Rabbi Jay Perlman
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Rabbi Jay Perlman is a Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom. Since his arrival in Needham in the summer of 2003, Rabbi Perlman has been dedicated to nurturing a warm, vibrant, spiritually meaningful community. He is proud to share in this sacred service with many outstanding clergy, professional, and lay leaders.
Rabbi Perlman is active in both the Needham and the Greater Boston Jewish community. He is an active member of the Needham Clergy Association, including having recently served as president. He currently serves on the New England Regional Board of the Anti-Defamation League. He frequently dedicates two weeks during summer to serve on the faculty at the Union for Reform Judaism’s Camp Eisner. Rabbi Perlman has served as a rabbinic mentor for both the Hebrew College Rabbinic Program and the rabbinical school at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He is a regular teacher for the URJ’s “Taste of Judaism” and “Introduction to Judaism” programs and is a member of the Needham Coalition for Suicide Prevention.
Before coming to the Boston area, Rabbi Perlman served at Congregation Shaare Emeth in St. Louis, MO. While there, he was awarded UJA Federation’s Rabbinic Award for outstanding community leadership. Rabbi Perlman was active in the development of innovative worship experiences, creative youth programming, and in working with the St. Louis Jewish deaf community. In addition, Rabbi Perlman was the founding Rabbinic Director of the Fleischer Jewish Healing Center of St. Louis.
Rabbi Perlman was ordained from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in 1996. While at HUC, he was the recipient of a number of academic awards, including his selection as a Steinhardt Scholar for his work in informal education.
Rabbi Perlman is originally from the Boston area. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Brandeis University, where he received his B.A. in both History and Near East and Judaic Studies. Rabbi Perlman has participated in numerous study opportunities in Israel, including programs at the Hartman Institute, the Conservative Yeshiva, the Pardes Institute, Hebrew University, and through the World Zionist Organization.
Rabbi Perlman has a passion for teaching, learning, building bridges, and sharing the beauty of our Jewish tradition. He joyfully shares his life with his wife, Emily, and their children Liana and Jonah.
K-12 Learning At Temple Beth Shalom
Shorashim Jewish Learning Guides (Educators)
Fifth Grade
Emma Greenberg
Pronouns: She/Her
Manishma TBS community! I’m thrilled to be joining the K-12 team as both a Mayim and Shorashim Jewish Learning Guide in fourth and fifth grade. I graduated from American University with a Degree in Strategic Communications and Marketing. I loved spending my college years in DC, and it holds a special place in my heart. I knew that once I graduated from school though that I would want to teach English abroad and couldn’t think of a better place to do that than Israel. While in Israel, I taught at an Elementary school in Haifa for the 2022 - 2023 school year. Since I grew up in Connecticut, I’m very happy to be back in New England close to family and friends.
Lila Klaus
Pronouns: She/Her
Shalom! I am thrilled to continue my work as a Jewish Learning Guide in Mayim. I have been an educator with Temple Beth Shalom since fall of 2018, where I have taught a variety of age groups. I am a graduate of Bard College, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a minor in Theology. Prior to joining TBS, I have spent my time as a madricha for Kindergarten through third graders, as well as working at a URJ summer camp as both a counselor and a unit head. I also have served as the Dance Arts Mentor at the URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy. I love to bring into my classroom all of the ways in which the creative movement process can be applied to the teaching of Jewish values. With both my educational and artistic backgrounds, I strive to bring to TBS a classroom environment where creativity and curiosity are encouraged, and to instill a love of learning about Jewish ideas.
Sadie O'Neill
Pronouns: She/Her
I am thrilled to be returning to TBS this year as a Shorashim educator. I recently graduated from Lesley University, where I earned a degree in Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy. I have spent the past 15 summers at URJ Crane Lake Camp as a camper, counselor, and most recently, the Performing Arts Director. My time at summer camp has sparked my love for Jewish learning and I am so excited to use my creativity, joy, curiosity, and passion to continue to nurture that spark within the TBS community.
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Rachel Frish
Pronouns: She/Her
Shalom! My name is Rachel Frish – most people just call me “Frish” because there are lots of other Rachels. I'm so excited to continue my TBS journey for my third year as a Jewish Learning Guide. While I’m originally from Dallas, Texas, I hail most recently from New Jersey where I spent three years as a synagogue Director of Youth Engagement and two years as the Assistant Director for the URJ’s Six Points Sci-Tech Academy.
I believe that Judaism can be a lens through which we explore our relationship with those around us and the world we live in. Providing children a safe space where they can interact with our stories, learn our heritage, ask questions, and make new discoveries is vital to building an engaged Jewish community.
