Clergy and Staff

Ariana Hershon, Executive Director

Ariana Hershon (she/her) grew up in Marlborough, Massachusetts and graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in Political Science. Ariana earned a Certificate in Educational Leadership from Hebrew College in 2024. She is a lifelong Jewish summer camp enthusiast, having spent many summers as a camper at Camp Young Judaea in New Hampshire and seven summers on staff at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. Ariana is an alumna of the Diller Teen Fellows program and Birthright Israel Fellows program and studied and lived in Israel at the University of Haifa.

In 2015 Ariana joined the staff at Congregation B’nai Tikvah in Deerfield, Illinois as the Youth Director focusing on teens. Her professional role evolved and grew over seven years in Chicago and at Congregation B’nai Tikvah. She served as the Director of Education, Youth and Family Engagement, overseeing the Religious School, community programming, Shabbat engagement, teens and young families. This journey led Ariana back home to the greater Boston community and now to Temple Beth David, where she served as Director of Education the past two years. Ariana brings her passion for Jewish community and programming to Temple Beth David. In her free time, Ariana enjoys traveling, baking and spending time with her family!

Click here to email Ariana.

Rabbi Ashira Stevens, Director of Congregational Learning - Starting July 2025!

Rabbi Ashira Stevens is originally from the Midwest and completed her undergraduate education at Indiana University in marketing and international studies. She moved to the Boston area in 2000 and completed a Master of Arts in Jewish Studies at Hebrew College in 2005. Through her experiences teaching in local area synagogues and at Prozdor, she fell in love with Jewish education, which led to her decision to pursue the rabbinate. As a rabbinical student, she served as the rabbinic intern at Temple Emanu-El of Haverhill, the Jewish Learning Collaborative of Metrowest, and Temple Beth David in Westwood, and spent a summer as a student chaplain at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. 

Rabbi Ashira Stevens was ordained at Hebrew College in June 2023. After ordination, she served as the rabbi and spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El of Haverhill. She finds particular delight in making Judaism accessible and relevant for people of all ages and backgrounds, whether through exploring sacred texts, sharing meaningful ritual moments, or talking over coffee or a meal.

Rabbi Ashira lives in Natick with her spouse, Aaron, and their three children—Caleb (19), Ellie (16), and Jacob (12). In addition to enjoying time with her family and friends, she spends her free time reading, practicing Zentangle (a meditative art form), enjoying music—sometimes even playing clarinet—baking, and walking through the woods. Rabbi Ashira is thrilled to be returning to Temple Beth David and looks forward to meeting and reacquainting with the community!

Jen Wolf, Administrative Assistant 

Jen is very excited to be welcomed into the Temple Beth David community. She grew up in Lexington in the Reform Jewish world in NFTY and URJ Eisner Camp. As a theatre major from Goucher College, Jen has a passion for musical theatre and has acted, directed, stage managed, and designed many performances in the Boston and Baltimore areas. Prior to coming to TBD, Jen was a preschool teacher at Solomon Schechter of Greater Boston’s preschool program, Gan Shelanu, where she was in the classroom during the year as well as a lead teacher during the summer program. Jen worked as the Drama Specialist at Camp Grossman, working with kids on improvisational skills, movement, spatial awareness, and having the confidence to perform in front of peers. Jen lives with her husband, two daughters, and puppy in Medfield. Jen lends support as a teacher in Shalom Corner. 

Click here to email Jen.

Miriam Abrams, Administrative Assistant 

Miriam Abrams (she/her) grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, and spent a number of summers attending Camp Grossman, nearby in Westwood. She graduated from Smith College with a degree in Jewish Studies, where she was co-chair of the Smith College Jewish Community. Previously, Miriam worked as an Oral History Intern at the Jewish Women's Archive, and as a Research Assistant at the Hadassah Brandeis Institute, conducting research on Argentinean Yiddish theater in the early 20th century. In her free time, she enjoys reading, knitting, watching bike races, and playing musical instruments (fife, flute, tinwhistle, and ukulele).

Sarah Pollack, Rabbinic Intern

Sarah Pollack (she/her) is currently a Shanah Hey (5th year) Rabbinical Student at Hebrew College and is honored to be serving at TBD as the Rabbinic Intern this year. She grew up in Florida and now lives in Cambridge with her wife, Elana, and their son, Avri. As a child, Sarah felt a strong sense of Jewish identity but lacked formal ways to articulate her spiritual yearning. She immersed herself in Jewish life at The University of Florida (Go gators!) while pursuing a BA in Forensic Anthropology. After spending a summer in Uganda as part of a volunteer program with AJWS and a semester abroad at the University of Haifa, Sarah was eager to continue her exploration of Judaism and Jewish Peoplehood. She moved to Jerusalem, where she spent two years learning at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, first as the Social Justice Fellow, and then on the Judaism and Conflict Resolution track. As a Pardes Fellow, Sarah organized volunteer opportunities and facilitated community- building programming. Her professional journey started at Encounter Programs, Inc., where she spent the next four years exploring the ways that Jewish American professionals and lay leadership engage with Palestinians. Before enrolling at Hebrew College, Sarah worked for Honeymoon Israel as the Director of Community Engagement, empowering young Jewish families to explore their relationships to Jewish community and identity.

Sam Powers, Music Engagement Director - Starting July 2025!

Sam Powers is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied mandolin performance and music business. A professional Jewish musician and songleader for over 13 years, Sam has been deeply involved in Boston’s Jewish and folk music scenes since moving to the city in 2018.

He has extensive experience as a Jewish songleader, having led music and prayer at congregations including Congregation Beth Shalom in Columbia, Missouri; Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley; Temple Beth Shalom in Needham; and Temple Sinai in Brookline. His camp experience includes songleading at Camp George and Camp Sabra, where he brought, ruach, and meaningful musical experiences to campers and staff.

Sam has also served as a full-time educator at both Temple Beth Elohim and Temple Beth Shalom, combining his passion for music, education, and community building in dynamic congregational settings. Currently, he is pursuing a dual Master’s degree in Business Administration and Jewish Professional Leadership at Brandeis University through the Hornstein Program. Outside of school and work, Sam can be found playing mandolin and guitar all over Boston, continuing to share his love of music and community.

Michael McLaughlin, Music Director & Pianist

Michael McLaughlin wears many hats in the Boston music scene. He has been part of the
Klezmer and Jewish music world since 1995 as a performer, arranger and composer for
The Shirim Klezmer Orchestra, and Naftule's Dream, more, recently with Klezwoods and
the Yaeko Miranda Quintet, while working with many more. In the jazz/improv world,
McLaughlin is performing evocative, original music for The Tall Tale Trio, and you will
find him playing accordion with some of the most talented “roots” and Americana
musicians in Boston with Josh Lederman and the CSARS, or the jazz funk rock
instrumental group Le Prestige at some of Boston’s finest breweries. He recently released
his first solo rock album Sydney River Sky under the moniker The Myller Mayr. McLaughlin holds a D.M.A in Music Composition from the New England Conservatory (’09), a MA in Music Composition from Tufts University, and a BM from Berklee College of Music. He was a recipient of a Mass Cultural Council Artist Grant award in composition. His works have been performed by The Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Trio Capriccio and the Chameleon Arts Ensemble, and can be heard on Tzadik Records, Newport Classics, Ryko Disc and more. He directs the Tufts klezmer ensemble, The Jumbo Knish Factory where he teaches courses in musicianship and theory. Michael looks forward to joining for his ninth High Holy Days at Temple Beth David.