Congregational School

MELISSA SILVERMAN COHAVI
DIRECTOR OF THE CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL
mscohavi@pasyn.org

Melissa Silverman Cohavi has been working in the field of Jewish education for the past 25 years. She holds a master’s in Jewish education from Hebrew Union College, a master’s in social work from Yeshiva University, and a B.A. in Judaic studies from the University of Michigan. Melissa is very connected to Israel, having lived there for several years, and she believes that a Jewish education should include building a connection to and a knowledge about Israel. Prior to this position, Melissa was the Director of Jewish Identity Development at Congregation B'nai Yisrael in Armonk, New York. She spent five summers on faculty at Jewish camps and has worked with individuals of all ages in the Jewish educational sphere. Melissa considers herself to be a lifelong learner and believes that each day brings something new to learn. She lives in Stamford, CT with her husband, Ilan, and they have two adult children who visit from time to time, but it's never enough!

SARAH CLARKSON
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL
HEBREW PROGRAMMING & 7th Grade 
sclarkson@pasyn.org

Sarah Clarkson is excited to join the Park Avenue Synagogue team as the Assistant Director to the Congregational School- Hebrew Programming. She is new to New York City however originally from Massachusetts.
Sarah lived in Santa Cruz, California for the past 22 years and worked at Temple Beth El in Aptos serving as their Congregational Learning Coordinator.
Sarah ran the Congregational School k-10,  began the Young Family Project engaging families with young children, and created a teen engagement program called JEI (Jewish Educational Interns). She is currently enrolled at HUC in their EMA program (Executive Masters in Jewish Educational Leadership). Sarah has two D1 athletes Maya an equestrian who competes for the University of South Carolina and Noah a soccer player who plays for the University of California Irvine. In her free time, Sarah loves to walk by the water and practice yoga.

MACKENZIE HAUN 
Assistant Director, Youth Programing
Teacher & Tutor
Third, Fourth, and Seventh 

Mackenzie Haun is the Assistant Director of Youth Programing at Park Avenue Synagogue and she teaches 3rd grade, a 3rd and 4th grade elective on Shabbat, and a 7th grade elective. She has a degree in Jewish Studies from the University of Kansas and has spent the last several years working for different Jewish non-profits. Mackenzie is excited to be at Park Avenue Synagogue and working with the kids!

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
Teacher and Hebrew Tutor 
Teaches First and Seventh Grade

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.

ILANA BURGESS
Teacher  
Teaches Third, Forth, and Sixth Grade

Ilana Burgess was born in Hungary and educated in Israel and the United States. She started her career a social worker in Israel and came to the states as part of an international program for educators.
For the last 45 years she has taught in Jewish Day Schools , and Congregational Schools serving as principal for 20 years.

Ilana embraces the opportunity to work with students in grades 3,4,5, and 6 grades at Park Avenue Synagogue. 

She finds it very satisfying to see the growth of her students.

REBECCA CHIET
Teacher 
First Grade

Rebecca Chiet (she/her/hers) is a student in The Jewish Theological Seminary's Joint Program with Columbia University. Rebecca is earning two Bachelor's Degrees in Jewish Bible and Political Science. She was born in Nanchang, China and grew up in South Florida. Raised in a multi-ethnic household as an adopted Asian-American Jew, Rebecca is passionate about embracing diversity, promoting tolerance, and ensuring equitable opportunities for marginalized groups. Additionally, in her exploration, Rebecca bridges her Asian and Jewish identities through her involvement in the Jews of Color cohort at her university's Hillel. Beyond her work on campus, Rebecca creates inclusive spaces for female-identifying Chinese adoptees and continues to explore her love for education as a Hebrew school teacher in New York synagogues.

LILIA DOLGOPOLSKAIA 
Tutor 

Lilia Dolgopolskaia, is a Hebrew tutor at PAS working with 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th graders. She holds an MA in Hebrew Language and Jewish Tradition. She has more than 25 years of experience teaching Hebrew to all ages and all levels. Lilia loves to teach/tutor and believes that every student can succeed. Her approach is adaptive and based on keeping students actively engaged.

EZRA FELDER 
Tutor 

Ezra grew up with a deep Jewish tradition and rich Jewish education. He attended Jewish day school from K-12 and then spent three years in Israel before returning to college in New York. He is now in his first year of medical school but continues to find tremendous meaning in teaching children and discussing Jewish topics at PASCS. This is Ezra's third year here and currently tutors students in Grades 1-6.

CHARLIE FEUERMAN
Teacher 
First Grade

Charlie is a sophomore at the joint program between JTS and Columbia University, majoring in Talmud and Physics. In his spare time, you can find him listening to music, painting, or hanging out with his friends.

