Temple Beth Avodah sits on Puddingstone Lane in Newton, Massachusetts, where a small group of South Newton families came together in 1963 to create a spiritual home rooted in Reform Judaism. Six decades later, the congregation has grown into a multigenerational community whose members travel from across the Boston area and beyond to participate in worship, learning, and social action. The temple is known for its warm welcome of multi-faith families, its music-filled Shabbat services, and a personalized approach to Jewish life that runs from the nursery through adulthood.
From South Newton to a Multigenerational Community
The temple's origin story is one of founding families rather than inherited buildings. In 1963, a handful of families from South Newton shared a commitment to Reform Judaism and decided to build a sanctuary where they could connect with their Judaism, engage in worship and education, and form lasting relationships. A list of past presidents reaches back to 1962, marking the congregation's earliest organizational years. The first temple building was soon joined by a second building, opened in May 1971. Photographs from the 1970s show early B'nai Mitzvah celebrations, a Junior Choir led by Anita Bamel, and meetings with longtime Rabbi Miller.
Many of those founding families, along with their children and grandchildren, remain members today. The congregation has since drawn families from across the Boston area, and what has remained steady is a personal approach to Jewish life, learning, and community. Past presidents, beginning with Jack Weiner and continuing through the present, are honored in a Presidential Audio Archive where leaders reflect on their years of service.
Shabbat and the Jewish Calendar
Shabbat is the weekly center of life at Temple Beth Avodah. Friday evening services are held at 6:15 p.m. in the temple sanctuary and are also broadcast on Zoom, with no RSVP required. Most services take place both in person and online, reflecting a commitment to accessibility that grew out of the COVID-19 era and has become permanent.
Music is woven throughout Shabbat, and the temple offers several series across the year. A Jazz Shabbat Series features the temple's professional trio along with guest musicians. A Rock Shabbat Series welcomes congregants who play instruments to bring their sound to the service. Shir Harmony, the temple's teen and adult choir, sings during services, and visiting artists have included Craig Taubman, Dan Nichols, Rick Recht, Noah Aronson, Sue Horowitz, Elana Arian, and Nefesh Mountain. Family Services bring younger children into the sanctuary with a special guest - whether a grandparent, family friend, or other loved one - followed by dinner and a hands-on activity.
The Jewish holidays are marked as a multigenerational, connected community. The High Holy Days draw a full house for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, with chanting from the bimah, family blessings, and apples and honey shared in the social hall. Sukkot, Purim (with both a children's Purim Spiel and Carnival and an adult Purim Spiel from the TBA Arts Troupe), Passover, and Hanukkah are all observed with programs that mix ritual, education, and celebration. The Rabbi also marks Shabbat each week with a written reflection called Before Shabbat, sent out by email on Friday afternoons.
Clergy and Professional Leadership
Rabbi Keith Stern has served the congregation since July 1997, leading worship, teaching, and pastoral care. He holds two master's degrees from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion and a Master of Arts in Social Work from the University of Southern California. His sermons and a podcast called TBA Now! are widely followed, and his interests in cooking, jazz, books, and broader culture shape the temple's intellectual life.
Cantor Gabe Snyder joined the clergy team after being ordained by the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at HUC-JIR in 2024. Raised in the Reform Movement of Greater Boston, he previously served congregations in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Utah, and Maryland. He leads T'fillah for students in the religious school, shapes the music of services, and brings a passion for Jewish music and Hebrew calligraphy.
Becky Oliver serves as Executive Director and works with the congregation on TBA's vision of a supportive community. A long-time staff member, she was honored by more than 100 congregants at a 20th anniversary celebration. Rachel Zylberfink is the Director of Operations, Eileen Brooks is the Director of Communications and Marketing (and the congregation's photographer and social media voice), and Doug Ball is the Facilities Manager, who works closely with families planning lifecycle events. The administrative team includes Alexa Weintraub as Program Coordinator, Jenna Walker as Administrative Assistant, and Lori Giunta as Youth Coordinator.
Lay leadership is provided by a Board of Directors and Executive Committee, currently led by President James Nahirny, a past treasurer and former Managing Partner at Bain Capital Ventures, alongside Vice Presidents Lisa Cohen, David Cohen, Jeff Tarmy, and Mike Zakin. Past presidents including Ellen Meisel, Abby Shapiro, and Carole Rodenstein remain active in the congregation's life.
Early Learning Center
The Temple Beth Avodah Early Learning Center is a Jewish preschool that welcomes children from toddlers through prekindergarten and serves families of all faiths. The center runs from September through mid-June with flexible part-time and full-time options, a low teacher-to-student ratio, and an emphasis on outdoor play on the temple's grounds. Curriculum is Reggio-inspired, with art, music, STEM, and literacy woven into the day, and ongoing parent programs connect families to one another.
The toddler program serves children ages 15 months through 2.8 years. Preschool classes serve ages 2.9 through 4, and a prekindergarten class serves ages 4 through 5. Early drop-off from 8 to 9 a.m. and extended-day options through 6 p.m. give working families flexibility. Tuition for the 2026-27 school year is listed on the temple's site, with a reduced rate for temple members. Gaby Yurrita serves as Director of the Early Learning Center, supported by Rebecca Baizen as Operations Manager.
K-12 Jewish Education
For students in kindergarten through grade 12, the religious school is structured as a three-year triennial learning cycle. The 2026-27 school year introduces Year 1: Torah, focused on foundational Jewish stories, mitzvot, and connections to God. Year 2 will emphasize Jewish Time - the calendar, lifecycle events, and holidays. Year 3 will center on Am Yisrael - peoplehood, family, and Jewish history. As students encounter the same topics at deeper levels every three years, the curriculum is designed to strengthen retention and build a more durable foundation in Jewish knowledge.
