Executive Director
Steven Goldberg assumed his role as Temple Judea Executive Director in 2023. Steven comes to this position after a 33 year career in education. He has a background in teaching, counseling and administration. He has served as a principal for several years in elementary, middle and high schools along with other leadership positions. Steven has an interest in history and the Holocaust. He will be working closely with the Director of the the Irving Roth Holocaust Resource Center, Lauren Resnikoff. This facility is housed inside the synagogue and can be a great source of education for both children and adults. Additionally, Steven will be working with Rabbi Chizner, Cantor Jacobson and other stakeholders to continue to promote the high standards of the synagogue. Steven lives in Commack and enjoys spending time with his daughters Halle and Jenna. He also enjoys traveling, fixing things around the house and collecting sports memorabilia.
Director of Education
Lauren Resnikoff, RJE joined the professional staff at Temple Judea of Manhasset in 2013. As our educational leader, she has been instrumental in the visioning and implementation of our innovative, STEM-based, technology-rich J-Tech educational program. Additionally, she developed and taught our exciting Journeys family programs and has built an early childhood program as part of the PJ Library program. She also runs the 7th-grade program through which our teens meet regularly with Holocaust survivors to learn their testimonies.
Prior to joining Temple Judea, Mrs. Resnikoff served as the Educational Director of Temple Sinai of Roslyn. During her 7 year tenure, she was awarded numerous national and local grants and awards for her innovative programming. She developed and implemented alternative school models, programs for students with special needs, and integrated technology into the educational program. She also served at Temple Beth David in Commack for 15 years, first as the Religious School Director and thereafter as Director of Lifelong Learning. She served as the assistant to the Director at Beth-El of Great Neck from 1989-1991. In addition to teaching within the Reform Movement, she has held a variety of youth group and camp positions. Mrs. Resnikoff was recognized by the National Association of Temple Educators in 1994, when they granted her the title of Reform Jewish Educator.
Mrs. Resnikoff served as a mentor to other congregational school directors as part of the Leadership Institute, a joint project of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion and The Jewish Theological Seminary. Lauren has also developed technology-based curricula, for which she has won national awards. She has given numerous workshops throughout the country training teachers in the integration of technology in the religious school classroom.
Mrs. Resnikoff received her M.A in Religious Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She earned a second Master’s Degree in Jewish Educational Technology through a special program sponsored by the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York and New York Institute of Technology. Mrs. Resnikoff was awarded an honorary doctorate from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2016. She holds a B.A., cum laude, in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University. While at Brandeis, Mrs. Resnikoff received teacher certification and participated in the overseas exchange program at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Mrs. Resnikoff lives in Commack with her husband, Michael. They have 3 adult children.