Rabbinical Leadership
Rabbi Leora Abelson
Rabbi Leora Abelson (she/they) grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and lived in Middletown, CT; Nairobi, Kenya; and Chicago, IL before moving to Boston to attend Hebrew College Rabbinical School. She was ordained as a rabbi in 2017. Prior to serving at Nehar Shalom, she was the rabbi of Congregation Agudas Achim in Attleboro, MA. She has completed four units of chaplaincy training (Clinical Pastoral Education) at Hebrew SeniorLife and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and worked as an Interfaith Chaplain at Hebrew SeniorLife Hospice Care from January 2020 through May 2022. She has been active in movements for social justice for many years, including fighting against racism and classism in the queer community in Chicago and supporting the Palestinian- and Israeli-led struggle for justice, safety, dignity, and freedom for all Israelis and Palestinians. She was led towards the rabbinate by her longing for a Jewish communal home that is aligned with her commitment to building a more just world and with her anti-oppression values (and with good singing of course!). She is passionate about making Jewish tradition and practice – from Talmud study to embodied theology to deeply rooted ritual – accessible to those longing for it. She is equally passionate about celebrating historically silenced voices and bringing diverse experiences into conversation with our tradition, believing that we know the Divine and understand and live Torah more fully only when our full collective wisdom is expressed. Leora lives with her partner Ray-ray in Jamaica Plain. She is a proud auntie and grammar nerd, shyly plays the violin, and loves the ocean.
Rabbi Leora is currently on parental leave. Please reach out to Cynthia at communications@neharshalom.org with any questions!
Rabbinic Staff
Julia Spiegel
Rabbinic Intern
Julia Spiegel (she/her) is a fourth-year rabbinical student at Hebrew College. Originally from Skokie, Illinois, Julia is part of the fifth cohort of SVARA's Teaching Kollel. A 2021 Hadar Wisdom Fellow, Julia, along with her dear friend RP Whitmore-Bard, founded Queer and Trans Rosh Chodesh in Boulder in 2017 (which is exactly what it sounds like)! Julia has served as the rabbinic intern for the Jewish Community of Amherst; a mentor for the Dignity Project; and as a cook on a potato farm, among other things. A local JP-nik, Julia loves to walk and bike along the path by the Green Street T, and to read at the Pond. She loves to play cards and tennis, sing niggunim, and cook. Julia is excited to join the Nehar Shalom community and to learn from and with you this year.
To reach Julia email her at: julia.spiegel@hebrewcollege.edu
Family Education Staff
Rav Naftali Hirsch
Director of the Nehar Shalom Yuvalim Program
Rav Naftali’s involvement in Jewish education and communal leadership has led him across the denominational spectrum in synagogues, religious schools, summer camps, forests, and farms. R’ Naftali envisions Jewish education that is embodied and spiritually fulfilling, deeply-rooted in tradition, and committed to creating a better material world together. Before his rabbinic formation at Hebrew College, fellowships with Romemu Yeshiva, Yeshivat Hadar, and Adamah guided his path.
R’ Naftali’s dedication to building relationships through care was bolstered by training in hospital chaplaincy in Boston and in L.A. County. He is also trained as a teacher of Jewish meditation with Or haLev - Institute for Jewish Spirituality and as a Shohet by R’ Shlomo Zacharow. R’ Naftali most recently served as the Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Beth David; as Participant Care Specialist at Brandeis Camp Institute, and as intern Rabbi and Educator for Congregation Shaaray Tefila and Educator for Temple Beth-El. He has studied higher Jewish education in Jerusalem and History and Philosophy at McGill University. In Toronto, he directed a pluralistic Beit Midrash that prized accessibility and relational connection alongside traditional Jewish study, and was a part of numerous other grassroots Jewish community programs. When he’s not creating Jewish programming, you can find him on a hiking trail, jumping into cold water, or playing in the kitchen where he loves all things that bubble, fizz, and stew. R’ Naftali is so excited to be learning from Yuvalim’s children and parents, as well as with teacher Rachel Shuman, Rabbi Becky and the education committee, and Rabbi Leora.
To reach Rav Naftali email him at education@neharshalom.org
Operations Staff
Cynthia Bell
Administrator
Cynthia Bell (she/her) is delighted to be part of the Nehar Shalom community. She has worked with a wide range of nonprofit organizations—professionally and as a volunteer—including schools, synagogues, and after-school arts programs. Cynthia loves supporting the missions of nonprofits by building and maintaining effective systems, strengthening communications, assisting with fundraising, and collaborating creatively to enhance overall organizational impact and efficiency.
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Cynthia is also a commissioned artist, creating ketubot, artwork, and design pieces. As an artist—and in every part of her life—she is passionate about continuous learning, experimenting with new techniques, and pushing her creative boundaries. Her creative pursuits include calligraphy, painting, sewing, knitting, cooking, baking, ceramics, costume and set design, and graphic design. Check out her ketubah art here!
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A longtime JP resident, Cynthia lives with her husband, a professional pianist and music educator. They have a daughter who recently graduated college and is an advanced competitive figure skater and skating coach.
To reach Cynthia, email communications@neharshalom.org.