Our Team

Raveetal Celine is the Executive Director of Temple Emunah. Raveetal is a graduate of UMass Boston with a degree in non-profit management and has many years of business management experience in both non-profit and for-profit organizations. Raveetal’s mission at Temple Emunah is to service the community and provide a professional organized approach to the congregation. Raveetal was born in Israel on Kibbutz Ein Shemer and has lived in Lexington with her husband and 2 daughters since 1999.

Contact Raveetal Celine.

Lucie Chag has been teaching at the Preschool for more than 30 years and now joins the Leadership Team as a Program Director. She is known for her warmth, humor, and can-do attitude! Her new role focuses on connecting and welcoming families, supporting teachers’ innovative programming and curriculum ideas, and building a vibrant school community.

Lucie has a B.S. in Education. She has completed several post-baccalaureate courses, participated in many workshops in early childhood education, and obtained EEC certification as a Toddler Teacher, Preschool Lead Teacher, and Director. In 2006, Lucie was one of the teachers who created the T’layim room, our first toddler class. She has worked with all ages of preschoolers, most recently as a lead teacher in the Preschool and Toddler program.

“I love watching the children enter the classroom with such joy and delight on

their faces, eager to greet their friends and teachers. It is such a pleasure to begin my day surrounded by the children’s energy and curiosity!”

Lucie’s favorite children’s book is Silly Sally. She says, “It is an exuberant, cumulative rhyme about an unusual trip to town by Sally and her friends. There is no moral, no underlying theme— just unabashed silliness, which I just love!”

Sally Delucia is a Program Director, closely working with teachers to support programming initiatives and building strong connections with the Preschool families. Sally is the go-to person for the extended afternoon Keshet and Keshet+ programs and also oversees the summer camp session (Kaytana).

Sally has a B.A. in Education. Over the past twenty years she has taught infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. She also directed an after-school program for school-age children. When asked what she most enjoys about teaching Sally said, “I like to see children learn and how excited they get. I also enjoy my conversations with young children and the great remarks they make. Some of my favorite activities at school are the messy ones, like goop. I enjoy talking with the kids about what they feel or see. It’s a great way to experience how they’re learning.”

Sally’s favorite picture book is Pete the Cat’s I Love My White Shoes. She says, “Pete doesn’t let obstacles get in his way and he just keeps walking along and singing his song…a great message for the preschoolers and such a fun read too!”

Laura Cohen Gordon has been part of the Temple Emunah community for her entire life (really….since she was born!) and now joins the Billy Dalwin Preschool as an Administrative Director. Laura has an extensive background managing early childhood education centers and is so thrilled to be working with the amazing, dedicated staff at both BDPS and Temple Emunah.

Laura is most excited to be back at Temple Emunah, where she can help the Preschool thrive and grow!  Her special interests are using various social media platforms to bring awareness to school programs and events and generate greater interest from new families.

Her favorite picture book is not one, but the entire Curious George series! Fun fact: Laura had the unique opportunity to speak with Margaret Rey, author of the Curious George books with Rey’s husband H.A. Rey, sharing the profound impact Curious George had on her as a child!

Chaiya Zalles brings her lifelong work experience in childhood education to her role at the Preschool. Her work has explored the inter-relationship between values, temperament, and research with perspectives about children’s learning styles and community building. She has held varying roles in the private sector (both Jewish and secular), including Head Start, college instruction, Montessori Teacher Training, ECE advisory councils, governing and advisory board memberships, and private consulting and coaching.

Chaiya says, “I am most excited about collaborating with our stellar Billy Dalwin Preschool team and sharing knowledge garnered through all my years of experience. I am thrilled to be back in a Jewish environment, where my spiritual and professional life have a home. My role at the Preschool is mentoring and guiding professional development, along with overseeing policies and practices.”

Chaiya loves Ruth Krauss’s 1949 black and white book, The Happy Day, “because of its simplicity, a few words with black and white soft images. The animals are coming out of their winter slumber, sniffing and running. The story has its poignancy in the single wondrous moment, when friends stand circled in delight in the discovery of the first ‘yellow’ spring flower peeking its head above the snow. It doesn’t need to dazzle us with colors or detail. The reader’s heart and sensitivities bring it all to life on their own.”

As Temple Emunah’s Director of Congregational Learning, Me’ir Sherer directs our Religious School and Youth Programs, and works with our rabbis and staff on synagogue programs. Me’ir brings his impressive credentials and vast experience in Jewish education to Temple Emunah. Me’ir holds a Master’s degree in Jewish Education from Hebrew College and another in Social Work from Boston University. He received B.A.s from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary, List College. Me’ir also completed the Melton Senior Educators Program at Hebrew University and holds a Certificate in Jewish Family Education from Hebrew College.

Prior to assuming the position of Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Emunah, Me’ir served as the Director of Congregational Learning at Or Atid in Wayland and Congregation Beth Israel in Worcester, respectively. Me’ir was the Family Education Consultant at the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Boston (BJE) for a number of years. Previously, he served as the Jewish Family Educator for Temple Israel in Boston and as the Children’s Program Coordinator at the Leventhal-Sidman JCC in Newton. Me’ir has also served on the faculty of Prozdor, the secondary school division of Hebrew College in Newton and directed their Havayah program.

