Temple Beth Avodah is your home.
The door is always open and the light is always on.
MEET OUR CLERGY
Rabbi Keith Stern, Senior Rabbi
Rabbi Keith Stern began his tenure in the pulpit of Temple Beth Avodah in July 1997. 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 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.
Rabbi Stern’s interests are many and varied and he has written sermons on many subjects during his years at Temple Beth Avodah. In addition, he sends a weekly Before Shabbat email to the congregation with his thoughts on Temple, our community, and world events each week. The latest Before Shabbat can be found here. You may reach Rabbi Stern by phone at 617.527.0045 x111.
Emma Rehfeld, Cantorial Leader
Emma joined Temple Beth Avodah in the summer of 2023 as the Cantorial Leader. She brings with her a passion for communal singing, diversity, and inclusion. Born in Chicago, IL, Emma was raised in St. Louis, MO at a Conservative synagogue with Reform teachings at home. She went to URJ camps OSRUI and Kutz and started song leading professionally in 2011. After attending Bard College for undergrad, Emma became Music and T’filah Coordinator at Larchmont Temple. She lives in West Roxbury with her black lab Winnie and visits her Quarterhorse Sue on weekends.
Emma is so excited to be a part of TBA and provides music for Shabbat, High Holy Days and other education programs. She also runs the choirs, serves as TBA’s B’nai Mitzvah tutor and joins Rabbi Stern with pastoral care duties. Her vision includes re-imagining the way we teach prayer, customizing each child’s unique B’nai Mitzvah experience, infusing Rock music into our Shabbat service, and creating intergenerational programing in partnership with TBA’s fantastic staff. Feel free to reach out with any ideas, questions, or to schedule a meal with Emma at erehfeld@bethavodah.org, or give her a call at 617.527.0045 x 106. She can’t wait to sing with you soon!