Melissa Rudman
melissa@templealiyah.com
As our Executive Director, Melissa is responsible for managing the synagogue budget and its physical plant, supervising our administrative personnel, and managing the day-to-day operations of the synagogue. She works in partnership with the Rabbi, the Cantor, and other professional and lay leadership. Melissa comes to Temple Aliyah after serving as Executive Director/Director of Congregational Learning at B’nai Tikvah in Canton, where she worked for the past 15 years. Melissa can be reached through the synagogue office at (781) 444-8522.
Kayla Reisman Brandel
kayla@templealiyah.com
Kayla previously served as our Director of Teen Engagement from 2016 to 2018. She is a graduate of Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, where she earned a degree in Sociology and Judaic Studies. At Brandeis University, she earned dual Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Jewish Professional Leadership. She served as Director of Jewish Student Life at Ithaca College and, most recently, as Director of Youth and Teen Engagement for the Shames JCC in Tarrytown, NY, and Camp Program Director for Camp Twelve Trails in Pearl River, NY.
As Director of Congregational Learning and Engagement, Kayla is responsible for Mercaz Aliyah (our religious school) and informal post-b’nai mitzvah Jewish education. She works closely with clergy, other senior and administrative staff, and lay committees to develop and implement a unified vision for congregational learning and engagement, including innovative educational and social programming for children, teens, families, and adults.
Aileen Landau
aileen@templealiyah.com
Aileen recently relocated to the Boston area from Chicago. She holds a Master of Science degree in Elementary Education from Northwestern University and is working on a second master of science degree in Early Childhood Education, with an emphasis on Leadership and Advocacy. Aileen has worked in the field of early childhood for over 20 years, as a teacher and as a director. She and her husband Peter have three children – Bess, Caitlin, and Henry – and one cat (Alice). They are happy to be a part of the Temple Aliyah community.
Nalani Haueter
nalani@templealiyah.com
Nalani grew up on the Central Coast of California before heading east to attend Ithaca College, where she studied Sociology and spent much of her time at Hillel. After graduation, she remained at Ithaca College, working as Hillel’s Engagement Professional. A recipient of the Springboard Fellowship, Nalani then went to work as the Immersive Experience Coordinator at Illini Hillel at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Over the past year, Nalani has worked as a nanny for young children and has found a love for education, and acquiring greater knowledge about child development and the impact of mental health and well-being on a child’s learning. She looks forward to bringing her passion for Jewish life and leadership to our Temple Aliyah youth community.
Mitchell Israel is so excited to be joining Temple Aliyah as Youth Advisor for USY Gesher! Mitchell is from the Chicago area originally, and graduated Indiana University in 2019 with a BS in Marketing and a Certificate in Jewish Studies. After graduation, Mitchell was on Birthright Israel Shorashim’s Registration team, and taught at Congregation Beth Am in Buffalo Grove. Mitchell moved to Boston last year to begin graduate studies in Jewish Professional and Educational Leadership at Brandeis University’s Hornstein Program. Mitchell spent this summer as Judaics Director at Camp Livingston, and is very involved in Boston’s young adult Jewish community.
Have a question? Need to reach the Rabbi, the Cantor, or other members of our professional staff? Then call the synagogue Office at (781) 444-8522, stop by, or send us a note. We’ll either have the answer for you or get you to the person who does.
Click on the names below to send an email to members of our staff.
Elissa Gordon
elissag@templealiyah.com
Elissa works with Rabbi Barth and also provides valuable assistance to congregants and staff.
Caroline Nudelman
caroline@templealiyah.com
Caroline is usually in the synagogue office when Mercaz Aliyah is in session and can assist you with questions you may have about the school and your students.
Elisa Blando
elisa@templealiyah.com
Contact Elisa if you have any questions about your account, getting reimbursed for Temple-related expenses, or keeping track of funds for a synagogue project or event.
Steve Boyd