Who We Are
The Massachusetts Board of Rabbis (MBR) is an organization of rabbis of various streams and groups serving congregations, agencies and institutions within Massachusetts. Its membership consists of people from across the denominational spectrum who come together for friendship, learning, respectful dialog and to speak on behalf of the rabbinic community.
How We Got Here
Originally founded sometime around 1938, the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis was known as the Rabbinical Association of Greater Boston, and met at the offices of the Associated Synagogues at 177 Tremont St. (where the Va'ad meets today). Its founders included Rabbi Herman Rubenovitz of Mishkan Tefila, who served as president for many years, followed by Rabbis Louis Epstein (Kehillath Israel), Joshua Loth Liebman (Temple Israel), Beryl D. Cohen (Temple Sinai), Sam Abrams (Ohabei Shalom). Chaplaincy was a major topic of discussion, along with lay leader Harry Kraft of the Associated Synagogues (now the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts).
Executive Committee 2025-2027
Rabbi Alison Adler, President
Rabbi Andy Vogel, Vice President
Rabbi Ron Fish, Immediate Past President
Rabbi Jodi Seewald Smith, Secretary
Rabbi Josh Breindel
Rabbi Ken Carr
Rabbi Darby Leigh
Rabbi Raysh Weiss
Past Presidents
With thanks to our past presidents:
Rabbi Bruce Ehrmann
Rabbi Earl Grollman
Rabbi Terry Bard
Rabbi Allan Lehmann
Rabbi Barbara Penzner
Rabbi David Lerner
Rabbi Toba Spitzer
Rabbi Neal Gold
Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow
Rabbi Ron Fish