CLERGY
Rabbi Serge Lippe
Cantor Ayelet Porzecanski
Rabbi Bailey Romano
Morgan Folger
Ben Romano
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Rabbi Serge A. Lippe is the much-loved spiritual leader and teacher of the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue. He began his tenure at BHS in July of 1997. Ordained in 1991 at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) he graduated with honors from the University of Chicago with a B.A. degree in Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations.
Prior to joining BHS, he served for six years as Associate Rabbi at Temple Solel in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Rabbi Lippe has also served as faculty member at URJ Camp SWIG and Camp Eisner and has been a regional rabbinic adviser to the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY). In May 2016, Rabbi Lippe was awarded his Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, by HUC-JIR in recognition of his 25 years of service in the Reform rabbinate.
During his 27-year tenure at BHS, the synagogue has grown tremendously both in membership and the expansion of its physical space as well as its impact on the community. He was instrumental in creating BHS’s own well-regarded Preschool, expanding its clergy team to include a full-time Cantor and Assistant/Associate Rabbi, establishing an annual 9th Grade Israel Trip, helping to acquire our dedicated section at Maimonides Cemetery, undertaking a complete renovation of the Synagogue and Sanctuary, and the acquisition of 127 Remsen Street for our expansion.
Rabbi Lippe has served as a member of the Reform Movement’s Joint Commission on Worship, Music and Religious Living. He is the editor of Birkon Artzi: Blessings and Meditations for Travelers to Israel (CCAR, 2012).
Rabbi Lippe has served two terms as President of the Brooklyn Heights Interfaith Clergy Association. He initiated the annual synagogue Iftar with the members of Dawood Mosque on State Street, and also helped develop the annual Martin Luther King Jr. weekend with local churches in the neighborhood.
He is a member of the Advisory Council of the New York State Landmarks Conservancy.
In 2022, BHS held a gala to celebrate Rabbi Lippe’s 25 years of dedicated service to BHS. More than 300 members attended this wonderful occasion. Click here to see the special video tribute and to see photos from the event.
He and his wife, Deb Speyer, are native New Yorkers and live in the neighborhood; they have three young adult children.
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Cantor Ayelet Porzecanski was born in Canada to Uruguayan emigrant parents who raised her on the coast of British Columbia. At age 17, she entered the University of Toronto where she obtained her Bachelor of Music degree. She was a recipient of a Merit Scholarship to further her education at the Manhattan School of Music where she earned her Master of Music degree.
What followed was a 7-year performance career in a wide range of musical styles - from early music to opera. Cantor Porzecanski has appeared in leading roles in Puccini's "Madamma Butterfly", Mozart's "le Nozze di Figaro" and "Cosi fan tutte," and Rossini's "la Cenerentola". She has sung with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Kurt Masur, recorded major motion picture soundtracks, and performed with early music groups, among them Early Music New York, (dir. by Frederick Renz).
In 2004, Cantor Porzecanski began her Cantorial studies in Israel and continued at the Jewish Theological Seminary in the H.L. Miller Cantorial School. She received her Investiture and Masters in Jewish Music in May of 2008. After graduation, she became the Cantor of West End Synagogue in Manhattan, where she served for 11 years.
In July of 2019, Cantor Porzecanski became the cantor of the vibrant Brooklyn Heights Synagogue. At BHS, Cantor Porzecanski collaborates closely with our rabbinic team to bring her extensive music training, her deep experience as a Cantor, and her focus on education and torah to help shape the future of our growing BHS community. Cantor Porzecanski enriches services and brings joy in song and prayer to the entire community, singing in Ladino, Yiddish, and Hebrew.
Cantor Porzecanski lives in New York City with her husband, Aric Grooms, and is mother to four beautiful children: Marlene, Anatalya, Rafael, and Chloe.
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Rabbi Bailey Romano is joined Brooklyn Heights Synagogue in 2023. She grew up Catholic outside of New Orleans, LA, and chose Judaism while attending Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. She studied American Jewish History at HUC-JIR in Cincinnati, OH before beginning her rabbinic studies. After her ordination in 2019, she served as the Director of Education at Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria, VA. As our Associate Rabbi, she works closely with our ECE and Religious School staff, supports our teens by teaching in Hebrew High, supporting our teen youth group, BHGSY, and bringing teens on trips to DC, Israel, and beyond. Rabbi Romano helps families connect with each other through our B’Mitzvah family programs, Shabbat B’Yachad services, and more. You can regularly find her leading Chavurah or teaching Adult Education classes on Hebrew, Jewish texts, or history. Together with an amazing band and our cantorial intern, she leads our service for Jews and their partners in their 20s-40s. She loves getting to know our members of all ages over coffee and helping them to find belonging in our community and meaning through Jewish living.
