Anna Wolfe

Emma Mair, Learning and Engagement Coordinator

Cantor Matt Axelrod

Cantor Matt Axelrod is thrilled to be returning home to Temple B’nai Abraham to co-lead services for the High Holidays with Rabbi Adler. Matt’s family have been a constant presence and integral part of TBA, where his parents Saul and Muriel will always be
remembered for their endless time and devotion to the shul. Matt feels tremendously honored and humbled for this opportunity to lead services and come back to the very place where it all began.

Matt is a graduate of Brandeis University and received his Masters of Sacred Music and Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He has served Congregation Beth Israel in Scotch Plains, NJ, for the past 33 years. This summer, Matt will be leaving his pulpit to take on the position of Executive Director of the Cantors Assembly, the largest group of professional cantors in the world.

Matt is the author of three books: Surviving Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah: The Ultimate Insider’s Guide, Your Guide to the Jewish Holidays: From Shofar to Seder, and Raising the Bar Mitzvah: Reimagining What Our Kids Learn. His numerous articles have appeared in
MyJewishLearning.com, Tablet Magazine, and the online Bar/Bat Mitvah Guide. He has been a frequent presenter at synagogues, Jewish community centers and conferences, speaking to groups of parents and teens about the process of preparing for their b’nei mitzvah and how to successfully navigate that period. Most recently, Matt appeared–briefly–in the HBO miniseries “The Plot Against America.”

Cantor Axelrod is also an avid aviation enthusiast, and is a licensed pilot and flight instructor. When not flying over New Jersey, he is likely out running and training for his next marathon. He is married to Tali, a public school principal, and they are the proud parents of Judah and Josh.

Melissa Baden, Music Director

Melissa is a passionate ritualist, musician, therapist, and mother. Hailing from Atlanta, GA, music has taken her far and wide, recently settling her family in Newton, MA. Melissa is a multi-instrumentalist with a degree in vocal performance from the University of Georgia. Melissa has studied tefillah and song in various spaces, including earning a spot as Fellow in the 2021 cohort of Hadar’s Davening Fellowship. Melissa has served on various music and ritual committees such as Limmud’s Gala Chair, and is a sought after Artist in Residence for organizations such as PJ Library, Ramah, and more. Melissa views music as the conduit of the neshama (soul); we access our deepest yearnings and our highest jubilation most poignantly together in musical expression. Melissa hopes to create inclusive, unified spaces of connection to our highest selves through song.

Bonnie Kaplan Goldsmith

Bonnie had a 40-year career in communications, public relations and marketing, principally in health care and earlier in high tech. She is currently freelancing in her field. Bonnie has been a Temple B’Nai Abraham and Temple Shalom member for more than 25 years. She is an active member of the TBA community, devoting her time to Sisterhood, Ritual and the Board. She also chaired the Board’s Nominating Committee and served on a variety of other task forces and committees. She and her husband Arnie can always be found on or near water in Beverly or Key West, looking for the next big fish.

Linda Goodspeed

Linda crossed the bridge into Beverly after growing up in Temple Shalom in Salem. Linda has spent her career in the Software and Bio-Tech fields, partnering with leadership teams of start-ups to help them grow their companies quickly and efficiently. In addition to her work at TBA, Linda has also served on the Board of Family Promise North Shore Boston and is happy to discuss their mission of Ending Homelessness. Linda lives in Beverly with her husband Andy. Their children Lily and Adam are graduates of the TBA religious school.

Jane Cohen

Jane and her husband, Paul, joined Temple B’nai Abraham in 1983 when their oldest son started in the Hebrew School. She then taught in the Hebrew School for ten years, teaching grades 3-7. Her three sons, James, Jason, and Joel are graduates of the school. Her sons, loving daughters-in-law and 4 grandchildren all live within an hour of Beverly. Since joining the temple she has served on the school committee, adult education committee and for several terms on the board of directors. She retired as a high school English teacher in 2015 and began meeting with temple members once a week to document information about the temple’s founding families. Most recently, she served for seven years as the newsletter editor. Currently, she is Sisterhood’s recording secretary, organizes for and volunteers in our pe’ah garden.

In her spare time she babysits grandbabies, makes sleeping mats out of plastic bags for homeless people and has sewn and given away over 1,000 Covid masks to friends and family. She enjoys crafts of all kinds and snuggling down with a good book.

Michael Katzenstein

Michael has been a member of Temple B’nai Abraham since 1993. Michael has served on the TBA board in the past as Financial Secretary and currently serves as the TBA Treasurer. Michael currently is a math teacher at Beverly High School and was the President of Behavioral Health Care Consultants, a small hospital management consulting firm which he founded in 1994. Michael lives in Beverly with his wife Paige.

Tom Cheatham

Tom and his wife Suzie have been residents of Swampscott since 1984. They joined Temple B’nai Abraham as part of the merger with Temple Shalom in Salem. Tom has recently retired from his role as CFO of the Jewish Community Center of the North Shore. Tom started his first career in high tech where he served 6.5 years in the IDF Computer Corps. Tom has been an entrepreneur and helped found a high tech company that was based in Yokneam Israel. Tom is the Financial Secretary at the Temple and helps out with the books. Tom also enjoys participating in the ritual life of the Temple. Tom has recently taken up ocean sculling and loves it. Tom and Suzie have three children and ten grandchildren.

Cara Kepnes

Cara Kepnes has served on the Board of Directors and is now serving her 2^nd term as Recording Secretary. She grew up in Peabody and has been immersed in the North Shore Jewish community her entire life. She resides in Danvers with her husband, Joshua and 2 children. Synagogue and Jewish life are a huge part of her identity, and she truly enjoys being an active member of TBA.  Cara owns and runs her own graphic design company, Cara Kepnes Creative Designs.

David Carnevale

David has been a part of the TBA community since 2004 and has actively contributed to the Executive Board since 2006. David is currently serving on the Executive Committee as Board of Directors Liaison and, in the past, has served as Second Vice President and Recording Secretary. Additionally, David has dedicated his time and efforts to organizing an impactful program called “The Monday Night Supper”, which has been running successfully for the past 12 years. This program, sponsored by the temple, aims to provide nourishment and support to the homeless and underprivileged residents of Beverly on the third Monday of every month. With his expertise as a contractor, David has made invaluable contributions to the temple, assisting in numerous ways to further its mission and goals.

Ken Hartman

Donna Cohen

Beti Levine

Allison Wolper

Marcy Yellin