Raveetal Celine (she/her)
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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.
Me’ir Sherer (he/him)
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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.
Alisa Billings (she/her)
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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.
Hannah Arwe (she/her)
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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.
Mary Melnick (she/her)
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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.
Lisa Marcus (she/her)
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Lisa Marcus is a marketing professional and cantorial soloist, pianist, composer. Lisa led marketing and public relations departments in international healthcare organizations for many years before shifting into a congregational leadership role. She has served as cantorial soloist at Congregation B’nai Shalom in Westborough for more than 15 years and served at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham prior to that. She also leads services at Newbridge on the Charles (Hebrew Senior Life) and Temple Beth David (Westwood), and serves as piano/guitar accompanist for other local cantors and Jewish choirs.
As a writer, she has authored numerous magazine articles, and as a musician is a two-time Shalshelet Festival composer with a growing body of Jewish liturgical compositions. With her position at Temple Emunah, Lisa is thrilled to combine two passions: marketing communications and synagogue leadership. Lisa is a passionate skier, jazz pianist/singer, and dog lover. Originally raised in Wellesley, she now lives in Boxborough and has a 22-year-old daughter and an adorable dog named Peanut.
Chaya Schneider (she/her)
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Chaya shares an equally strong passion for music and enjoys participating in early music groups on recorder and harpsichord, facilitating sound baths, as well as singing in several Jewish and community choirs. Chaya recently moved from Shrewsbury, NJ to the Berkshires for a change of scenery. She is delighted to move closer to Boston and explore the vast selection of arts and cultural activities in the area.
Tova Weinrock (she/her)
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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.
Marilyn Pappo (she/her)
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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.
Sydney Bluman (she/her)
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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.
Micah Sandman (she/her)
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As part-time Synagogue Educator, Micah will be teaching sixth grade, leading Havayot in YAD, and working with our Education Team on our Retreat, Shul-Ins and Shabbat programming, as well as participating in our holiday events. Micah will be running our High Holy Day Family service for 5784. In addition, Micah will be a part-time outreach coordinator, helping us connect with more of our members and serving as part of our pastoral team.
Micah recently graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, where she received a B.A. in Religious Studies. In addition to her work at Emunah, she also works part-time for Judaism Unbound as a Program Associate. Micah previously worked for the Office for Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life at WashU, helping to coordinate interfaith programming. She is a former madricha for the Bronfman Fellowship.
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Micah has loved living in the Midwest and Southwest, and is excited to have moved with her partner to Boston! She spends a lot of time thinking about how to cultivate invigorating Jewish life, and hopes to become a rabbi someday.
Gina Tzizik (she/her)
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Gina has over 25 years of educational leadership experience and shares Billy Dalwin Preschool’s focus on children, families, and community values. We are confident her vision for Jewish education, passion for art and beautifully prepared environments, and advocacy for spirituality and mindfulness in early childhood education will add much to our program.
Gina has a strong record of Montessori and progressive, multicultural leadership, creating and transforming learning environments and establishing civic, community, and school relationships. From 2009 to 2021, Gina served as director/head of school for the Soule Early Childhood Center in Brookline. She also brings 22 years of teaching experience, along with masters’ degrees in Jewish education from Hebrew College and in education from Endicott College. She has also exhibited her art work in various venues and explored the mysticism of Kabbalah through four years of study and through painting.
Monday – Thursday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Friday, 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
