Clergy and Staff

Rabbi Karen S. Citrin

Originally from Belmont, MA and a graduate of Brandeis University, Rabbi Karen Citrin (she/her) was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles in 2003, and holds a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from the HUC-JIR Rhea Hirsch School of Education. Rabbi Karen served as Associate Rabbi and Rabbi/Educator at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo, CA for ten years. In addition to leading worship, lifecycle, and other pastoral roles, Rabbi Karen directed a variety of intergenerational education programs including a nationally recognized Shabbat family education experience.

Along with Rabbi Micah, Rabbi Karen served as Co-Senior Rabbi at Temple Israel in Tulsa, OK from 2013-2016. They served together as Co-Rabbis and Co-Educators at Temple Beth David from 2016-2021. Rabbi Karen is the first female rabbi to serve at Beth David. Rabbi Karen served on the Board of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and is a rabbinic mentor for the joint CCAR/HUC-JIR mentoring program. She enjoys learning and teaching, being outdoors, reading novels, Jewish music, and strong coffee. Rabbi Karen and Rabbi Micah are the proud parents of twin teen boys.

Rabbi Citrin values the warmth of tradition and the spirit of innovation. She enjoys collaborating with staff and lay leaders to shape welcoming, vibrant Jewish community. She invites you to connect with Judaism through engaging study, uplifting prayer, and acts of loving-kindness to repair our world.

Click here to email Rabbi Karen.

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 Naftali Hirsch, Director of Congregational Learning

Growing up in the Reform movement near Toronto, Rabbi Naftali (he/him) has since been involved in Jewish life and education across the denominational spectrum in synagogues, religious schools, summer camps, and in forests and on farms across North America. Before turning towards Rabbinical School at Hebrew College in Boston and receiving his ordination this year, Rabbi Naftali’s vision was influenced by a number of fellowships and positions in the Jewish world – including Romemu Yeshiva, Yeshivat Hadar, and Hazon’s Sustainability Lab (‘Adamah’), and Shomrei Adamah at Gann Farm, among others. Rabbi Naftali envisions experiential and spiritually fulfilling Jewish education, which is rooted in tradition and committed to creating a better world together. He is also dedicated to building relationships through kindness and care, bolstered by his training as a hospital chaplain at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Oriented towards educating and living with a ‘growth mindset’ perspective, Rabbi Naftali will continue to learn and nurture his own skills alongside Beth David’s other talented educators, including his current training as a teacher of Jewish meditation with Or haLev-Institute for Jewish Spirituality.

Rabbi Naftali has joined Temple Beth David after serving as the intern Rabbi and Educator for Congregation Shaaray Tefila and Educator for Temple Beth-El this past year in upstate New York. Along with years of Jewish study in Jerusalem, he studied history and philosophy at McGill University in Montreal, directed a pluralistic Beit Midrash Jewish educational project that prized accessibility, traditional study, and relational connection in Toronto, alongside a variety of grassroots Jewish programming. When he isn’t immersed in learning or creating Jewish content and experiences, you can find Rabbi Naftali on a hiking trail, jumping into fresh water, or playing in the kitchen where he loves all things that bubble, fizz, and stew. He is so excited to be working with the talented teachers, the wonderful lay leadership, the fantastic staff of Temple Beth David, and to get to know each of you!

Click here to email Rabbi Naftali.

Lynn Kaminski, Director of Shalom Corner Early Learning Center

Lynn (she/her) was thrilled to be selected as the first director of Shalom Corner, and she loves the staff and families in our growing program. She takes pride that all of the staff are returning to teach here this fall. It says something important about the positive energy and collaboration of the team at Shalom Corner!

Prior to her work at Shalom Corner, Lynn was a Kindergarten teacher in the Wellesley Public Schools for twenty-seven years. She earned her Director 1 and Director 2 licenses from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care while teaching. Lynn's passion for early education dates from her days as a babysitter and camp counselor in her hometown of Huntington, NY, to a B.A. and an M.A.T. in Child Development from Tufts University. While at Tufts, she worked at the Eliot-Pearson Laboratory School, the Tufts Educational Day Care Center, and at the Open Center for Children in Somerville. During her years in Wellesley, Lynn developed curriculum in many areas focusing on diversity and inclusion. Supporting learning through play is at the core of her educational philosophy. Returning to the foundation for life and school success, she knows that what happens at Shalom Corner is a predictor for children’s success in elementary school and beyond.