When she’s not at BHS, she enjoys singing with her spouse, Ben Romano, and spending quality time with their daughter Naomi and cat, Motzi. Rabbi Romano is an avid reader of historical fiction and fantasy novels and loves crafting in her spare time. Among Rabbi Romano’s many wonderful qualities, is her genuine desire to forge relationships, her empathy, and her ability to communicate caring.
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Morgan (she/her) grew up in Sacramento, California, where she was a regular at Congregation B’nai Israel. Her Rabbi and Cantor were incredible teachers and mentors to her, and being a part of such a joyous, welcoming, and caring Jewish community inspired her to become a Rabbi. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in English and Religious Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara, she moved to Santa Rosa, California where she served as the Youth Coordinator at Congregation Shomrei Torah. There she helped to run all youth and religious school programming. Morgan has worked at URJ Camp Newman every summer for the past 10 years, most recently on the Director team running the high school Avodah program. Her time at camp has made her incredibly passionate about creative, joyous, and experiential Jewish education, and reiterated the value of intentional and caring community.
Following her first year at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem, Morgan moved to Brooklyn to continue her rabbinic studies. She is now in her third year at HUC, and lives in Prospect Park South. In her free time she enjoys hosting Shabbat dinners, exploring the city, seeing live music, and crafting.
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Ben Romano grew up on Long Island (Plainview), spending his formative summers at URJ Eisner Camp. With a degree in Music Theory from the University of Delaware, he spent the last 10+ years serving Jewish communities as Songleader and Musician in Residence in the Cincinnati area, the DC area, and most recently at the Marlene Meyerson JCC in Manhattan. In that time, he’s recorded three albums of original Jewish music and self-published two children’s books. He is delighted to join the incredible clergy of BHS including his wife, Rabbi Bailey Romano, in bringing his passion for communal singing and the work of his cantorial studies at the Academy for Jewish Religion (AJR) to this beloved community.
STAFF
Eric Munson
Lisa Kopel
Jenny Powers
Lauren Broggini
Pam Karlin
Karen Epstein
Melis Bromberg
Kelly Moskowitz
Miriam Daly
Maya Kendall
Jen Armus
Shiraz Biggie
Valerie Oliver
Erik DiFrisco
Frank Ford
Andre Bartholomew
James Spencer
Renee Perez
Elijah Rentas
Andrew Tirado
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Eric Munson joined BHS as Executive Director in 2025. Immediately prior, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Battery Park City Authority, where he implemented their first strategic plan and managed the day-to-day operations of the organization, whose 180 employees manage a 92-acre planned commercial and residential community, 36 acres of parks, and $370M+ in annual revenue. His previous positions also have focused on public service, including tenure in the Bloomberg administration in communications and intergovernmental affairs roles and as Chief of Staff at the Department of Finance. Eric also has experience with Jewish nonprofits, having served as the Chief of Staff for the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, where he implemented operational and fiscal controls and a comprehensive agency restructuring. He also led construction and facilities management at the 2016 Democratic National Convention and served as Interim Chief Program Officer of New York Cares, the city’s largest volunteer network.
Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from NYU and a Master of Arts degree in Religion from Columbia. He lives in Park Slope with his wife and two young daughters, and enjoys biking around Brooklyn, cooking for family and friends, and keeping up-to-date on New York City current events and civic life. A former violinist and ongoing lover of the arts, he serves as treasurer of the board of Manhattan’s arts council, LMCC.
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A true natural in her role, Lisa’s many years in the Early Childhood Center – where she grew the opportunities for engagement with the youngest members of our community and their families – are invaluable as Director of Membership for all our members. In addition, Lisa taught in the Religious School for many years, so she is familiar with an additional cohort of our community.
Lisa brings her energy and enthusiasm for fostering a rich love of Jewish life and traditions, expanding our programming, and ensuring that all members find meaningful value in their affiliation with BHS. Prior to her professional experience at BHS, she worked in book publishing, marketing, and promotion, and as a literary agent. Except for the four years she spent at Brandeis University, Brooklyn has always been her home. She lives in Brooklyn Heights with her husband. Both of their sons attended BHS’s Preschool and Religious School.
