Why TBA

It feels like home. We care about each other, and our loving relationships are at the heart of everything we do.

Come celebrate holidays, share a meal, go on a nature walk, get your hands dirty in our vegetable garden, cook for neighbors in need, discuss ethics or theology, do some Jewish yoga or join us for a Shabbat service at the beach. Our community includes interfaith and LGBTQ families and individuals, singles, and people from all kinds of Jewish backgrounds. Stop by and introduce yourself. We look forward to meeting you.

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Our Rabbi

Rabbi Alison Adler was ordained at the trans-denominational Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Newton. She seeks to help people of all ages find their own spiritual path while being part of a vibrant, caring community, and she is passionate about how Jewish study and history inspire us to live with kindness, meaning, courage, and empathy. Rabbi Alison is on The Human Rights Committee of Beverly and is active with ECCO (Essex County Community Organization), an interfaith organization of about 40 congregations working on racial and economic justice.  She is a founding member of the Beverly Multi-faith Coalition, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis.  She also serves on the Steering Committee for Faith Science Alliance, with faith leaders and scientists working together on climate change. She received her BA from Kenyon College and MA in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University. Her greatest joys are her husband Chuck and son Leo and she enjoys hiking, yoga, gardening, and Chuck’s excellent cooking.

Staff

Deb Schutzman

Executive Director

Deborah has been the part-time Education Director at Temple B’nai Abraham since 2005. In 2008 Deborah added the role of Executive Director to her position. Deborah taught Religious School throughout the North Shore prior to becoming Education Director at TBA, and before teaching, she was a successful retail store manager for fourteen years. Deborah left retail to stay home and raise her children, Benjamin and Andrew. She returned to the workforce as a volunteer soon after her son Benjamin was born and began teaching part-time after having Andrew. With both boys grown, Deborah now focuses her management experience and extensive Judaic education on her role at TBA.

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Marleah Celletti-Nissenbaum

Office Administrator

In addition to years of experience in legal and medical office administration, Marleah is well versed in troubleshooting technical issues, having managed social media for business and web pages for employers. Marleah has always eagerly helped others. Whether it is in an everyday task, stepping on stage to perform stand-up comedy or making visual art, much of her impetus comes from a desire to make others smile. Her career path has led her to Temple B’nai Abraham because she is passionate about administrative work and our organization. Marleah is delighted to be a part of the TBA team.

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Cantor Evan Grossman

Cantor Grossman is a third-generation cantor and lifelong Boston-area resident. He has been joining TBA for high holidays and b’nai mitzvah for over 10 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and lives in Needham with his wife Sarah and their two children, Benjamin and Ella. Cantor Grossman adores the community at TBA in Beverly and loves seeing the congregation grow and prosper.

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Leadership

Bonnie Kaplan Goldsmith

President

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.

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Linda Goodspeed

First VP

Linda crossed the bridge into Beverly after growing up in Temple Shalom in Salem. Linda has 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.

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Jane Cohen

Second VP

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.

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Michael Katzenstein

Treasurer

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.

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Tom Cheatham

Financial Secretary

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 is in his second career acting 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.

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Cara Kepnes

Recording Secretary

Cara Kepnes has served on the Board of Directors and is currently the Recording Secretary. She grew up in Peabody and has been immersed in the Jewish community of the North Shore her entire life. She now resides in Danvers with her husband Joshua Kepnes and 2 children, Ari and Nya.  She currently works as an administrator for Chabad of Peabody and has a background in property management and real estate. Synagogue and Jewish life have always been a big part of her identity and she strives to foster those values in her children.  Cara loves music of all genres, long walks and family vacations!

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Ken Hartman

Past President X
  • Ken Hartman, Past President

Board of Directors

  • David Carnevale
  • James Cohen
  • Robert Freedman
  • Cindy Lann
  • Rob Leshin
  • Alan Pierce
  • Donna Pierce
  • Cristina Rivera
  • Marcy Ross
  • Bonnie Shelkrot
  • Larry Taitelbaum
  • Ben Weiss

Teachers

Donna Cohen

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  • Donna Cohen
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Aaron Zev Katz

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Beti Levine

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Bethany MacDonald

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Yael Sokolow

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  • Yael Sokolow
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Sarah Visnick

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  • Sarah Visnick
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Allison Wolper

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  • Allison Wolper
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Marcy Yellin

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Cantor Bruce Siegel

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History

On June 4, 1908, Congregation Sons of Abraham was established to serve the religious needs of the growing Jewish population in Beverly. Now well into our second century, Temple B’nai Abraham remains the spiritual, educational and social center of Jewish life for over 15 cities and towns in the Greater Beverly area.

Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA 1908

1908

The local Hebrew colony has formed a congregation, known as the Sons of Abraham, and with 80 names on the list, will meet in the Wood Building at 71 Rantoul Street, at the corner of Rantoul and Pleasant.

Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA 1911

1911

Building erected on property purchased at 37 Bow Street. The building will house three merged congregations – Sons of Abraham, Sons of Abraham and Isaac and Sons of Israel.

Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA 1913

1913

A Cornerstone was laid at the Bow Street Shul for the newly named Congregation Sons of Abraham and Isaac.

Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA 1930

1930

A two-story Hebrew Community Center is built alongside the Synagogue on Bow Street.

Rabbi Meyer Finklestein 1936 Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA

1936-1945

Rabbi Meyer Finklestein becomes the first ordained Rabbi at Congregation Sons of Abraham and Isaac on Bow Street.

Cole Street Cemetery Dedication Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA

1942-1947

A permit is granted by the Board of Aldermen to the Sons of Abraham to build a cemetery on Cole Street. Cemetery on Cole Street is dedicated.

Fire destroys synagogue 1945 Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA

1945

Fire destroys the Synagogue and Community Center on Bow Street.

rededication 1947 Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA

1947

Rededication of the new combination Synagogue and Community Center on Bow Street.

Fundraising event 1960 Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA

1960

Fundraising began for new building on East Lothrop Street.

Ground breaking ceremony 1961 Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA

1961

Ground breaking for new building on East Lothrop Street. Board votes to rename the corporation Temple B’nai Abraham.

Dedication of new Temple 1962 Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA

1962

Dedication of new Temple.

Bette Siegel, First Female President 1975, Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA

1975

First Female Temple President – Bette Siegel was elected to a 2-year term.

Mortgage burning ceremony. 1978 Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA

1978

Mortgage burning ceremony.

Cemetery Sign

2007

Temple B’nai Abraham Interfaith cemetery established.

Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA 100th anniversary 2008

2008

TBA celebrates the 100th anniversary of the congregation.

Rubenstein Garden Dedication Ceremony 2009 Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA

2009

Martha and Max Rubenstein Garden dedication ceremony.

Rabbi Alison Adler 2010 Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA

2011

First Woman Rabbi, Rabbi Alison Adler.

Pe'ah Garden established 2012 Temple B'nai Abraham Beverly MA

2012

Pe'ah Garden established.

Temple Shalom, Salem, MA

2014

Temple B'nai Abraham merges with Temple Shalom of Salem.

Temple B'nai Abraham new logo, 2017

2017

TBA undergoes a rebrand. New logo designed.