“We welcome everyone, regardless of their faith, ethnicity, sexuality, age, or political beliefs. We have people who grew up with many different Jewish backgrounds, including secular, liberal and Orthodox, as well as people who are not Jewish but have found a home here with friends and family.” – Rabbi Caryn Broitman
Rabbi Caryn Broitman began her tenure as Rabbi of the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center (MVHC) in 2003. Her goal is always to create a welcoming community of Jewish learning, spiritual growth, community connection, and local and global social action.
Rabbi Broitman graduated from Harvard University in the Comparative Study of Religion, and received her Rabbinical Ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. She has been a Senior Educators Fellow at the Melton Center of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a Daniel Jeremy Silver Fellow at the Center for Jewish Studies, Harvard University.
Rabbi Broitman is an active member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association. She is also a member of the Island Clergy Association of Martha’s Vineyard.
Rabbi Broitman loves to spend time with her family, read literature and poetry, cook and eat Middle Eastern Food, and walk, bike, and swim around Martha’s Vineyard. She regularly contributes to Moment Magazine, the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette, and the MV Times.
Fundraising and Development, Events and Holiday Planning
Sally Cohn has been a member of the MVHC since 1997. She is a former Vice President and President of the MVHC, and has been teaching in the Hebrew School for many years.
Sally has a master’s degree in Nursing, is a dancer, choreographer, and dance photographer. She was staff photographer at the Vineyard Playhouse, the Yard, and has been photographing at the center since 2005. Sally has been doing production work, event planning, fundraising, and development for various organizations for over 35 years.
Summer Institute Program Administrator
Donna first came to the Vineyard with a cousin on a sailboat more than 40 years ago and has been returning ever since from her home in North Carolina. She had a long career in sales before jumping at the opportunity to work with the Summer Institute. As the daughter of the late Herbert L. Foster, a past president of the Hebrew Center, she finds her work with the Summer Institute a satisfying and meaningful connection to her parents. On the Vineyard she is also active with the Friends of the Edgartown Public Library, whose Herb & Anita Staff Education Fund honors her educator parents. Donna enjoys exploring the Island’s many trails, working on photography, and on her memoir-based writing projects.
Office Manager
Seth Karlinsky is a versatile individual recognized for his contributions to his local community and the construction industry. Residing in Chilmark, Massachusetts, Seth has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service. As a private contractor for Chilmark, he has been instrumental in overseeing various infrastructure projects and the daily operation of the Menemsha Water Company.
Beyond his local endeavors, Seth has been involved in the international construction market, overseeing projects in Canada, Ireland, and the Dominican Republic. He is also a member of the Construction Specification Institute.
Seth’s personal life reflects his deep ties to his community through community volunteering, firefighting, and his family. Seth has a harmonious blend of professional excellence, community involvement, and family dedication. His public service, construction education, and corporate governance roles highlight his commitment to making meaningful contributions across various sectors.
Hebrew School Director
Anita Smith was thrilled to join MVHC as its Education Director in 2022. She is a passionate leader and teacher, who is always eager to share her own love of Jewish learning and exploring with young people. She has thoughtfully created an engaging curriculum that illuminates Jewish ideas, values, and traditions to inspire a recognition of the beauty of a Jewish life and nurture a desire to continue its meaningful journey. Anita is dedicated to making each student and family feel welcome, supported, and special!
A Boston native, Anita graduated Harvard with a BA in Art History, but more importantly, has completed the Boston Marathon 7 times. She started a career in advertising, took time away for her three children, and returned to work as an elementary school co-teacher. She currently works as an assistant in special education administration. She has been an active member of MVHC for over 20 years and has served as Program Chair and was a member of its Board of Trustees.
In her free time, Anita loves to cook, bake, eat ice cream and also be active! Her favorites are running, walking (with or without her three dogs), working on house and yard(with her three dogs), sewing, knitting and reading three books at once: something Jewish, a middle reader title, and an historical non fiction. She feels very blessed to be a part of the warm and fuzzy MVHC community.
President
Sharon Kleinberg
1st Vice President
Ricky Diamond
2nd Vice President
Gary Rome
Treasurer
Ted Gavin
Recording & Corresponding Secretary
Stacy Goldfarb
Nili Goldstein Morgan
Elliot Kronstein
Giulia Fleishman
Alex Salop
Mary (Beebee) Horowitz
Marina Kaufman
Aric Press
Building and Grounds
Beebee Horowitz
Camp Fund
Anita Smith
Caring
Nancy Salon
Cemetery
Ron Tolin
Education
Nili Morgan
Jess Seeman
Finance
Ted Gavin
Fine Arts
Lisa Epstein
Membership
Carole Early
Minhag (Ritual)
Howie Bromberg
Music
Sharon Kleinberg
Personnel
Laura Marshard
Barry Resnick
Gary Rome
Security
Elliot Kronstein
Social Action
Stacy Goldfarb
Summer Institute
Marc Levine
James Dale
Tzedakah
Rabbi Caryn Broitman
Max Jasny