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HAYLEY NAIMAN – Katantan
(Pre-School program)
I'm so glad to be a part of University Synagogue Religious School. Having joined the Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) community last year, I am beginning to feel that this is my home away from home. I spent six years teaching in both second grade and preschool in an independent school in the valley. I began my teaching career at Temple Ahavat Shalom, the synagogue where I became a Bat Mitzvah and later a confirmand. As you can see, I love working with children.
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RACHEL HALPER –
Gan (Kindergarten)
Rachel Halper is from Los Gatos, CA and is currently
a Junior at UCLA. She is a Math for Teaching major
and will graduate with her California Teach Credential
and M.Ed. Rachel believes the most important element
in a classroom is fun and the best way to learn
is through hands on projects. In her free time,
Rachel enjoys being a member of Kappa Alpha Theta,
reading books, and running. This is Rachel’s second
year at University Synagogue and is looking forward
to working with the Kindergarteners. |
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JOAN BECKER - Alef
(1st grade)
Shalom, My name is Joan Becker and I'm teaching
the Alef class. I also teach in our Early Childhood
Learning Center during the week so maybe I've
even had one of your children in past years. I
really love teaching and making it exciting to
learn in a "fun way." I have two grown
children turning 28 and 31 this year, which I
can't believe how fast the time has gone. In my
spare time, I volunteer with a Jewish non-profit
group, helping others and I'm also a board member.
My life is very hectic and rewarding and I'm very
happy to be teaching at our school. |
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DINA BREVDO –
Bet (2nd grade)
My name is Dina Brevdo and I am teaching Second
Grade on Sunday mornings. I was born and raised
in Russia and came to the US seven years ago.
I have a BS in Family Studies from the California
State University Northridge. During the week,
I work as a Program Director of the Early Learning
center at St Joseph Center, Santa Monica. I have
four years of teaching experience in a Sunday
School as a Kindergarten Teacher; I strongly believe
that children learn best by singing, creating
art projects, and by experiencing. A child's family
and community are his or her primary teachers
and my role is to support the parents and strengthen
the child's connection to Judaism. I am looking
forward to my first year at University Synagogue
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JESSICA DADOUN -
Gimel 1 (3rd grade)
Shalom! My name is Jessica Dadoun, and I am teaching Third Grade. I moved to Los Angeles about a year ago with my sister, and am so excited to be a part of the University Synagogue faculty. I am originally from the Bay Area (South San Francisco, and all around the Peninsula), and attended San Jose State University where I received my B.S. in Business Management. I was a nanny for a wonderful family of five for seven years before graduating and moving. I miss them tremendously, but continue my love of working with children here at Uni-Syn, as well as with IKAR on Shabbat mornings as their second grade teacher. I truly enjoy teaching; especially watching students’ faces light up as they’ve just learned something new. In addition to teaching, I tutor Hebrew for grades 2-4, and am the Operations Manager for a Commercial Real Estate Company. During my free time I love relaxing with my 9-year old Chihuahua/Dauschund, Tiger, and spending time with friends and family. |
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JONATHAN ABELSON -
Gimel 2 (3rd grade)
Jonathan Abelson is a recent graduate from the acclaimed DeLeT program out of the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Jonathan received his California State teaching credential and a Jewish Day School Teaching Certificate through his work at DeLeT. While working on his credential, Jonathan co-taught at Beth Hillel Day School (Valley Village) in the General Studies and Jewish studies program working with K-8 students. Concurrently, he taught music to the school. Jonathan has over 8 years of experience teaching guitar and music privately. He is new to the Los Angeles area, moving here in 2007 from the Washington, DC metro area where Jonathan lived for 17 years. He holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Mary Washington (Fredericksburg, Va), where he was President of Hillel and taught Sunday School at the local Synagogue. Jonathan is also a professional singer/songwriter and attempts to use music in the clasroom whenever possible. He currently teaches 7th grade science at Toras Emes in West Hollywood and is excited to become a part of University Synagogue's community.
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TOVA ELAD – Dalet (4th grade) Hebrew
I was born in Haifa, Israel. I came to the US 25
years ago. My husband and I finished our schooling
here. I have a BA in Jewish Studies from the University
of Judaism. My three children live here in Los Angeles.