Liat Friedman
Pronouns: She/Her
I am so excited to be joining the TBS team this year! I grew up in a Reform Congregation in the Berkshires, MA. My family was very involved in Temple throughout my childhood and I was a Madricha throughout high school. My other Jewish involvements have included NFTY Northeast and Hillel in college. I graduated from Skidmore College this past May with a Bachelors in Psychology and Art History. I believe in listening to students and guiding them in their educational journey instead of dictating what education should mean to them. I am also very excited about working with parents to create a safe, comfortable, and most importantly fun environment for their kids. Very excited to meet everyone!
Sixth Grade
Emily Kestenbaum
Assistant Director of Shorashim
Pronouns: She/Her
I came to work at TBS knowing what a special community it is. I love that each day I can be a part of not only fostering Jewish learning but also fostering relationships and community, especially as our middle schoolers are beginning to see how they can be a part of the larger community after they become B. Mitzvah. I am committed to lifelong learning and hope that the connections that our learners make with one another will allow them to continue to learn and grow within our community.
I joined the Mayim family in September 2016, and am thrilled to continue learning from this amazing group of educators and professionals everyday. I am originally from Stony Brook, NY and come with experiences as a full-time public school teacher, Hebrew school teacher, and youth group director. I also spent five summers working as the Waterfront Director at Eisner Camp. My husband and I live in Northborough with our two children.
Sadie O'Neill
Pronouns: She/Her
I am thrilled to be returning to TBS this year as a Shorashim educator. I recently graduated from Lesley University, where I earned a degree in Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy. I have spent the past 15 summers at URJ Crane Lake Camp as a camper, counselor, and most recently, the Performing Arts Director. My time at summer camp has sparked my love for Jewish learning and I am so excited to use my creativity, joy, curiosity, and passion to continue to nurture that spark within the TBS community.
Rachel Frish
Pronouns: She/Her
Shalom! My name is Rachel Frish – most people just call me “Frish” because there are lots of other Rachels. I'm so excited to continue my TBS journey for my third year as a Jewish Learning Guide. While I’m originally from Dallas, Texas, I hail most recently from New Jersey where I spent three years as a synagogue Director of Youth Engagement and two years as the Assistant Director for the URJ’s Six Points Sci-Tech Academy.
I believe that Judaism can be a lens through which we explore our relationship with those around us and the world we live in. Providing children a safe space where they can interact with our stories, learn our heritage, ask questions, and make new discoveries is vital to building an engaged Jewish community.
Leah Goldstein
Pronouns: She/Her
I am so excited to begin my second year at TBS as a Jewish Learning Guide in Shorashim, teaching for Etzim, and serving as the Jr. BESTY advisor. Originally from Austin, TX, I have been living in Brookline for the last 13 years and absolutely love the Jewish community here.
Prior to joining TBS, I spent a decade working with teens in different capacities at Hebrew College where I was the Associate Director of Prozdor, a pluralistic Hebrew High School program. While there, I also served as the Director of the Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston (JTFGB) at Hebrew College, a Jewish leadership program that educates and empowers teens from the Greater Boston Area to develop a life-long commitment to strategic philanthropy, advocacy, and community engagement as they work together and learn the ins and outs of the nonprofit sector.
I am deeply passionate about Jewish education and have dedicated my life to working with kids of all ages to make a real impact on this next generation. As an educator, I have always found myself the most energized when teaching and talking about tzedakah and tikkun olam. I love finding new and creative ways to organically infuse Jewish values into the lives of everyone I work with. I believe in creating a unique, sacred, and fun space where kids can not only learn with each other, but also from each other. I am constantly inspired by all of the time I have spent watching children thrive and grow over the years. Forming meaningful and lasting relationships with every one of my students has always been one of my favorite things and I am really looking forward to doing that with the incredible community here at TBS.
Sam Powers
Pronouns: He/Him
I am so excited to be joining the TBS community this year as a Youth Educator and Musical Leader. I am a graduate from Berklee College of Music where I studied mandolin performance and music business. I have been a professional Jewish musician for over a decade and have been a Jewish Educator since 2016. This year I will be working with Mayim, Shorashim, and Etzim. You can also see me playing Shabbat Friday Night Services all year long!
My educational philosophy is that students' interests should shape their learning. I believe that my role as an educator is to create an inclusive learning environment for my students and teach through their interests.
David Zisson
Pronouns: He/Him
Shalom! My name is David Zisson, and I am stepping into Leah's role for the remainder of the year as she enjoys her well-deserved parental leave. I have been working as an educator for over six years and I truly love working with children of all ages. I take pride in my creative and academic versatility as an educator, and in fostering a sense of Jewish pride among all of our children here at TBS. Central to my educational philosophy is the creation and implementation of a top-notch Jewish studies and Hebrew curriculum. This not only cultivates a stronger connection to the community but also instills spiritual values and respect for traditions that have kept our people together for thousands of years. As an educator, my goal is to inspire students to unlock their full learning potential through engaging and interactive methods, all while having a lot of fun! In addition to education and Judaism I am also passionate about basketball, music production, art, technology, cycling, and travel (I have lived in 5 countries: Argentina, Italy, Israel, USA, & Spain). I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to get to know your children better this year!
