade)
Andrea is excited to return to a former role as Kitah Vav lead teacher on Sundays, bringing her passion for ethical, complex, beautiful Torah and her deep respect for middle schoolers. This is Andrea’s 9th year at CDT. She also teaches 2nd and 3rd grade and middle grade Hebrew at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham. Andrea is a storyteller and teaching artist specializing in inclusion. She’s the founding director of Youth Standing Strong Camp, a global online storytelling camp matching mentors with youth across all borders. She and her husband have been Boston residents for over 30 years, and have five kids, two cats, and a grand-dog. She never misses a chance to jump in the ocean!
Eris Stefano (they/he)
Kitah Vav Assistant
Eris is excited to be back at Dorshei as an Assistant Teacher for Kitah Vav. They are a junior at Gann Academy, and are deeply involved in the theater program there. They are passionate about art, Dungeons & Dragons, and disability justice. When not working or doing homework, you can find them reading classical literature, playing Stardew Valley, or crocheting.
Or Levinson (they/them)
Kitah Zayin Lead Teacher (Seventh Grade)
Or is excited to be joining the Dorshei Tzedek team as this year’s Kitah Zayin Lead Teacher! Or is a dancer, facilitator, and educator; they have been based in Minneapolis for the past 13 years and are now thrilled to be transitioning to the Boston area to begin their rabbinic education at Hebrew College. Their creative work often features klezmer music, Yiddish folk dance, and themes of Jewish diaspora and the search for home, belonging, and solidarity on Native land. Before moving to Boston, Or served as Youth and Family Education Assistant Director at Shir Tikvah Synagogue for two years. They delight in teaching movement workshops for all ages. They are also a minimally but enthusiastically practicing herbalist, and can be found wandering in the woods whenever time allows.
Lucy Caputo (she/her)
Kitah Zayin Assistant Teacher
Lucy is so happy to be coming back to Dorshei this year in the Kitah Zayin classroom as an assistant teacher! She is going to be a junior at Newton North High school in the fall. She loves to swim on the high school swim. She is also very passionate about social justice and action as the Co-Leader of her youth group RYFTI’s social action team. This past summer she was a swim coach for her town swim team and was a lifeguard at the Charles River Country Club pool. Lucy is so exited to continue working with children all year and to have to opportunity to work at Dorshei again!
Hannah Limov (they/she)
Weekday Tutor
Hannah is so excited to be returning to CDT for their fourth year! They are a fourth year rabbinical student at Hebrew College, and are incredibly excited to continue supporting students in learning Hebrew through stories, laughs, art, silliness, and joy. Coming from an interfaith family, and only really starting their Jewish Journey™ in college, Hannah fully believes that no matter how you show up in Judaism is enough; and that the goal should never be to come up with the best answers, but to always try and create more powerful questions. Hannah loves to spend time with their tree friends in the arboretum, read queer YA novels, sing with their friends on shabbos, and worship and serve at all times their roommate’s cat, Lucinda.
Rabbi Emily Mathis (she/her)
Weekday Tutor
Originally from St. Louis (via 24 years in Providence RI) Emily and her family have been members of CDT for 10+ years – and her two daughters are seasoned Havaya campers (Nina is working as a madricha this year, and Ruby is in Kitah Dalet) ! Emily is the rabbi of B’nai Torah Metrowest in Wayland, MA, and she is also an herbalist. Prior to her work in Jewish settings, Emily directed programming in the fields of environmental education, urban gardening and family literacy. Generally, Emily can be found in the kitchen working on her next project and drinking coffee. She and her spouse, Hali Diecidue, live in West Newton with their three girls (26, 16, and 9) and one labradoodle.
Adah Hetko (she/her)
Weekday Tutor
Adah is looking forward to returning for her seventh year at Dorshei Tzedek! This year Adah is teaching weekday tutoring. Adah has designed and delivered educational programming in a variety of settings including Vassar College’s Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practice, Baltimore Yearly Meeting camps, and the Yiddish Book Center. She is also a singer, songwriter, and dance leader active in the local and international Yiddish cultural scenes. Adah performs regularly with klezmer/Yiddish song bands Levyosn [Leviathan], and Soloveychicks [Nightingales] and she leads services for a variety of congregations in greater Boston.
Alyssa Coffey (she/her)
Weekday Tutor
Alyssa is excited to join the CDT Religious School staff as a Hebrew tutor this year! Currently a rabbinical student at Hebrew College, Alyssa holds a BA in religion and American history from Hampshire College. With experience working in social services and studying in Jerusalem, Alyssa values curiosity and collaboration in learning. She enjoys yarn sports, solving puzzles, early mornings, and ice cream.
Rabbi Elaine Pollack (she/her)
Weekday Tutor
With pride, Rabbi Elaine participated in the founding of Congregation Dorshei Tzedek in the Spring of 1991. She volunteered to be the first president of CDT, but really it was a group effort to launch our shul. We were a small but determined group of folks who collaborated to do all the tasks needed to establish CDT on a solid foundation. When it was time to think about a school, Rabbi Elaine was part of a triumvirate with Jill Volk z”l and Judy Herzig-Marx who planned the school; first with family education programming, and then we launched with Kitah Gimel for which she was the morah. Now, she's back doing what she has loved all along: teaching at CDT's school.
In between the founding of CDT and today, Rabbi Elaine taught Hebrew School at Temple Emunah and Temple Beth Elohim, was in the first class to be ordained at The Rabbinical School of Hebrew College, and then worked as a rabbi/chaplain before retiring. She has three grown kids and two grandchildren, spread out from Richmond, CA to Chicago to York, ME. She lives in Watertown, loves to garden, enjoys choral singing, and is an avid concert goer. The honor of preparing young people for their B-Mitzvah, teaching leyning and prayer, brings her much joy.