Congregational School

MATT ALTMAN
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL
6th & 7th Grade 
maltman@pasyn.org

Matt is excited to join the PASCS team as the Assistant Director for Vav and Zayin (grades 6 and 7). Matt has worked in various Jewish communities around the US and abroad. Originally from Atlanta, Matt earned his B.S. in Educational Public Policy from Georgia State University, and recently completed an M.A. in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from Georgia State, Matt worked as the Director of Youth Engagement for Congregation Etz Chaim in Atlanta. Following a year of teaching English abroad in Haifa, Israel, he completed the Springboard Fellowship at Penn State Hillel. He spent many years as both a camper and the head Jewish professional at Camp Barney Medinitz in Georgia. Matt believes that Jewish knowledge should be accessible, relevant, and exciting for all ages! In his free time, Matt loves to bike around Brooklyn, read historical novels, volunteer, and study Jewish texts, especially Pirkei Avot.

AARON HERSH
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL
3rd Grade through 5th Grade 
ahersh@pasyn.org

Aaron joined the PASCS team in 2021 as an intern while studying for his master's degree. He earned a B.A. in American Studies and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University, and a Master of Arts in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Prior to pursuing his M.A., Aaron was a full-time educator at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, NY. He spent many summers at URJ Eisner Camp as a camper, song leader, and Jewish life specialist. Aaron grew up across Central Park, on the Upper West Side. While in high school, Aaron was inspired to become a Jewish educator  because of his experiences traveling on a family trip to Israel and working as a teen teaching assistant at his synagogue. As a teacher and song leader, he believes in the importance of meeting each learner at their level, as well as the power of music as a way of connecting to Judaism. Aaron is delighted to engage in Jewish learning with PAS students and families!

HEATHER NOVER
HEBREW TUTORING

In addition to her work as an Administrative Assistant at Park Avenue Synagogue, Heather Nover is the Executive Director of the Anshe Emeth Community Development Corporation located in New Brunswick, NJ. She has her Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from Monmouth University.  She lives in East Windsor, NJ with her husband Rabbi Matt Nover, their daughter Jane, and their dog Jada.

MAY ABRAVANEL
Teacher and Hebrew Tutor
Teaches Third thru Seventh Grade

Shalom PAS families! May is returning for her second year at PASCS — ready to meet the new students and reconnect with the old. You can find May around PAS throughout the year: during high holidays, in the 89th street building during the year, and swimming on the roof of the 87th building with Camp Keshet during the summer. She is looking forward to another exciting year!

AMY ADLER RITELL
Hebrew Tutor

Amy lives with her husband in Ridgefield, CT and Highland Beach Fl, depending on the time of year. She has two grown children, a son who lives in Brookline MA and a daughter who recently married and is living with her husband in Scotland. Amy has been involved in some form of Jewish education for over thirty years as both a teacher and administrator for several schools in Connecticut as well as Westchester. Her favorite subject to teach is the Aleph Bet.

CANTOR MIRANDA BECKENSTEIN
Hebrew Tutor 

Cantor Miranda "Mandi" Kark Beckenstein was born in Cape Town, South Africa. In 1985 she emigrated to the USA. She immediately entered the cantorial program at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion-Debbie Friedman School of s Sacred Music graduating with a Masters Degree in Sacred Music and Ordination as a Cantor.  She has served several Reform and Conservative Congregations in the Tri-State area, as Cantor, Director of Education, Nursery School Director, and most recently as a 1st thru 7th grade Hebrew teacher in our Congregational School. She loves teaching and working with our young folk, hopefully inspiring students and families to be enthused about our Jewish learning.  In her free time, she knits, collects mint postage stamps, loves Broadway shows and opera, as well as reading voraciously. She is the Secretary of Kol Hazzanim, the Cantors Group in Westchester County, NY.

MOLLY CHESS
Hebrew Tutor

Molly has been a member of the PASCS teaching team since 2016 and has previously taught 3rd and 6th grades and has also tutored many students. She enjoys helping students make connections to be able to decode Hebrew. In her free time, Molly enjoys creating pottery, cooking, and watching documentaries.

SARIT COHEN 
Hebrew Tutor 

Sarit is 19 years old and is a student at Stern College for Women (Yeshiva University). She attended Jewish day schools throughout lower, middle, and high school and spent a year learning in seminary in the Old City of Jerusalem. Sarit enjoys working with children and looks forward to helping the students of Park Avenue Synagogue improve their Hebrew skills.

JORDI FEDERMAN 
Hebrew Tutor 

Jordi is an Early Childhood Education Consultant for the NYC Department of Health in the Bronx. She has a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and has been teaching for a full decade. This is her 6th year as a Hebrew tutor at PAS and is excited to be back. Jordi enjoys running, going to Broadway shows, and hosting Shabbat dinners for friends and family.

TALIA FELDMAN
Teacher
Sixth Grade

Talia is excited to be a teacher and tutor at PASCS this year. She has spent the last two years as the Teen Program Coordinator at Congregation Beth El in South Orange NJ and is now a preschool teacher in the city. She is passionate about Jewish education and excited to work with children to help them form their Jewish identities.

