Rabbi David Starr, Ph.D.
Rabbi Starr is excited about the opportunity to embrace the sacred Rabbi role at CMT. He is looking forward to meeting the members of our community and partnering with leadership, staff, and our campus partners in envisioning what’s to come at CMT.
Rabbi Starr has Rabbinic Ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America and holds a PhD in History and Jewish Studies from Columbia University. He was born in New York City and grew up mostly in Boston and Minnesota. He has worked in Washington D.C. and Israel, now living in Brookline, MA with his wife, Jennifer Gallop and daughters, Gabrielle and Emma.
Rabbi Starr is a long-term member of the 384 Campus and has taught and led services with Campus partners throughout the years. He has a passion for Jewish history, traditions, and is a well-regarded teacher of Torah and Judaism. Rabbi Starr founded the widely popular Me’ah program, an in-depth adult learning experience studying the narrative of the Jewish people. We look forward to learning more from Rabbi Starr.
Email: rabbistarr@mishkantefila.org
617-332-7770, ext. 220
Rabbinic Intern Matthew Schultz
Matthew Schultz is a writer and rabbinical student based currently in Somerville, MA. In addition to his weekly column with the Jewish Journal, he is the author of a weekly Substack newsletter titled On Judaism, Jewish Culture, and Israel. Follow his newsletter here.
Email: mschultz221@gmail.com
617-332-7770
David Kaplinsky
David Kaplinsky is a fifth-year rabbinical student who just transferred to Hebrew College after spending three years at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. He hails from New Orleans, LA and Chicago, IL, where he grew to love Judaism and eventually decided to become a Rabbi. He has also studied at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, Hadar in New York, and Svara Yeshiva in Chicago.
Email: davidk@mishkantefila.org
617-332-7770
Toni Spitzer Executive Director
Toni Spitzer has been working at CMT since 2019, coming to us with over ten years’ experience in synagogue management, and an additional 14 years’ experience in Early Jewish Childhood Education. Toni graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in Judaic and Near Eastern Studies. She currently lives in Holliston, MA with her husband Laurence, and son Evan. Her daughter Rose lives nearby and visits often.
Toni is an accomplished and empathic professional with extensive experience and finely-honed abilities in office management, committee building, donor development, clergy assistance, and relationship building. She possesses a knowledge of Jewish ritual and programming that she utilizes to best serve our community.
Email: toni@mishkantefila.org
617-332-7770, ext. 210
OFFICERS
Co-Presidents
Sharon Diamond & Chuck Diamond
Vice President
Judith Freedman Caplan
Vice President
Suzanne Kaitz
Vice President
Phyllis Katz
Treasurer
Lynda Gordon
Secretary
Marcy Fischer
Appointed Officer
Mel Shuman
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2022-2025 Term
Lauri-Jo Kotzen
Miriam Drukman
Deborah Glickman
Susan Florence Smith
Jared Stein
Alison Wintman
2023-2026 Term
Candy Gould
Gary Miller
Nancy Lejfer
Cheryl Grau
Faye Sienkiewicz
Barry Caplan
2024-2027 Term
Irving Bigio
David Gould
Daniel Grau
Jeffrey Katz
Rosalie Reszelbach
Robin Shuman
Honorary Director:
Mitchell Selig, z"l