GAN (K)
Michelle Pomerantz is extremely excited to be back at ACHS and look
forward to an exciting & productive year! (She taught the Gan class at
ACHS during the 2005-2006 school year.) Michelle graduated in 2004 from
Binghamton University, with a B.A. in Human Development and a minor in Judaic
Studies. After graduating, she taught 2 years of Pre-Kindergarten at
Yaldaynu Preschool and is currently working as the Assistant to the Director.
She’s hoping to be back in school next fall, pursuing a M.A. in Art Therapy.
GAN (K) ASSISTANT
Marlene Rachelle is from New York City. After over a decade working
as a television producer, she is currently a student at the Jewish Theological
Seminary where she is pursuing a Master's degree in Jewish Education. This
is her first year at Ansche Chesed. Outside of her studies and teaching, Marlene
enjoys music and theatre.
ALEF (1st)
Liat Zabar is an Israeli who has been living in NY for the past four
years. Working with children has always been her passion. In Israel, she ran an
after school program in the town of Nahariya and was the Educational Coordinator
for the Association for the Quality of Life and Environment in Nahariya.
She loves nature and also worked as a nature instructor for young children. In
New York, she also works as a preschool teacher in Brooklyn. As an Israeli,
Liat’s ability to teach Hebrew language is a natural strength and merges with
her passion for Israel and its culture. She believes that her skills and
passions will help create a positive Jewish experience in the classroom and
meaningful connection with the State of Israel and with Jewish history and
traditions.
BET (2nd) HEBREW
Carmela Ingwer is teaching Hebrew to the Bet class. A career Jewish
educator, her 28 years of teaching is based on her belief in the power of the
classroom dynamic. She has taught in a variety of educational settings including
Chicago and, for the past 10 years, in New York, both in day schools and
supplemental schools. Carmela has a Bachelor's Degree in Hebrew Literature from
Spertus College of Jewish Studies in Chicago, and earned a Master's Degree from
the Institute of Contemporary Jewry at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. As a
fluent Hebrew speaker, a published writer, and a B’nai Mitzvah tutor, Carmela
loves her work at Ansche Chesed and hopes to educate children to “see the world
through Jewish eyes.”
BET (2nd) JUDAICS
Sigal Mofaz-Levy is teaching the Judaica component of the Kitah Bet
curriculum. Sigal comes with many years of experience working in
elementary Jewish supplemental education. She has taught in schools in Israel
and in the U.S. In addition to her hands-on teaching experience, she has
developed and taught parenting workshops and counseled high school and
university students. Sigal is fluent in Hebrew, English, Spanish, Persian,
and (almost) French and has worked as a translator and a tutor.
BET (2nd) ASSISTANT
Tamara Salamon is originally from East Brunswick, NJ and graduated from
Pennsylvania State University in 2004 with a BA in Psychology and Spanish.
It is her third year teaching middle school Spanish in the NYC public schools.
She received her masters in Education from Pace University in May 2007.
She spent her summer traveling to Poland and Israel on a March of the Living
trip. When she is not at Ansche Chesed or School of the Future, she can be
found painting with her aunt, reading in Riverside Park, or at the gym.
GIMEL (3rd)
Jen Abrams grew up in Dallas, TX and is currently in her second year in
the Joint Program between Columbia University and the Jewish Theological
Seminary after spending a year in Israel on the Nativ program. While this
is her first year teaching at Ansche Chesed, she has experienced the joys of all
grade levels in the past. During the summers she travels as a staff member
for United Synagogue Youth. She's very excited to get involved with the Ansche
Chesed community!
GIMEL (3rd) ASSISTANT
Anna Weinstein is originally from Cleveland, OH and a sophomore at
Barnard College. She is a psychology and history major and considering pursuing
a career in adolescent psychology. When not at Anshe Chesed, Anna is most likely
studying. However, she occasionally takes breaks to sing with her A Capella
group S'madar and plan social events for Koach – the Conservative group of
Columbia/Barnard Hillel. Anna also loves to act, sing, and dance and wishes she
could see a different Broadway show every day.
