TBA Now!

April is National Volunteer Month. In today’s podcast we introduce you to a congregant who has turned volunteering into her full-time gig. From Atlanta, to Yale, to prosecuting criminals, Janet Nahirny switched from practicing law to devoting her time to various causes near and dear to her heart. A few of those causes include voting rights, helping to end racism, and supporting disadvantaged people. When the 2016 election came around Janet began to volunteer her time at a phone bank encouraging people to get out and vote. Post-election, she decided to concentrate her time at the Movement Voter Project, an initiative focused on communities of color and/or youth, especially in key battleground states and districts. Janet is also very dedicated to Beacon Academy, an organization that supports limited resource students and prepares them for acceptance into independent high schools. As National Volunteer Month comes to a close, listen as Janet describes how in addition to giving to so many, she receives much in return.

Benjamin Sachs is the Kestnbaum Professor of Labor and Industry at Harvard Law School and a leading expert in the field of labor law and labor relations. He graduated from Yale Law School and served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Stephen Reinhardt of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Ben is an expert on the history of labor unions, their rise and decline, examining their benefits to both companies and workers, and detailing how they affect the economy and racial inequality. You will learn a lot in this podcast. For example, do you know how long it would take an Amazon worker to make the same amount of money equal to Jeff Bezos’ worth? Do you know why there aren’t more unions today even though 50% of the workforce wants them? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Sarah Wanger grew up at TBA. She is exuberant, joyful, and absolutely loves our TBA community. She earned a BA in Theatre and English from Muhlenberg College and a BS in Registered Nursing from the MGH Institute of Health Professions. In this podcast episode Sarah reminisces about her early beginnings in theatre at TBA and her excitement of being cast as Dorothy Gale in this year’s production of The Wizard of Oz. She also talks at length with Rabbi about her adoption story, how it has shaped her life, her love for her parents Wendy and Barry, and eventually meeting her birth family. You will be moved by her story!

TBA's Cantorial Soloist Susan Glickman has been an inspiration on the TBA bimah for almost 20 years. She has elevated our music scene and worked tirelessly on services both joyful and sorrowful. Through her leadership, hundreds of Temple members have sung together for High Holy Days, special Shabbat Services and Purim Spiels to name a few. Susan’s love of TBA, Jewish music, and caring for those in need are demonstrated daily when she sings with preschool children, plans an upcoming concert, or makes a pastoral visit. Her warmth and spirituality shine through in all aspects of Temple life. Listen to TBA Now! to learn more about Susan's early beginnings at Beth Avodah and what adventures she has planned following her Summer 2023 retirement.

In our first podcast of season 3 of TBA Now! TBA congregant Erwin Liverman entertains us with stories from his past. You may already be familiar with Erwin as a well-known chimney sweep in the Newton area, but do you know the rest of his story? Erwin has taken several professional detours from chimney sweeping throughout the years. As an award-winning billiards player in college to trying out as a kicker for the Patriots he has quite an interesting background. He has also brushed shoulders with many famous people whether they be clients such as a local TV French chef or former boyfriend of his sister!

Amy Cohen, TBA congregant and past president, has been guiding birth parents and placing babies with loving families for over 35 years. She is the Executive Director of Adoptions With Love, Inc., a small, non-profit, full-service, domestic adoption agency in Newton, MA. She has tenderly assisted expectant mothers as they work through intelligent and fully informed decisions regarding themselves, their bodies, and their child. Amy discusses all the options available to expectant parents that allow them to make choices that are right for them. Listen in to hear about the range of emotions felt by all parties and the long-term relationships that Amy enjoys with her clients.

Susan is an experienced Health Coach, volunteer and mom. As a Health Coach her goals include getting people to trust themselves around food by eating intuitively and be aware of the dangers of the diet industry. Susan has also been recognized by many for her volunteer contributions to various organizations in Massachusetts. Listen as she and Rabbi Stern discuss her many passions that when combined weave the quilt of her life.

In 1979, 4-year-old Ilona and her parents came to the US from the former Soviet Union. In this episode of TBA Now! Ilona discusses the difficulties and successes that she and her family encountered as Jewish refugees. Hear the hilarious and poignant story of their first Passover Seder in their new home country and how Ilona has found a deep and meaningful connection as a Reform Jew. Wanting to be a doctor for as long as she recalls, Ilona explains how she found her passion in the field of high-risk obstetrics. Listen to find out more about this gutte neshuma (good soul).

Ilona Goldfarb is an Assistant Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School and a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist at Mass General Hospital with a focus on patient and provider attitudes around vaccination during pregnancy.

Many of you know the name of fellow TBA congregant Linda Matchan from her work as a feature writer at the Boston Globe. In addition to her thoughtful writing for the Globe, and now associate editor at the Jewish Journal, there is so much more to her story. Hear about her role in researching the Catholic church abuse scandal and working with the screenwriters of the film Spotlight. Learn about her newfound passion of making documentary films and how the devastating diagnosis of her husband’s ALS illness inspired her to write about a plethora of topics such as the unsung role of caregivers, the support of community, and how she was uplifted by her new companion (her dog Coco). There is so much more to come, listen in to find out what Linda is working on next.

When Patti (Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School) and Hazel (Dean of the College of Science and Professor of Biology at Northeastern University) entered the research world, they had few role models and even fewer mentors. Collegiate research, dominated by men at the time, was a difficult one to navigate as women and young mothers. They had to forge their own paths to success. In this podcast, they look back at their beginnings, chat about how they made their way to the top of their specialties, and stress the importance of their roles as mentors and role models for young women entering research today. Their rapport is engaging and their stories inspiring. We are proud to celebrate them during Women's History Month.