Lynn and her husband David have been Westwood residents and members of Temple Beth David for over twenty years. Their children, Shira and Meyer, are also part of the Temple Beth David family.

Click here to email Lynn.

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.

Leslie Cain, Financial Administrative Assistant

Leslie has returned to Temple Beth David, where she attended synagogue, Hebrew school, became Bat Mitzvah, and spent many hours with NAWDTY (nee DWEFTY) friends. She is honored to use her extensive experience and qualifications as an MSW, Special Education Advocate and EEC Director, to give to the place that installed her love of Judaism. Leslie supports Shalom Corner as well as the congregation with her work specifically around billing and bookkeeping. She is the proud mother of 3 sons and a daughter. Leslie is currently working remotely to support the temple community.

Click here to email Leslie.

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).

Roberto Vasconcelos, Custodian

Roberto has worked at Temple Beth David since 2003. You might find him at any hour of the day or night hard at work. He lives in Northborough. When he is not working, he loves to kayak and play tennis.

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.

Musical Leadership

Music is an important part of the Temple Beth David community; we are "a singing congregation."

We are excited and honored to welcome back Rabbi Batya Ellinoy, Musical Prayer Leader, to lead our community during the High Holy Days. Throughout the year, in addition to Rabbi Micah, Rabbi Karen partners with local cantors, cantorial soloists, and song leaders on our bima. We are especially glad to partner with Cantor Emerita Louise Treitman, Rabbi Batya Ellinoy, Cantorial Soloist Susan Glickman, Aydin Mayers, and othes. We are grateful for talented and spirited pianist, Michael McLaughlin, who accompanies our High Holy Day and some Shabbat services.

Rabbi Micah Citrin

Originally from Albuquerque, NM and a graduate of the University of Oregon, Rabbi Micah Citrin (he/him) was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles in 2005, and holds a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from the HUC-JIR Rhea Hirsch School of Education. Rabbi Micah served as Associate Rabbi at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, CA, and Director of Community Life and Learning at Kehillah Jewish High School in Palo Alto, CA. Rabbi Micah worked with the clergy team at Peninsula Temple Beth El for three years in San Mateo, CA as Rabbi/Educator, especially focusing on teen engagement.

Along with Rabbi Karen, Rabbi Micah served as Co-Senior Rabbi at Temple Israel in Tulsa, OK from 2013-2016. They served together as Co-Rabbis and Co-Educators at Temple Beth David from 2016-2021. Rabbi Micah is currently a Jewish Studies teacher at Gann Academy. Rabbi Micah enjoys running, playing guitar, singing, reading, and being outdoors. Rabbi Micah continues to offer music on the bima during Shabbat and holidays, and teach in our teen program and Shorashim.

Rabbi Batya Ellinoy, Musical Prayer Leader

Rabbi Batya Elana Ellinoy (she/her) brings her gifts as a prayer leader, singer, and teacher of embodied Torah to congregations around the Boston area. She currently serves as prayer leader and vocalist at Temple Beth David and a member of the clergy team at Temple Sinai in Marblehead. Rabbi Ellinoy works with BaMidbar Therapy as their Rabbi-in-Residence. Her work has been featured in various venues including bamidbartherapy.org, 70 Faces of Torah, and Hebrew College's Elul Together.

Rabbi Ellinoy received rabbinic ordination and her Master’s in Jewish Education from Hebrew College. She served as the rabbinic and education intern at Beth David. She is a certified practitioner in Somatic Experiencing®, a psychobiological approach to help resolve trauma and stress disorders. Rabbi Batya is thrilled and honored to be returning to serve as Musical Prayer Leader for High Holy Day services for her fifth year with the wonderful Temple Beth David community alongside Rabbi Karen and Michael McLaughlin.

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.