On Sundays, students in Pre-K through Grade 2 meet from 9 to 11 a.m. with hands-on learning about holidays, values, Torah stories, and Hebrew introduction, closing with Shira, an active music session led by the Cantor. Grades 3 through 5 begin with T'fillah at 9:30 a.m. and class from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Wednesdays are central for the older grades. Grades 3 through 5 meet from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., beginning with Mifgash, a get-to-know-you time, then a whole-school T'fillah led by the Cantor, and focused Hebrew learning. Grade 6 students meet from 3:30 to 7 p.m. in the Gesher (Bridge) program, with Mifgash, T'fillah, becoming-a-B'nai-Mitzvah class, Hebrew, and an optional dinner. Grades 7 through 12 meet for Midrasha on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m., with optional dinner beginning at 6:15.
Students in grades 7 through 12 can also apply for teen internships as classroom assistants, B'nai Mitzvah peer tutors, or office and technology interns. The temple is part of BAYGL for youth group activities and connects to NFTY-Northeast and other regional and national Jewish youth organizations. High school trips have included Israel, New York, and Puerto Rico, and middle school retreats focus on community-building.
Rebecca Kahn Woskoff serves as Director of K-Grade 12 Education, having previously held teen leadership roles at the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh, BBYO's Ohio Northern Region, and URJ 6 Points West summer camp.
B'nai Mitzvah, Weddings, and Lifecycle Support
Each B'nai Mitzvah at Temple Beth Avodah is individualized: no two students share a service, and each child is encouraged to lead in their own way. Families work closely with the clergy to shape the experience. Weddings can be held at the temple, which can accommodate both small and large ceremonies along with receptions, or off-site with Rabbi Stern, who prepares couples over several meetings. Baby namings, funerals, shiva memorial services, and ongoing support through the first year of mourning are all part of the clergy's work. The temple welcomes families who want to rent space or have clergy come to their homes for intimate celebrations.
Chai Connections: A Mentoring Network
Chai Connections is a temple initiative that connects congregants through mentorship and networking. The program draws on the professional backgrounds of TBA members to support high school students exploring careers, college students learning about professional fields, and working adults navigating career transitions. Mentors volunteer to share their expertise in informational interviews, and a private LinkedIn group keeps members in conversation. The program is organized by Adam Rizika, with support from Eileen Brooks.
Tikkun Olam and Social Action
Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, is a core value at Temple Beth Avodah, and the congregation's social action work is built around long-term partnerships. Members regularly collect and deliver salmon and raisins to the JF&CS Family Table Food Pantry and volunteer at the pantry during the year. The temple partners with The Second Step, supporting those experiencing domestic violence by preparing home-cooked meals. Red Cross Blood Drives are held twice a year. Welcome Home collections assist individuals setting up new housing. Students in the Early Learning Center through Grade 12 take part in social action projects throughout the year, with Heidi Baker supporting education programming.
TBA Cares and a Community of Support
TBA Cares is the temple's initiative for ensuring that members feel part of the community and have the support they need in difficult seasons. The program covers illness or surgery, mental health, loss and grief, welcoming a new child, parenting challenges, caring for aging parents, isolation, the empty nest transition, domestic violence, and other life circumstances. Volunteers help with medical support, bereavement, senior connections, meals, and deliveries. Members can reach the initiative at TBAcares@bethavodah.org.
Inclusivity at the Center
Inclusivity shapes how Temple Beth Avodah welcomes people. Multi-faith families are embraced across worship, learning, and lifecycle events. The temple welcomes people who grew up in Jewish homes and those who have never stepped inside a synagogue before. Inclusive classrooms have trained educational support, facilities are accessible, and the congregation maintains a network of mental health support. LGBTQIA+ inclusivity includes gender-neutral facilities, inclusive language and programming, and participation in the annual Boston Pride Parade. The congregation's own members describe it with words like home, welcoming, family, supportive, and comfort.
Music, Films, Books, and Adult Engagement
Beyond Shabbat, the temple offers a steady rhythm of adult programs. The TBA Arts Troupe produces plays and the annual adult Purim Spiel. Reel Judaism, a film series curated by Rabbi Stern, screens Jewish-themed films at the West Newton Cinema with post-screening discussions. TBA Reads brings local authors to Friday night services for an Author Shabbat Series, followed by dinner and conversation. Small groups include a Knitting Club, Garden Club, Torah Class, Game Nights, and other regular gatherings. The Women's Overnight Retreat, Men's Dinner with Rabbi Stern, Ladies Cocktail Parties, Seniors Lunches, 18 Tables (a Havdalah-and-dinner gathering at congregants' homes), and BingoRitas fill out the social calendar.
Membership and Giving
New members can join Temple Beth Avodah without making a financial contribution in their first year, giving them time to get to know the community before making a Member Commitment. The temple's philanthropic model asks members to choose a contribution that is meaningful to them, with the average household contribution needed to sustain the congregation at $4,300 for 2025-2026. Legacy giving is supported through appreciated securities, bequests, retirement plan designations, IRA qualified charitable distributions, and gifts from inheritances or asset sales. Members also contribute to specific funds supporting educational programs, scholarships, technology, the caring community, and social action.
Temple Beth Avodah is located at 45 Puddingstone Lane, Newton, MA 02459, and can be reached at 617.527.0045 or info@bethavodah.org. Shabbat services are held Friday evenings at 6:15 p.m. in person and on Zoom.