Seventh Grade
Emily Kestenbaum
Assistant Director of Shorashim
Pronouns: She/Her
I came to work at TBS knowing what a special community it is. I love that each day I can be a part of not only fostering Jewish learning but also fostering relationships and community, especially as our middle schoolers are beginning to see how they can be a part of the larger community after they become B. Mitzvah. I am committed to lifelong learning and hope that the connections that our learners make with one another will allow them to continue to learn and grow within our community.
I joined the Mayim family in September 2016, and am thrilled to continue learning from this amazing group of educators and professionals everyday. I am originally from Stony Brook, NY and come with experiences as a full-time public school teacher, Hebrew school teacher, and youth group director. I also spent five summers working as the Waterfront Director at Eisner Camp. My husband and I live in Northborough with our two children.
Rachel Frish
Pronouns: She/Her
Shalom! My name is Rachel Frish – most people just call me “Frish” because there are lots of other Rachels. I'm so excited to continue my TBS journey for my third year as a Jewish Learning Guide. While I’m originally from Dallas, Texas, I hail most recently from New Jersey where I spent three years as a synagogue Director of Youth Engagement and two years as the Assistant Director for the URJ’s Six Points Sci-Tech Academy.
I believe that Judaism can be a lens through which we explore our relationship with those around us and the world we live in. Providing children a safe space where they can interact with our stories, learn our heritage, ask questions, and make new discoveries is vital to building an engaged Jewish community.
Leah Goldstein
Pronouns: She/Her
I am so excited to begin my second year at TBS as a Jewish Learning Guide in Shorashim, teaching for Etzim, and serving as the Jr. BESTY advisor. Originally from Austin, TX, I have been living in Brookline for the last 13 years and absolutely love the Jewish community here.
Prior to joining TBS, I spent a decade working with teens in different capacities at Hebrew College where I was the Associate Director of Prozdor, a pluralistic Hebrew High School program. While there, I also served as the Director of the Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston (JTFGB) at Hebrew College, a Jewish leadership program that educates and empowers teens from the Greater Boston Area to develop a life-long commitment to strategic philanthropy, advocacy, and community engagement as they work together and learn the ins and outs of the nonprofit sector.
I am deeply passionate about Jewish education and have dedicated my life to working with kids of all ages to make a real impact on this next generation. As an educator, I have always found myself the most energized when teaching and talking about tzedakah and tikkun olam. I love finding new and creative ways to organically infuse Jewish values into the lives of everyone I work with. I believe in creating a unique, sacred, and fun space where kids can not only learn with each other, but also from each other. I am constantly inspired by all of the time I have spent watching children thrive and grow over the years. Forming meaningful and lasting relationships with every one of my students has always been one of my favorite things and I am really looking forward to doing that with the incredible community here at TBS.
Katie Siegel
Pronouns: She/Her
Shalom everyone! I'm Katie Siegel, and I'm thrilled to join the TBS team. I'll be teaching a 7th-grade elective and a floater teacher this academic year. As a California native, I recently relocated to Boston for graduate school, pursuing a Master's in Social Work at Boston University. With over three years of experience as a Jewish educator and a background in working with children since high school, I am passionate about fostering meaningful connections with students.
My journey led me from Southern California to Seattle and now to Boston. Embracing the belief that questions are the cornerstone of meaningful learning, I aim to empower students to discover answers independently while providing guidance and support. My teaching philosophy centers around creating a classroom community that encourages exploring ideas, cultivating strong relationships, and values each individual's unique perspectives and experiences.
I am eager to embark on this new chapter. I look forward to getting to know everyone!
David Zisson
Pronouns: He/Him
Shalom! My name is David Zisson, and I am stepping into Leah's role for the remainder of the year as she enjoys her well-deserved parental leave. I have been working as an educator for over six years and I truly love working with children of all ages. I take pride in my creative and academic versatility as an educator, and in fostering a sense of Jewish pride among all of our children here at TBS. Central to my educational philosophy is the creation and implementation of a top-notch Jewish studies and Hebrew curriculum. This not only cultivates a stronger connection to the community but also instills spiritual values and respect for traditions that have kept our people together for thousands of years. As an educator, my goal is to inspire students to unlock their full learning potential through engaging and interactive methods, all while having a lot of fun! In addition to education and Judaism I am also passionate about basketball, music production, art, technology, cycling, and travel (I have lived in 5 countries: Argentina, Italy, Israel, USA, & Spain). I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to get to know your children better this year!