Our Staff

Director of Development

Shawn Fiedler

sfiedler@tisrael.org

Shawn Fiedler (he/him) brings more than a decade of experience in fundraising, strategic development, and leadership within houses of worship, with a focus on mission-driven institutions and religious communities in Boston and Chicago. Prior to joining Temple Israel, he served as Major Gifts Officer at Fourth Presbyterian Church and their affiliate non-profit Chicago Lights, where he helped advance philanthropic growth and deepen donor engagement. Shawn studied theology at Boston University and is passionate about building relationships and creating opportunities for meaningful generosity. He is thrilled to support Temple Israel’s inclusive and justice-centered vision.

Development Associate

Emma Savitz

esavitz@tisrael.org

Emma (she/her) joined the Temple Israel staff in April 2021. Originally from Brookline, MA, Emma grew up attending TI. She studied English and music at Manhattanville College. After college, Emma moved back to the Boston area and worked for the Boston Red Sox, the TI Religious School, and the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts, before joining TI as Development Associate.

Director of Membership

Matthew Feinberg

mfeinberg@tisrael.org

Matthew (he/him) joined the Temple Israel staff in February of 2022, and has been a part of the Temple Israel community since 2010. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Matthew attended Brandeis University where he double majored in Math and Economics, graduating in 2010.  He continued on at Brandeis attending the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program earning his Masters’ in Business Administration and Jewish Professional Leadership in 2012. Before joining Temple Israel, Matthew was a Senior Research Associate at the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies. Matthew lives in Brookline and enjoys baking and spending time outside.

Director of Elementary Education

Roberta Axeloons

raxeloons@tisrael.org

Roberta (she/her) joined the Temple Israel staff in 2014 and has enjoyed being part of the community ever since! She started part-time as the youth group advisor and her role has evolved since then. Originally from Hingham, Massachusetts, Roberta graduated in 2014 with a B.A. in Psychology and Health, Science, Society & Policy from Brandeis University and joined the TI staff shortly after graduating.  In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, spending time with her dog, and being active: biking, running, and playing tennis!

Director of Programming and the Center for Adult Jewish Learning

Lily Van Cleave

lvancleave@tisrael.org

Lily joined the staff of Temple Israel in January 2024 after spending most of her career working in the performing arts. She is now back where she was raised, living in Melrose, Massachusetts with her husband and son. She is a graduate of UMass Amherst Theatre, the Shakespeare & Company Conservatory program, and most recently, Boston University where she earned a Master of Science in Arts Administration with an advanced graduate certificate in Performing Arts Enterprise. Outside of her work at Temple Israel, she is active in the Boston theatre community as a producer/production manager and actor.

Executive Administrator for Adult Education and Programming

Emma Glaser

eglaser@tisrael.org

Emma (she/her) joined the Temple Israel staff in 2019 and enjoys administrative work that enables students and teachers to have a wonderful educational experience. Originally from Takoma Park, Maryland, Emma graduated from Smith College in 2013 with a B.A. in History and Classics and received her M.A. in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program at SUNY Oneonta in 2018. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching baseball, and spending time with friends.

Village Coordinator for Families with Young Children

Heidi Smith Hyde

hhyde@tisrael.org

Heidi (she/her) joined the Temple Israel staff in 2021. A graduate of Brandeis University and Harvard Graduate School of Education, she was the Director of Education at Sinai Brookline for 18 years. In 2008 she was the recipient of the Keter Torah Award for outstanding contributions in Jewish education. Heidi loves to spend time with her family, and to write fiction. She is the author of six children’s books published by Kar-Ben, including Mendel’s Accordion, winner of the Sugarman Award, and Feivel’s Flying Horses, finalist for the National Jewish Book Award.

Administrative Coordinator for Education K-12

Natali Hecht

nhecht@tisrael.org

Natali (she/her) joined the Temple Israel staff in July 2025 as the Administrative Coordinator for K-12 Education. Originally from Eagle, Nebraska, Natali attended the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a major in Advertising & Public Relations and a minor in English.

Natali moved to Boston after spending the last six years on the Big Island of Hawaii where she did End of Life Care with Kona Hospice. As the oldest of 12 siblings, she is excited to work with the children and families of Temple Israel.

In her free time, you can find Natali crocheting blankets, doing puzzles, and reading fantasy books.