Me’ir is married to Kfir Mizrahi.

Contact Me’ir Sherer.

Alisa is responsible for the Temple’s membership billing and payment processing, payroll, accounts payable and fund management. Prior to joining Temple Emunah, Alisa worked in several financial capacities, including CFO of Cyclis Pharmaceuticals, a private drug development company, controller for Ampersand Ventures, a private equity firm with over $300 million under management, and as a commercial lender for 15+ years. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and received her MBA from Babson College.

Contact Alisa Billings.

Hannah has a background in non-profit work, bolstered by a Bachelor’s in Public Health and a Master’s in Women’s & Gender Studies. She brings a wealth of experience in community building, program management and education, and organizing for social change.

Hannah recently returned to Massachusetts, where she grew up, after eight years in Chicago. Most recently, she spent nine months traveling across Southeast Asia and South America, and before that she served as the Manager of Youth Programs at the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, mobilizing young leaders to fight for justice through a Jewish lens. Hannah feels deeply called to create accountable community and to make the world a better place, especially with other Jews.

Contact Hannah Arwe.

Efrat was born in Israel and raised in the US from the age of four. Upon completion of her BA in Communications and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan, Efrat made aliyah to Israel. In Israel, Efrat worked in events management and higher administrative roles in high tech while also obtaining her MBA with a focus in marketing from IDC Herzliya. Efrat moved to the Boston area in 2010 with her husband, Ron, and lives in Lexington. Her last job was as Family Camp Director and Retreats Coordinator for Camp Yavneh in Newton and NH. Efrat is a proud Ima of four boys and loves spending time with her family, planning trips, and experiencing the always changing New England seasons.

Contact Efrat Assulin.

Temple Emunah is very excited to welcome back Mary Melnick after a short time away as our new full-time Temple Administrator! Prior to joining us part-time in May 2019, Mary was the Director of Strategic Operations within Corporate Finance at Mass General Brigham (formerly Partners Healthcare System) responsible for identifying and managing efforts to reduce the rate of cost growth across the $11B enterprise. She also held the role of an Administrator at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, where she met her husband of over 20 years. With a Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA from the Simmons School of Management, Mary is a Jew by Choice and with her family is a member of Temple Emanuel in Newton.

Contact Mary Melnick

Bonnie Gold (pronouns: they/them) is the new Director of Media and Communications at Temple Emunah. With over five years of digital technologies, communications, and fundraising experience, they are excited to continue to grow the connections between the diverse and amazing people here at Temple Emunah.

A proud Newton, MA native, they attended Goucher College, studying Theatre and working as a summer camp administrator every summer. Their unique passion for working with young people and helping them learn how to expressively communicate through fun-filled activities led them back to their elementary alma mater, the Chestnut Hill School. Starting as a 5th-grade teacher, their get-up-and-go attitude made them the perfect candidate when the position of Communications and Advancement Associate opened up.

With a unique blending of meaningful interactions with community members, fundraising to offer the CHS experience to even more young people, and being the nexus of knowledge to create the best newsletters and communications materials, CHS will always hold a special place in Bonnie’s heart. Coming to Temple Emunah, they hope to bring the same passion, level of community connection and engagement, and out-of-the-box thinking that can strengthen this already thriving community and get even more families and individuals into the fold.

Contact Bonnie Gold

Tova is our Young Family Engagement Coordinator and one of Temple Emunah’s Synagogue Educators. Among the various roles she fills at Emunah are advisor to Kadima, Rosh Hodesh group leader, teacher for grades 1, 4, 5, and YAD, and program coordinator for families with young children. Tova is no stranger to Emunah. She is a proud graduate of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School (BDPS), Temple Emunah’s Religious School, and Prozdor. After graduating from UMass Amherst, Tova began teaching at the BDPS. She loves connecting with families with young children and the Temple Emunah youth community. Tova enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends, drinking lattes with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and bringing her creative energy everywhere she goes.

Contact Tova Weinronk.

Marilyn Pappo is an experienced and dedicated office support professional and has been at Temple Emunah since 2013.

She has two children and a golden retriever named “Daisy”. Originally from New York, Marilyn loves to do yoga.

Contact Marilyn Pappo.

Sydney Bluman is a Synagogue Educator at Temple Emunah.  A native of Buffalo, New York, Sydney moved to Boston in June 2018 to attend Brandeis University. She recently graduated from the DeLeT (Day School Leadership through Teaching) program at Brandeis University, where she received a Masters in the Arts of Teaching, MA licensure in Elementary Education, and a Teaching Certification in Teaching Students with Moderate Disabilities. Sydney graduated from SUNY Buffalo State with a bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education.

For the past three years, Sydney has been teaching kindergarten at a local Jewish Day School. Sydney spent 5 summers at Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake, working as a counselor, songleader and lifeguard/swim instructor. In her role at Temple Emunah, she will be leading the Chaverim Youth Group, teaching in the religious school and leading family engagement events. She is excited to share her passion and love of teaching and Jewish living and learning. In her free time, Sydney enjoys spending time outside, hanging out with family and friends, playing with dogs (specifically poodles and doodles), making art, reading and exploring Boston.

Contact Sydney Bluman