Lee Levitt
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Lee Levitt brings over 20 years of professional experience in administration and leadership to his role as Executive Director of Temple Sinai. Before joining Temple Sinai in 2025, Lee served as Executive Director at Rodef Shalom Congregation and Congregation Beth Shalom, both located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Throughout his career, Lee has been dedicated to supporting vibrant Jewish communities through strong organizational leadership, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to sacred partnership. Lee has a long career in facility management and energy efficiency, complementing his support for social justice issues.
At Temple Sinai, Lee serves and oversees the temple’s administrative operations, including finance, staffing, facilities management, and supports the logistical coordination for the full range of congregational programs and services. His leadership ensures that the day-to-day operations of the synagogue align with its mission and values.
Lee earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati and holds a master’s degree from Duquesne University. He and his wife, Dr. Karen Levitt, have raised two children, Sophie and Noah, now young adults.
Noah Benjamin
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Noah Benjamin was first introduced to Temple Sinai in college when he began working part-time as a Hebrew School teacher for the temple’s middle-school program. After graduating from American University with degrees in Political Science and Chemistry, Noah was hired to help launch Temple Sinai’s Development Office in 2014. Since then, Noah has helped guide the revitalization of Temple Sinai’s fundraising and stewardship programs, including helping lead the Honor our Heritage Build our Future Campaign for Temple Sinai, which ran from 2018 through 2023. If you have any questions about charitable giving to the temple, please reach out!
Noah believes in the importance of synagogue community as the institutional center of Jewish life that connects Jews around the world. Synagogues should be communities that are open to all, regardless of financial circumstances, and therefore fundraising is needed to ensure Temple Sinai remains a thriving, egalitarian, and progressive Jewish community.
Noah also serves on the board of Advancing Temple Institutional Development (the Reform Movement’s professional organization for synagogue fundraisers) and on the Development Committee for his summer camp alma mater, Camp Ramah in New England.
Melanie Douglass
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Melanie Douglass comes to Temple Sinai with over fifteen years experience in the field of Early Childhood Education. Prior to joining the leadership team at Temple Sinai Nursery School, Melanie was the Assistant Head of School at Little Folks School in Georgetown, serving children between the ages of 18 months to age five with a focus on play-based learning and the arts. Melanie’s passion for early childhood education extends beyond children and their families; she has taught hundreds of current and aspiring teachers as an adjunct professor at University of the District of Columbia Community College where her courses focused on observation and assessment, intentional teaching, and infant & toddler curriculum.
Melanie is a lifelong learner, eagerly attending any opportunities to grow as an educator. She is also proud to share her own knowledge and experiences in the field of early childhood education. Her speaking engagements include presenting to a packed room of teachers at the 2024 NAEYC Conference in Anaheim, California about Mixed Age Play and presenting to private caregivers at White House Nannies about Strategies for Developmental Growth.
In her volunteer roles, Melanie has chaired the Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) of Janney Elementary School, where she also helps support the school’s annual PTA auction. Melanie is also the proud “Cookie Manager” for her daughter’s girl scout troop – selling over 3,000 girl scout cookies! Her own children’s first early organized group experience was at Intown Playgroup, where Melanie remains on the board.
Helena Peter
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Helena Peter is Temple Sinai’s Director of Communications and Programs and has been part of the community since 2010. She works closely with members and staff to keep the temple’s calendar and building full of meaningful, engaging programs for all ages. Helena manages Temple Sinai’s website, emails, and print publications, and she provides key logistical support for programs and events—from room setups and vendor coordination to signage, materials, and volunteer communication.
She also oversees facilities rentals for members and outside groups, and helps lead the planning and coordination of major holidays and other events.
She and her family live in Silver Spring, MD.
Cantor Rebecca Robins is Director of Temple Sinai’s religious school and superintends the congregational youth educational programs. She is especially passionate about making sure our children, teens, their families and our teachers feel a sense of significance and belonging at Temple Sinai. Rebecca is part of our pastoral care team and helps members of all ages with counseling and support during times of illness and need. She also leads High Holiday Services and Tot Shabbat services.
Rebecca (also known as “CR”) came to Temple Sinai in 2012. A passion for music, teaching, learning and working with people on life’s journey sent her to cantorial school the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion where she was ordained as cantor in 2008. While at HUC-JIR, Cantor Robins served congregations in Edison, NJ, Katonah, NY and Falls Church, VA. After being ordained she served Congregation Sinai in Milwaukee, WI as Cantor-Educator.
Originally from Long Island, NY, CR holds a BM in Music Education and Vocal Performance from the Crane School of Music, State University of New York College at Potsdam in Potsdam, NY. She began her career in education as a K-8 music teacher at Lyncourt School in Syracuse, NY. CR is a member of the American Conference of Cantors (ACC), and the Association of Reform Jewish Educators (ARJE), and serves as chairperson of the DMV’s Reform Synagogue Musicians professional group. She lives with her husband Zerek (a member of MMC, Sinai’s band), and their son Gus in Rockville, Maryland. When not at Sinai, they can be found exploring, doing projects, baking cupcakes, and having as much fun as possible.
Karen Auerbach
Membership Engagement Coordinator
Jenny Cohen
Social Justice Coordinator
Helena Goldstein
Clergy Assistant
Deborah Gordis
Staff Clinical Social Worker
Elise Margosis
Assistant Director of the Temple Sinai Religious School
Alyssa Policarpio
Director of Operations for the Temple Sinai Nursery School
Ruth Polk
Librarian
Scott Reidinger
AV Manager
Lisa Resnikoff
Young Family Engagement Coordinator
Laura Rose
Senior Assistant to the Executive Director
Gail Sell
Senior Clergy Assistant
Reco Thomas
Assistant Director of Operations for the Temple Sinai Religious School
Elizabeth Wess
Temple Sinai Nursery School Assistant
Marcie Wilson
Finance Associate