Clergy and Staff

Rabbi Michael Swarttz 

Rabbi Michael Swarttz was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and received his Bachelors in Middle Eastern History and Masters in Education from Temple University. He has worked in formal and informal educational settings with Jewish youth since his freshman year in college. He has written numerous articles on the rabbinate and Jewish education. From 2001 - 2003 Rabbi Swarttz and his family spent two years in Jerusalem, where he was on a fellowship in the Jerusalem Fellows, a program for leaders in Jewish education from around the world. In addition to his role as Rabbi of Beth Tikvah Synagogue, Rabbi Swarttz is the Jewish Chaplain at the Phillips Academy in Andover, MA and the Project Director for the Harold Cotton Leadership Institute of the Jewish Federation of Central Mass.

The Rabbi will be in the office and available for consultation or simply to chat most Wednesdays during school hours, 4:00-6:00 pm, when our religious school is in session. He will also be at the synagogue occasionally on Sunday mornings during school time. His hours for each month will be posted on Beth Tikvah's website. If you need to reach Rabbi Mike at other times, you can contact him at michaelswarttz@rcn.com

Lisa Volpigno - Educational Coordinator

Lisa Volpigno (She/Her/Hers) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Boston Children’s Hospital. Lisa became a Bat Mitzvah at Beth Tikvah and was a madricha before teaching for the past 19 years. 

She earned her B.S in Psychology from Mount Ida College in 2009 and her Masters of Social Work from Simmons College in 2012. She is a collaborative and integrative therapist that utilizes a variety of treatment modalities to best meet the needs of children, adolescents, young adults, and families struggling with emotional and/or behavioral health challenges.

At Beth Tikvah she is dedicated to helping students and families have a strong sense of belonging and have a meaningful and purposeful relationship with Judaism. She enjoys gardening, home projects, and being with family and friends.