Rabbi Keith Stern, Congregational Rabbi. Rabbi Keith Stern began his tenure in the pulpit of Temple Beth Avodah in July 1997. He succeeds Rabbi Robert Miller, beloved spiritual leader of Beth Avodah for over a quarter century, who remains with us as Rabbi Emeritus. Rabbi Stern brings his unique vitality, ideas, warmth and sense of humor to our congregation. Rabbi Stern holds a Master of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California, and two MA degrees from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Hebrew Letters and in Jewish Communal Service. He demonstrates an energetic and passionate enthusiasm for Jewish living, worship, and learning, and is deeply committed to teaching at all levels. Rabbi Stern and his wife Liza (a respected rabbi as well) have 5 children. Both have New England roots: Keith grew up in Middletown, Connecticut, and Liza spent her childhood in Newton. Visit Rabbi Stern's page. Email Rabbi Stern.
Rabbi Lisa Eiduson, Education Director. Rabbi Lisa Eiduson joined Temple Beth Avodah’s congregational family in 2003 as Rabbi/Educator. A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Rabbi Eiduson received her BA in Religion and Jewish Studies from Boston University in 1986 where she studied with Elie Wiesel. Following rabbinic ordination in 1992 from HUC-JIR in Cincinnati, Rabbi Eiduson went on to serve Reform congregations in Cincinnati, Ohio, Buffalo, New York and Cleveland, Ohio. In addition to her synagogue work, Rabbi Eiduson taught at the college level for eight years as an Adjunct Faculty member at Xavier University in Cincinnati and at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Rabbi Eiduson's educational philosophy is built on the foundation that simply gathering Jewish knowledge is not enough; moreover, we are called to find joy and meaning in participating in the life of the synagogue. She believes that the synagogue should be a warm and welcoming place for all who wish to enter. Rabbi Eiduson enjoys reading, gardening and music, and perhaps most of all, spending time at the ocean with her husband, Rabbi Joe Eiduson, their daughters, Rosie and Carly, and their two Labrador retrievers, Maggie and Mason. Visit the Learning Page. Email Rabbi Eiduson.
Susan Bamel Glickman, Cantorial Soloist. Susan Bamel Glickman joined the Temple Beth Avodah Clergy staff as full time Cantorial Soloist in July 2008. With a warm and accessible voice that draws people to participate in a style of worship that elevates the spirit, Susan brings to Beth Avodah a fresh musical vision that blends tradition and contemporary musical styles into an authentic prayer experience. Under Susan’s direction, the music program at Beth Avodah has grown to include a vibrant youth choir, a talented teen choir and ensemble, MidraSHIR, and our now regular Friday night music ensemble made up of volunteer singers and professional instrumentalists who collaborate with Susan and Rabbi Stern in leading our spirited Shabbat services. In addition to Susan’s responsibilities on the pulpit, Susan is a member of the B’nai Mitzvah team as well as preschool and religious school educational staff. A graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Susan earned a Masters Degree in Education at Wheelock College in Boston where she also began her ongoing studies at Hebrew College in Jewish Studies and Jewish Music. Before coming to Beth Avodah, Susan served in a part-time Cantorial position at Temple Israel in Boston and as Rosh Ruach at the Rashi school in Newton. Susan and her husband, Jim, live in Needham with their two children (proud participants in our Midrasha program and BAYGL) Elana and Benjamin. Susan is a member of the Woman Cantors Network (WCN) and the Guild of Temple Musicians (GTM). Visit Susan's page. Email Susan.
| Through prayer, ritual, learning and social action, we seek spiritual growth and connection to God, to the Jewish people, to Israel, and to one another. |