MATAN
Chava Schwarzbard received her BA from Stern College of Yeshiva University, where she studied psychology and Judaic studies. She is currently completing a dual masters at Sarah Lawrence College and N.Y.U. in child development and social work. Prior to beginning her graduate studies, Chava spent a year in Israel interning in the neuropsychology unit at Shaarei Tzedek Hospital and mentoring students in a year abroad program. This past year, she taught the MATAN classes at Temple Beth Abraham and Park Avenue Synagogue. Chava enjoys playing guitar and aims to incorporate music and art into her teaching.
DALET (4th)
Jody Zellman is from Spokane, WA and is an undergraduate in the Joint Program (Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University). During high school he was an active member of USY, and after graduation he spent the 2006-2007 school year in Israel on the Young Judaea Year Course program. Previous employment and hobbies include B’nai Mitzvah tutor, music reviewer, warehouse worker, magician, musician (French horn and piano), and a brief stint as a Pizza Hut delivery boy. Jody is looking forward to getting to know the Ansche Chesed congregation and New York City!
HEY (5th)
Asaf Greene graduated from Gann Academy New Jewish High School in Waltham, MA and is now in his 3rd year at New York University. He is double majoring in Computer Science and History and has worked at for the HistoryChannel.com and as a counselor at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. Last year, Asaf was the assistant teacher in Kitah Dalet at ACHS. In his free time, he likes to read and play ultimate frisbee, and was the captain of his high school ultimate frisbee team.
VAV (6th)
Roni Greene grew up in Framingham Ma, where he attended The New Jewish High School. He is a recent graduate of the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan with a major in Cartooning. He was a camper and counselor at Camp Ramah in New England for a total of 16 years. In addition to being a Hebrew School teacher, he is a freelance illustrator.
HALUTZIM (8th)
Ben Kramer is a fifth-year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Last year he worked at Ansche Chesed as the Rabbinic Intern and taught Kita Vav and Halutzim in the Hebrew School. He is returning this year to teach Halutzim and a new High School Talmud Program. He is very happy to continue to be a part of the AC community.
MITKADEM SPECIALIST
Julie Deluty is beginning a Master’s degree in Bible & Ancient Semitics at the Graduate School of JTS. A native of Queens, she graduated from NYU in 2007 with a double major in Judaic Studies and Romance Languages (French & Spanish). Julie loves to travel and spent one summer as a member of the Megiddo archaeological expedition in Israel and another as a student in Madrid. She has taught at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope and was on the staff of the Samberg Family History program at the Center for Jewish History. Julie is committed to synagogue religious school education and to the role that the Hebrew language plays in fostering Jewish identity. She is excited to join the Ansche Chesed community as a Mitkadem specialist.
MITKADEM & MUSIC SPECIALIST
Yossi Hoffman is an undergraduate at NYU studying Music Technology with a Minor in Jewish Studies. He attended Solomon Schechter Day Schools for fourteen years. Yossi recently worked as a counselor at Camp Ramah in Nyack, NY, and is proud to say that he had one of the greatest summers of his life. He hopes that his experiences as a Madrikh this coming school year will equal, if not surpass, those of the summer.
MITKADEM & TZEDAKAH SPECIALIST
Abby Kerbel is a sophmore in the Double Degree Program between Barnard College and the Jewish Theological Seminary. It will be her second year working at Ansche Chesed, which she is looking forward to. As the Tzedakah Resource Specialist, she excited to be working with the students and helping to make Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and Tzedakah a part of their everyday lives.
ASSISTANT EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Mara Berde is originally from Spokane, WA but moved to New York City five years ago to begin college at Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary. After two years of working part time at Ansche Chesed during college, Mara graduated in 2006 and took a brief “sabbatical” to work in Israel, returning to Ansche Chesed to work full time as the Assistant Education Director. Her summers are spent working at JCC Camp Wise in Cleveland, OH where she supervised the 10th grade village and the Jewish Education staff. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree at JTS in Informal Jewish Education and aspires to be the director of a Jewish summer camp. When she's not at Ansche Chesed or JTS, she can be found on the ultimate frisbee field, cycling, playing squash, or on the ski slopes.
EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Rabbi Lauren Kurland began working at Ansche Chesed as a part-time family education director in 2002. After graduating from JTS' Rabbinical School in 2005, she returned to Ansche Chesed full-time as Education Director. She feels blessed to work in such an open, warm community that cares so deeply about its children. When not at AC, Lauren can often be found on the Upper West Side walking with her husband Scott, and their children Hannah and Micah.