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Jenny Powers, a BHS member since 2009 became our first Director of Development in July 2024. Jenny brings a strong background in fundraising and communication, as well as excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. She was chief fundraiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for over a decade and has extensive development experience including heading successful fundraising initiatives at her daughter’s schools (Brooklyn Latin and Packer Collegiate).
Currently, Jenny serves as a fundraising consultant for a NY philanthropic agency that pairs development executives with non-profits to help them meet their fundraising goals. She holds a BA in Journalism from New York University and has been a contributing writer for many years for Business Insider.
As our first Director of Development, Jenny will be responsible for designing, implementing, and leading a comprehensive development/fundraising program for the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue.
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lauren.broggini@bhsbrooklyn.org
Lauren is the Communications and Development Manager at Brooklyn Heights Synagogue. She works closely with the office team to streamline and amplify programming and communications and shape content across platforms. With over eight years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Lauren has led advancement and advocacy efforts supporting underserved communities—particularly in accessing resources for education, post-incarceration, housing, and mental health—experience she brings to her work at BHS, where she applies her passion for community impact. Outside of BHS, she enjoys traveling, art, crafting, and exploring the mind-body space.
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pam.karlin@bhsbrooklyn.org
Pam Karlin is the Director of Early Childhood Education for BHS. She oversees the Preschool and the Parenting Center, guiding a staff of over 30 educators and administrators in providing educational programming for our community’s youngest members and their families.
Pam Karlin received her BA from Vassar College and an MFA from Brandeis University. She graduated with departmental honors from Brooklyn College with a Masters in Early Childhood Education, receiving special recognition for demonstrated leadership and commitment to community. After many years working in classrooms as a preschool teacher, she became the Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope. She began as Director of Early Childhood Education at BHS in 2013. Pam has also been a member of the adjunct faculty in the Graduate Department of Early Childhood Education at Brooklyn College teaching about Families, Communities and Social Studies in Early Childhood Education. Pam has also presented at conferences on social skills development, and early literacy through play. She brings a particular passion for meaningful Jewish education and active, exploratory curriculum development. Pam comes from a family of teachers and is especially proud of her own family – husband Joshua and her two sons Jacob and Joey and is delighted to mention that Joey is now an early childhood teacher, too. -
karen.epstein@bhsbrooklyn.org
Karen Epstein is the Assistant Director of the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue Preschool. She works closely supporting the ECE Director, coordinating and planning various programs and provides assistance for our teaching and administrative staff.Karen has an undergraduate degree in Communication Arts and a master’s degree in education. She has taught in the public school system, working with young children with learning differences. Karen is passionate about her work with children, observing as they create, discover, grow, and develop a love of learning.
Karen joined the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue Preschool in 2014, teaching the youngest learners. She has facilitated enrichment programs and developed remote learning curriculums for preschoolers. Karen continues to teach our Kitah Gan religious school class, often a reunion for children and families who attended BHS Preschool and an opportunity to continue their Jewish exploration.
Karen lives in the Brooklyn Heights area with her son, Coby, a graduate of the BHS Preschool, and their 85-pound golden retriever. In her free time Karen enjoys reading, long walks and discovering new restaurants.
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melis.bromberg@bhsbrooklyn.org
Melis first walked into BHS in 2005 as a new, enthusiastic Preschool parent and has been a part of the community ever since. She grew up on the sunny west coast of Turkey and received her BS degree in Hospitality Management from Cornell University. Always with a welcoming smile, Melis brings her amazing organizational skills and community spirit to her position as Preschool Operations Coordinator and Registrar. She loves supporting families and helping make the Preschool experience smooth, joyful, and connected for everyone. -
kelly.moskowitz@bhsbrooklyn.org
Kelly Moskowitz joined the BHS Family in 2022 as a preschool teacher. Her dedication to helping children achieve individual potential success led to her teaching in the classroom for 24 years. She has had the opportunity to do so many things with the larger community at BHS and now embarks on a new journey as Assistant Director for Early Childhood Programs and Events. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family. -
Miriam Daly is composer/music director/pianist/teaching artist. She’s music-directed over 25 tours for TheaterWorks USA, and she was long time music director of the Off-Broadway smash, Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding. She’s worked in numerous theaters in NYC and around the country. and a teaching artist for several NYC organizations. She’s a Core Artist at the Catastrophic Theatre in Houston, TX, having written songs for their shows for over a decade. Other composition credits include: NYU Steinhardt's 4@15 The Far-Out Way To Fly!; Houston Shakespeare Festival: As You Like It; U. of Houston: Blood Wedding, Mother Courage and Her Children & The Snow Queen. As a composer she received The York Theatre’s NEO award. She has appeared as a pianist on an episode of Law And Order SVU. She is a graduate of Eastman School of Music and NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. Visit Miriam's website at miriamdaly.com
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religiousschool@bhsbrooklyn.org
Maya is the Education Program Administrator at BHS. Maya attended BHS religious and preschool starting in 2005 and is very excited to return as a staff member. Maya recently graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor's degree in psychology. While at McGill, Maya worked in a research lab focusing on child development and cyberbullying prevention. She is passionate about inclusive Jewish education and loves to work with children.
