Deborah Afir is a primary school librarian at Kent Place School with a Master’s Degree in Library Science and 21 years of experience.  In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she also brings her expertise as a librarian to special programs in the K-5 classrooms as well as acquiring materials for the school community.

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Michal Ben-Guy is a native of Israel and a graduate of the University of Haifa.  She is currently the Hebrew Language Department chair at the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School.  She brings years of experience in Hebrew language instruction to our faculty.

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Rabbi Avi Friedman tries to bring the ancient wisdom of the Jewish tradition to the modern world for students of all ages.  From ancient rabbinic texts to current events, he tries to show our learners how Judaism has something to say about what’s going on in their lives today. For the 2021-22 school year, he is also our Acting Director.
 

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Jordan Gray Gribbin taught Kindergarten for 8 years before becoming a literacy coach for elementary school teachers in the Scotch Plains – Fanwood school district.  She has a Master’s Degree from Teachers College and (more impressively!) she is also an alumna of our program!
 

 

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Alisen Herman has many years of Hebrew School teaching experience. A graduate of RISDI, she is a graphic artist and ceramicist working with Jewish themes, whose ritual objects for Shabbat and Hanukkah can be seen in the COS-SJCC Women's Group gift shop.  In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she is also our Art Specialist, planning special art activities for the entire school this year.

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Suzanne Levy has many years of Hebrew school teaching experience at multiple synagogues with all different grades. Her focus in the JLC is teaching Judaics to the older students in our program with a special interest in teaching Holocaust Studies. She also has many years of experience leading Junior Congregation services and helps lead our students in prayer and meditation.
 

 

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Rabbi Richard Mayer is on the faculty of Golda Och Academy’s Upper School.  In addition to his rabbinic ordination, he also has a Master’s Degree in Jewish education.  He has many years of experience working with grade school through high school students.

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Cantor Janet Roth brings her enthusiasm for Judaism’s musical tradition into our school.  From ancient prayers to modern Israeli music and everything in between, she brings Jewish music to life for our learners.

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Dawn Wasserman has taught in the Ohr Shalom ELC for years and is now part of the JLC faculty as well.  Her presence in the K-1 classroom allows our ELC graduates to make a seamless transition into the JLC when they see her familiar (smiling) face.