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.

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.

Michelle Baer

Michelle Baer Bio coming soon

Jay Duchin

Jay Duchin Bio Coming Soon

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.

Ben Weiss

Ben Weiss Bio coming soon

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

Donna Cohen has been teaching at TBA for 15 years. During the week she teaches Special Ed at Bates Elementary School in Salem, tutors at Sylvan Learning Center and coaches Middle School Field Hockey in Swampscott. Her passion is Arts & Crafts and she enjoys teaching through play-based learning & crafts. TBA is a very special place and she looks forward to meeting new students and families as we celebrate Jewish Holidays and Jewish Values.

Beti Levine

Beti Levine has been teaching at TBA Hebrew school since 2014. Through the years she has taught kindergarten through grade seven Hebrew reading and writing, as well as Jewish holidays. She is certified to teach Hebrew Through Movement. Previously, she taught at Temple Ner Tamid Hebrew school and preschool.

Allison Wolper

Allison Wolper is a life-long member of Temple B’nai Abraham.  She attended TBA’s Religious School and Confirmation Classes, had her Bat Mitzvah, and participated in Kadima and BBYO.  She also attended Hebrew High School at Temple Israel in Swampscott.  Allison has been working at TBA since she was a sophomore in high school.  She was a part-time after-school secretary, youth group advisor and director, substitute teacher, and now, for the last 18 years, as a teacher.   She graduated from Clark University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and from Salem State University with a master’s degree in Social Work.  Allison is currently the Director of Education at the Sylvan Learning Center in Danvers.  When she can, Allison loves to travel to North Conway, NH and visit family and friends in Missouri, Florida and Arizona. She is also a very big Snoopy fan and has a chinchilla named Linus!

Aimee Freed

Aimee Freed grew up at TBA and has been teaching in the Hebrew school for several years. During the week, Aimee teaches preschoolers at Congregation Shirat Hayam in Swampscott. She is looking forward to welcoming a new class of students to a community that she loves.

Kelly Lynch

Kelly Lynch (she/her) is an EEC-certified toddler teacher at the Goddard School in Middleton. She earned a degree in Education from Mount Holyoke College, where she was captain of the basketball team and served as the inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. Kelly uses play-based learning and sensory exploration to facilitate enriching experiences for our youngest community members. She is looking forward to meeting your kiddos!