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jennifer.armus@bhsbrooklyn.org
Jen Armus is thrilled to be returning to BHS as our new Inclusion Specialist. Her journey in education spans over 30 years, 15 of which she spent at BHS, dedicating a decade serving as the Assistant Director of the preschool. Jen’s passion for inclusive education stems from her background in special education, a field to which she’s deeply committed. Her academic credentials include a Master’s from the Institute of Child Study at the University of Toronto, coupled with a Bachelor of Fine Arts earned from Concordia University. With her wealth of experience and expertise, Jen continues to champion diversity and equity within educational settings, striving to create environments where every student feels valued and supported. Jen’s marriage to Cliff in September of 2020, officiated by Rabbi Serge Lippe, marked the first in-person ceremony during the pandemic. She enjoys spending time at her house on Long Island with Cliff, and her two daughters Madison and Maya and their dog Cassidy.
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Shiraz has been working with the religious school for over a decade. She enjoys working with teachers and students to have meaningful and joyous engagement with Hebrew and Judaism. She continues to develop BHS-specific curriculum resources for students, teachers, and parents. Shiraz has almost completed a PhD focused on Jewish History at CUNY and she has a master’s degree in Theatre History from Hunter College. She has been a teacher at religious schools for over 20 year and completed a two-year training program in Jewish storytelling for the classroom. In addition to her work at BHS, she teaches Children's Literature and other courses at Brooklyn College and works as an Educational Technologist at Baruch College.
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valerie.oliver@bhsbrooklyn.org
Valerie oversees security and facilities operations, manages outsourced personnel, and ensures the safety of our community and the upkeep of our facilities. She acts as our liaison with the 84th Precinct and other law enforcement agencies, and enforces safety protocols that help protect our students, staff, members, and visitors. Valerie also collaborates with senior staff and leadership to implement enhanced security measures following our recent security assessment.
Given our expanded physical space, the rise in antisemitism, and world events impacting our security concerns, Valerie's expertise is more essential than ever. Her extensive professional experience spans over 20 years, during which she held leadership positions in the New York City Department of Corrections. As Bureau Chief of Administration, she managed emergency planning and response, administrative policies, and compliance with state and federal regulations for all facilities within the NYC Department of Corrections jurisdiction (with some 10,000 employees). During her tenure, Valerie was recognized with numerous commendations for her efforts to reduce violence and received multiple promotions that came with increased responsibilities.
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Erik DiFrisco leads our Maintenance and Custodial team here at BHS as our Facilities Manager under the auspices of our outsourced vendor Landmark Management. Erik has years and years of building experience and multiple certifications in fire safety, plumbing, and other infrastructural codes. Erik is an avid motorcyclist and enjoys camping and being with his family and adores his Sphynx kitties.
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Frank is a dedicated member of our security team who was born and raised in Brooklyn. A father of three and grandfather of two, Frank is a die-hard Knicks and Giants fan, and enjoys music and watching old movies.
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Andre brings more than twenty years of experience in security and customer service. He approaches his work with a strong sense of responsibility and care for the community. Outside of BHS, Andre values family and faith and enjoys football, boxing, and entrepreneurial endeavors.
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James is a dedicated member of our maintenance team, helping ensure our spaces are maintained at the highest standard. Outside of BHS, he enjoys motorcycles, classic cars, and spending time with family and friends.
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Renee is a dedicated member of our maintenance staff and helps ensure that our shared spaces are well cared for. Outside of BHS, Renee enjoys sports and has a passion for fishing.
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Elijah is a dedicated member of our maintenance team and plays an important role in keeping our spaces well cared for. He is a father and godfather, and outside of BHS, works as a personal trainer and content creator.
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Andrew is a dedicated member of our maintenance team and contributes to the daily care of our facilities. Outside of BHS, he has a passion for cars and enjoys spending time with family and friends.