Rabbi Jonathan Kraus was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in 1989 and has been the Rabbi of Beth El Temple Center since 1994.   A child of the Reform Movement who grew up in its synagogues and programs, Rabbi Kraus was deeply influenced by the Union for Reform Judaism’s (URJ) summer camps, its youth movement (NFTY) and its Religious Action Center in Washington, D.C.  All are programs he continues to support enthusiastically as a rabbi.  A longtime song leader, composer and musician, Rabbi Kraus also has been nourished by his great love for and involvement with Jewish music.  All those experiences, combined with several, transformative opportunities to visit and live in Israel, have been among the most defining influences on his Jewish identity and rabbinate.

Rabbi Sandi Intraub is beginning her 12^th year at BETC and is our Rabbi-Educator who coordinates the Rishonim-Third Grade Program, leads our Mishpachah, Family Education and Adult Learning Teams, and shares the leading of Worship Services and attends to the Pastoral Needs of the community. Rabbi Sandi believes that all students, young and older, should have opportunities to study all aspects of Judaism with each other, using creative, accessible and interactive methods that inspire further growth and learning.  Sandi feels a Jewish obligation to respond to those in need and effect change in the world with education, hands-on work, fundraising, and advocacy and enjoys engaging in Tikkun Olam at BETC! Sandi treasures the wisdom in Jewish traditions, worship, holidays, life-cycle events, and rituals and enjoys leading others in learning, celebration, and prayer.

Lara Rubinstein Hathaway began working as BETC’s Religious School Administrator in May, 2016. Lara received her BA from the University of Vermont, in History and Russian Studies, and also earned TESOL/TEFL certification. Prior to working for BETC, Lara worked for the Department of Human Services as the Program Administrator for after-school programs through the City of Cambridge. 

Cantor Jeri Robins was ordained at Hebrew College in Newton in 2013 and became the Cantor of the Beth El Temple Center community in July of 2018. Cantor Robins grew up in the Reform movement in Cleveland, Ohio, as well as in congregations in Florida and Massachusetts. A resident of Newton, she raised her family at Temple Emanuel. She has held pulpit positions in both the Reform and Conservative movements, giving her a broad understanding of Jewish practice and traditions, worship styles and musical genres.

Joan Perlman is thrilled to have joined the Beth El Temple Center community as Director of Education in 2018. Joan has been in the field of Jewish education for the past 20 years, having served as Director of Education at Temple Shalom Emeth in Burlington, MA, and as Director of Education at Congregation Kerem Shalom in Concord, MA. Joan received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Simmons University in Boston. She has studied extensively at Brandeis University and Hebrew College, and will receive a certificate in Professional Leadership from Hebrew College in the spring of 2022.  Joan is also involved in several Communities of Jewish Educational Practice in the Boston area. 

Meg started at BETC as the Staff and School Assistant in April of 2023. She earned her BA in Elementary Education from Salem State University in 2016. Meg has worked with students from ages kindergarten to 12th grade in multiple school districts before coming to BETC. She is currently working towards her masters degree from Cambridge College in Special Education.