My hobbies are: reading, sudoku, watching TV, going
to the movies, and sushi. I've been teaching at
University Synagogue for the last 16 years and I
enjoy it a lot. |
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ORA LICHTENSTEIN – Hei (5th grade)
Hebrew
My name is Ora, I was born in Israel, but I have
lived in America for the last 20 years. I teach
Hebrew and prayer and I try to emphasize the meaning
of the prayers because if students don't know what
they're saying, what is the point of praying? I
know and love Hebrew and prayers, and I love to
share this with my students. I really enjoy teaching.
Thank you for the opportunity to work with your
wonderful children! |
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RACHEL KAPP – Hei (5th grade) JudaicaRachel just graduated from UC Berkeley in May 2009 with a honors BA in Sociology and minor in Jewish Studies. During her time at UC Berkeley, she also studied abroad in Rome, Italy and was fortunate enough to be able to travel all over Europe. Additionally, while attending Berkeley, Rachel worked for Berkeley-Hillel and interned at a theatre non-profit in San Francisco. Originally from Los Angeles, Rachel loves travel, Cal Football (Go Bears!), musical theatre and going to the movies. Rachel also works in a preschool and tutors full time. She taught Religious School this past year and is looking forward to teaching at University Synagogue. |
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FRANCI GOLDBERG – Vav (6th)
A native Angeleno, Franci has been both a professional and lay leader within the Jewish community for over 40 years. Her experience includes Education Director, Day School and Religious School classroom teacher, and cantorial soloist - with specialties in B'nai Mitzvah education, T'filah (prayer), drama and music. Franci likes to borrow from the Torah for her educational philosophy. Borrowing a very familiar phrase from Exodus, she believes that "when you deal with the hearts and minds of children, walk gently, speak softly, and 'take off your shoes for you are on holy ground.' " The classroom environment that Franci enables, is best expressed by this quote from Pirke Avot (The Sayings of our Ancestors) - "acquire for yourself a teacher, and you will find a friend." Franci is looking forward to a school year in which all will become teachers and friends. |
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EITAN LOEWENSTEIN – Vav (6th)
Eitan Loewenstein is very excited to be teaching
at University Synagogue this year. Eitan has lived
in Los Angeles for over half his life and has had
the pleasure of working in formal and informal Jewish
education many of those years. He has an amazing
toddler daughter and a wife who sometimes laughs
at his jokes. For fun Eitan bakes and likes to run
long distances. |
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JOEL ABRAMOVITZ – Mechinah (7th)
Joel Abramovitz originally hails from the Bay Area, where he attended day school and religious school through twelfth grade. He moved southward for college, and attended UCLA, where he studied Jewish Studies and Anthropology, and taught 6th and 7th grade at Temple Isaiah in Rancho Park. After graduating, he enrolled in the DeLeT program at Hebrew Union College, during which he taught 6th grade at Temple Israel of Hollywood Day School. This past year, Joel began studying, at HUC, for his master's in Jewish Education and just completed his first year of that program in Jerusalem. He is excited to be back in Los Angeles, where he loves to visit the local farmer's markets, Griffith Park, and the Museum of Jurassic Technology |
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DEANA SUSSMAN – Tichon
Shalom, my name is Deana Sussman. I am from St. Louis, Missouri, and am currently entering my second year of rabbinical school at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. I graduated from Indiana University in 2008 with a double major in Jewish Studies and Religious Studies, and minors in Hebrew and psychology. I recently returned from my year in Israel, and have been working at a day camp in St. Louis for the summer. I am looking forward to becoming a part of the University Synagogue community this year, and can't wait to meet all of you! |
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DALIA DINOVITCH – Special Needs
Coordinator |
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SIGALIT LAHAV– Hebrew Enrichment
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ORLY SETAREH – Rikud (Israeli dance)
Orly Setareh has been teaching Israeli Dancing for
9 years. Her program, learned from the vision of
David Dassa, is based on connecting the younger
generation to the Jewish culture through their feet.
Israeli dance was an activity created long ago to
unite the Jewish people. Today it is still a necessary
mechanism used to maintain the livelihood of Judaism.
Orly Setareh currently teaches at University Synagogue,
Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Stephen S. Wise Middle
School, Temple Ahavat Shalom, and Camp Hilltop in
Malibu. |
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ABOUT US