JACOB FLEKIER
Teacher
Second Grade

This is Jacob’s first year teaching at PAS and he is so excited to be teaching second grade and Shabbat classes. Jacob graduated from Webster University and in addition to teaching, he is a professional actor. Jacob worked as a camp counselor at Herzl Camp in Wisconsin and is passionate about Judaism and Jewish education.

MAYA JAMIL
Teacher
Kindergarten

Maya is excited to return to the wonderful community at Park Avenue Synagogue this year teaching kindergarten. She is currently a student at Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary studying Computer Science and Jewish Texts. She grew up in Westchester, New York, and attended Jewish day schools from nursery through high school, before spending her gap year learning in the Old City of Jerusalem. Maya spends her free time practicing yoga, gardening, hiking, and learning Torah. She feels passionate about helping students connect to their Jewish identity and form a deep love of Judaism.

JOAN KANTOR
Teacher 
Second and Fourth Grade

Joan Kantor has been working in the field of Jewish Education for over 4 decades.  Her experiences range from directing her camp's teen program, to directing the after-school program at the 92nd Street Y to mentoring teenage girls during their Rosh Hodesh group and beyond. 

Joan has been a teacher for every grade from kindergarten to adult Jewish mindfulness training. Joan is thrilled to be a member of the PAS team teaching fourth grade this year.

REBECCA KUZNICK
Teacher & Hebrew Tutor
Kindergarten, Second, Third, and Fourth

Rebecca has been teaching at PAS for 7 years. She is currently teaching Bet and Dalet during the week, as well as tutoring and Shabbat mornings. In past years she has taught grades K-6. She also works at Shalom Shtayim. When she's not at PAS she's pursuing a career in Musical Theatre.

DANIEL LEVY 
Hebrew Tutor

Daniel Levy is from Jerusalem. He has lived in the United States for the past 3.5 years, and loves his constant connection to Hebrew. He has been a member of the PASCS tutoring team since he moved. Daniel enjoys helping students understand the magic of the Hebrew language, decoding, and translating Hebrew words. In his free time, Daniel enjoys spending time with family, making schnitzel, and watching and playing soccer.

HILA NAUS
Teacher
First and Second Grade

Hila Naus joined Park Avenue Synagogue in 2019 as a Zman Ivrit Specialist, engaging students in Hebrew through music, singing, and movement. Hila moved to the States in 2011 to study acting and music and graduated from The American, Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC with a focus on musical theater. As a native Hebrew speaker from Israel, Hila is able to connect students of all ages to Jewish heritage from an Israeli perspective. Her expertise comes from a decade long working with children in Israel and New York. When Hila is not at Park Avenue, she pursues her acting and singing careers.

NICOLE RAPHAEL
Teacher
Second Grade

Nicole is honored to have made her home at Park Avenue Synagogue! As an Educator at PASCS for the past four years and Founder and Artistic Director of The Mesaper Theatre, Nicole combines her passions for acting, Jewish heritage, and education. In addition to teaching Kitah Bet, Nicole has developed and is facilitating the special Shabbat Elective: From Page to Stage - Out of the Apple Orchard! PASCS students work as members of a theatre company, learning about the unique history of the Catskills while acquiring acting skills. Nicole holds a Master's degree from the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education at The Jewish Theological Seminary and an MFA in Acting from The Actors Studio Drama School at The New School. She is a proud graduate of Smith College, as well as a member of the Actor’s Equity Association (AEA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

ETI ROZEN 
K-2 Hebrew Specialist   

Eti Rozen is a Hebrew Specialist at PASCS. Born in Israel, Eti has also been a Music teacher at the Schechter Manhattan school for fifteen years. Eti graduated from New York College of Music, which later became the music department of NYU.

EMMA SESAR
Teacher 
First & Third Grade

Emma grew up in Los Angeles, California, where she attended Brawerman Elementary School and began her Jewish learning. She was engaged with her Jewish community through her involvement with Wilshire Boulevard Temple and Camp Hess Kramer. She graduated in May of 2022 from Tulane University with her BA in Psychology and Early Childhood Education and Jewish Studies. During her time at Tulane, Emma developed her Jewish education skills through her work at Hillel, participation in The Nachshon Project and involvement at Touro Synagogue, both as a religious school teacher and Assistant Youth Educator. Last year, Emma worked as an English teacher at a middle school in Israel as a Masa Israel Teaching Fellow and this Fall, Emma is beginning her Masters of Jewish Education at JTS Davidson!

REBECCA SKOWRON  
Teacher & Hebrew Tutor
First, Third, and Fifth Grade  

This is Rebecca's first year teaching at PAS and she is so excited to be teaching first, third, and fifth grade classes. Rebecca graduated from Ithaca College and in addition to teaching, she is a professional musical theatre performer. Rebecca is passionate about Judaism and Jewish education and is looking forward to helping students connect to and embrace their Jewish identity.

RUTHIE STOLOVITZ
Teacher & Hebrew Tutor
Third Grade

Ruthie is a recent graduate from Georgia Tech and a student at Kean University's PsyD program. She has 7+ years of experience in Jewish education and has worked as a camp counselor, Sunday school teacher, and after-school teacher with children of all ages. In her free time, she loves to work with cats and dogs, read mysteries, and bake. She cannot wait to meet everyone and is so excited to be a part of the Park Avenue Synagogue community!