Chief Executive Officer

Prior to joining the Vilna, Dalit served as the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Impact at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, where she held key responsibilities in furthering the organization’s national strategy, vision, and fundraising efforts. Dalit designed and implemented cutting edge and creative approaches to expand the Institute’s partnerships, educational and programmatic agendas, visibility and effectiveness. Prior to this role, Dalit served as Assistant Director at AJC’s Belfer Center for American Pluralism.

Dalit received a BA in History from Columbia University, a BA in Jewish Thought from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a Master's in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she studied management, leadership and organizational design. She is both an alumnus of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship and a Davidson Scholar. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts with her husband and their two sons. 

Contact Dalit at dalit@vilnashul.org.

Managing Director of Program Strategy and Impact

Laura Conrad Mandel is an artist, public art advocate, and social entrepreneur. She joined The Vilna as Managing Director of Program Strategy and Impact after serving as founding Executive Director of the Jewish Arts Collaborative. Laura came to the non-profit world after graduating Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Art and English, and began her career as the Director of Alumni and Parent Relations for the Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh. She currently serves as the Board Chair of the Council of American Jewish Museums, co-chair of the Boston Lyric Stage Advisory Committee, is a member of the MASSCreative Advisory Council, and the JCRC Boston Council. Mandel writes regular arts and culture blogs for JewishBoston.com and The Times of Israel.

Senior Director of Development

Christen Hazel brings over 20 years of fundraising experience to the Vilna. She has extensive knowledge in managing a robust strategic development plan that fosters a culture of philanthropy and engages all members of the community to propel organizations forward. Most recently, she was the Director of Development at Beacon Academy in Boston, MA. Prior to Beacon, she was the Associate Director of Development at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston located in Newton, MA. She holds a B.A. in Art History and an M.A.T. in Art Education from the University of New Hampshire. She looks forward to sharing her love of Judaism, listening to people speak passionately about the Vilna, and inspiring everyone to support this jewel in the city. 

Contact Christen at christen@vilnashul.org.

Director of Arts and Culture

Elyse Winick joins the Vilna team after nearly 30 years of work in experiential learning. Most recently, she served as the Director of Learning and Education at Combined Jewish Philanthropies in Boston. She has also been the Jewish Chaplain at Brandeis University, the Director of KOACH/College Outreach and a freelance educator with M2 : The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education. A graduate of Brandeis, Elyse was ordained by The Jewish Theological Seminary. With an eye towards creating meaningful and accessible Jewish experiences for adults of all ages, Elyse also has a background in intergroup relations, text-based learning, community building and mentoring. She looks forward to cultivating joy and ideas and translating the past to power the future at The Vilna Shul.

Contact Elyse at elyse@vilnashul.org

Executive Assistant

Claire Bellucci is a graduate of Fairfield University, where she earned a degree in Public Health. Prior to joining The Vilna Shul, she worked as a Population Management Coordinator for a cancer prevention program, where she collaborated closely with both patients and healthcare providers. In this role, Claire utilized her analytical and organizational skills to help build and administer the program, supporting data-driven strategies aimed at enhancing patient care and improving health outcomes.

Her experience has strengthened her passion for building meaningful connections within communities. Claire is excited to bring that same energy and dedication to The Vilna Shul. She looks forward to learning, growing, and contributing to the organization’s impactful mission and meaningful work.

Contact Claire at claire@vilnashul.org.

Development Coordinator / Executive Assistant

Phoebe Coplin joins The Vilna after graduating in 2025 from Boston University with a B.A. in Economics. During her time at BU, she deepened her connection to Judaism and developed a passion for fundraising and development through a variety of professional experiences. These included participating in the Onward Israel program, where she worked as a marketing intern at a start-up in Tel Aviv, serving as a Telecommunications Assistant for BU’s virtual fundraising department (Telefund), and interning with the Hillel Council of New England, where she cultivated donors and learned development systems.

Phoebe also enjoys studying Hebrew and was honored with the Excellence in Hebrew award by the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies. She was one of only two students to receive the award that academic year. In her free time, she looks forward to continuing her Hebrew studies.

Phoebe is excited to grow both professionally and personally at The Vilna and looks forward to connecting with the community.

Contact Phoebe at phoebe@vilnashul.org
 

Marketing and Communications Manager

Jayde is excited to join The Vilna in September 2025, bringing a passion for storytelling and community engagement. Prior to joining The Vilna, Jayde was the Senior Manager of Communications at Temple Isaiah, where she spearheaded the planning and execution of digital and print communications.  

She received her BA from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she studied English with a focus on journalism and professional writing. Jayde combines strong writing and editing skills with knowledge of digital marketing, social media strategy, and creative storytelling to build meaningful connections.