Teen and Youth Educator

Calvin Mitchell

cmitchell@tisrael.org

Calvin grew up around Boston and was active in his own youth group at Temple Isaiah. He graduated from UMass Amherst, where he studied English and Judaic Studies. After college, Calvin spent a couple of years living in DC and working in Northern Virginia running the youth group at Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation.

Calvin is excited to be back in the Boston area and to get to know this community. He loves teaching and learning about Judaism, and outside of work he likes to read, play video games, and hang out with his cat.

Archivist

Elizabeth Bombard

archives@tisrael.org

Elizabeth (she/her) joined the Temple Israel Staff in September 2023.  She graduated from Merrimack College with a degree in History. In 2022, she graduated from Simmons University with a degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archives Management. In her free time, she likes to do embroidery, read, and spend time with friends and family.

Director of Racial Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice Organizing

Tali Puterman

tputerman@tisrael.org

Tali (she/her) joined the Temple Israel staff in 2016. Tali enjoys building relationships with people of all ages at TI and supporting the community to live our Jewish values by creating a more just and equitable society for all. Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Tali found her home in the Boston-area after attending Brandeis University and then getting her MA in Educational Studies from Tufts. Tali lives in Newton with her wife, who both enjoy being foster parents. In her spare time, Tali enjoys strategy games, reading, and writing.

FJECC Director

Amy Bolotin

abolotin@tisrael.org

As a highly regarded leader in the local and national Jewish Early Childhood Education community, Amy is a passionate advocate for a child-centered, responsive approach to early childhood teaching and learning. She has participated in leadership programs such as the Paradigm Project’s Coaches Catalyzing Change and the Individual Level Training in the Brazelton Touchpoints Approach.  Amy was selected as a fellow in the 2014-2016 cohort of the Jewish Early Childhood Educational Leadership Institute (JECELI), a groundbreaking program that models inquiry and reflective practice through observation, experimentation, and ongoing learning, using concepts and content acquired through Jewish study to inform the work of learning and leadership. She holds a Bachelor’s in English literature from the University of California at Berkeley.

Director of Facilities

Brian Locke

Facilities Director

Brian Locke

blocke@tisrael.org

Brian (he/him) is thrilled to have joined the Temple Israel staff in June 2024 after ten years in Chicago. Prior to his move to Boston, he was a unit director for ByteDance/TikTok Global Real Estate overseeing facility operations for five offices around the eastern U.S.; before coming to TikTok, he managed operations and the facilities team for the Mondelez International Global HQ in Chicago. Trained as a professional musician, Brian maintains a secret career as a pianist, which has taken him to stages throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and he has held the role of organist/choirmaster in the Episcopal tradition since 2008. Brian lives in Jamaica Plain with his partner, Andrew, who plays clarinet/bass clarinet in the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops.

Facilities team

Juan Marin

jmarin@tisrael.org

Facilities team

Carlos Ortiz

cortiz@tisrael.org

Facilities team

Nicolas Harriman

Assistant Office Manager

Joanne Thibault

jthibault@tisrael.org

Joanne joined the Temple Israel staff in August 2025. Joanne is originally from Brookline and has lived most of her life in various Boston suburbs. She graduated from Boston University with a BA in Art History and later returned to BU to complete an MS in Arts Administration. Joanne worked in management for a private art restoration company for 15 years, and has administrative experience in health care as well as in retail management. Joanne has extensive travel experience and loves to meet people with varying cultures and customs. Her interests include crossword puzzles – the more challenging the better – history, art, painting, and creating all kinds of craft projects. Most importantly, Joanne is a proud mother to her amazing son Jake.

Reception

Gia Sterling

gsterling@tisrael.org

Gia (she/her) joined Temple Israel in November of 2022. She’s currently attending her third year at UMass Boston studying Psychology. Gia joined Temple Israel for her love of learning and exploring other cultures and religions.

Reception

Fay Childers

Reception

Sam Boeger

sboeger@tisrael.org

Reception

Rachel Ader

rader@tisrael.org

Rachel joined the Temple Israel staff in January 2026. Rachel is originally from Hingham, Massachusetts. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Case Western Reserve University in music and psychology, with voice being her main instrument. She is currently pursuing a masters degree at Boston University in Arts Administration while working a handful of other part time jobs. Rachel enjoys playing guitar, reading, watching movies, staying active, and spending time with family and her dog Winnie.

Facilities team

Ray Walker