Meet the Team

Rabbi Becky Silverstein believes in the power of community, Torah, and silliness in transforming the world. He strives to build a Jewish community and world that encourages and allows everyone to live a life that reflects their inherent divinity / dignity. Becky is a Schusterman Fellow, co-initiator of the Trans Halakha Project, and a member of SVARA’s faculty. He currently serves as the chair of the board of SVARA and sits on the board of the Jewish Studio Project. Becky grew up in New York, holds a B.S. in Engineering from Smith College and Rabbinic Ordination from the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College. Becky resides in Jamaica Plain, MA, with his spouse, Naomi Sobel, and kiddo, Edie Gefen, for whom he makes pancakes or waffles almost every Sunday morning.

Noah Westreich (he/him) – Fairy

Noah is a newly ordained rabbi. He was also a fellow in SVARA’s Teaching Kollel, Cohort 2. While in school Noah served for one year as student rabbi in the bilingual Jewish community of El Centro, CA and for three years at Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives an independent congregation in Brooklyn. In addition to his synagogue experience he worked as a hospital chaplain in Washington, DC. Noah loves to swim, fly, and drink coffee–and is proud cat dad to Takasugi and Elizabeth.

R’ Lauren Tuchman (she/her) – Fairy

Lauren received rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2018 and is, as far as she is aware, the first blind woman in the world to enter the rabbinate. A sought after speaker, spiritual leader and educator, Rabbi Tuchman has taught at numerous synagogues and other Jewish venues throughout North America and was named to the Jewish Week’s 36 under 36 for her innovative leadership concerning inclusion of Jews with disabilities in all aspects of Jewish life.