STEVEN KANE 
Teacher & Tutor

I have been teaching at PASCS since 2015 and love being a part of ushering in the next generation of Jewish learners, teachers, and tzadiks! When not at PAS, I own and operate Steven Kane Training, a fitness business specializing in chronic pain/injury, rehab, mobility, and strength. For fun, you'll find me relaxing in Central Park or going for a hike.

BALILA KRAINER
Teacher 
Kindergarten 

Baila Krainer's students call her Morah Baila.

Morah means teacher. She has been teaching for  27+ years, mostly young children. She is so proud of our Jewish History and loves sharing it it with all the children she teaches.
We have a rich History and a Torah that teaches us and structures us how to live and be a mench and
she feels privileged to be be able to share my passion with others.

AVIGAYIL LANDMAN
Teacher
Kindergarten  

Avigayil Landman is excited to be teaching Gan on Thursday afternoons at Park Avenue Synagogue this year. She was her Synagogue's Sabbat groups in her hometown, Atlanta, GA, for many years. She has also been a camp counselor at Jewish day camps for multiple summers. She feels so fortunate to have the opportunity to share the passion and pride that she has toward being a Jew with Jewish children. She is looking forward to an incredible year!

DANIEL LEVY 
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 shnitzel, watching and playing soccer.

ALEXANDRA NEUMAN
Teacher
Third & Sixth Grade   

Alexandra Neuman is a visual artist and educator currently teaching 3rd and 6th grade at PAS. She received a BFA in Visual Arts and Anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis and an MFA in Visual Arts at University of California, San Diego. She recently published her first book with Onomatopee Projects in Eindhoven, Netherlands. When she is not teaching at PAS she is making films and working as a life coach for neurodivergent artists.

FELICE OLTUSKI
Teacher & Tutor
Fourth & Sixth Grade 

Felice Oltuski is an experienced Judaic studies and modern Hebrew language teacher. She teaches children of all ages, as well as adults, both in person and via Zoom. Felice grew up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, immersed in the Jewish community. She attended Ramaz, Park East Synagogue, and Camp Ramah. As the granddaughter of four Holocaust survivers, Felice strongly believes in participating in Jewish communities wherever she goes and spreading yiddishkeit through education and community engagement. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Philosophy and Comparative Religious Studies from Muhlenberg College. During her college years she was an active participant and leader in Hillel and Chabad. She then went on to make Aliya and lived in Israel for three years while she served in the IDF as a Combat Infantry Weapons Instructor and Commander, rank Sergeant. After returning home to the States, she picked up her Judaic studies and Hebrew teaching again and has been teaching ever since. Felice believes in teaching with joy and motivating students by planning fun, engaging lessons. In her spare time, Felice loves hiking with her dog Mika, reading at her favorite coffee shop, and watching Israeli TV shows. She’s excited to be working at Park Avenue Synagogue!

HANNAH REIKES 
Teacher
Fifth & Sixth Grade   

Hannah is a 5th and 6th grade teacher at PASCS this year. Hannah started at PASCS in 2018 as part of her coursework at the Davidson School of Jewish Education at JTS and has continued teaching at PAS since graduating with a MA in Jewish Teaching and Pedagogy in 2020. Since joining the PAS community, she has taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. She has taught Omanut (art) and Teva (nature)  at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires for many years, and is a substitute teacher in Nursery-8th grade at the Heschel School. In her free time, Hannah enjoys rock climbing, cooking, and tinkering in her minecraft world on rainy days.

CALLIE SACKS  
Tutor   

Callie is so excited to be tutoring 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students at PAS this year. She has enjoyed tutoring students in various subjects throughout my undergraduate years, and when she is not tutoring and participating in Jewish education, she is currently in the process of applying to medical school. She has experience in Jewish educational programming through her work at B'nai B'rith Perlman Camp, where she served as the Head Counselor for her division, and through her participation in the FJC Cornerstone conference in 2019. She is so grateful to have joined the PAS family, and is very excited to meet more of the wonderful students and families in the community!

REBECCA SKOWRON  
Teacher & Tutor
Kindergarten, Second, Fourth, & Sixth Grade   

This is Rebecca's first year teaching at PAS and she is so excited to be teaching kindergarten, second grade, fourth grade, and sixth 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.

SHAI YUVAL 
Teacher & Tutor
Third & Sixth Grade   

Shai was born and raised in Jerusalem and lived for 4 years in Westchester, New York when he was a kid. After going to the IDF, Shai got a bachelors of jazz performance at The New School in NYC. Shai has a lot of experience working with children from the ages of 6-12, having been an after- school program teacher in Israel and also teaching drums privately for many years. Shai worked at Park Avenue Synagogue from 2018-2020 in the Shabbat Program and now is excited to have joined again as a Hebrew school teacher and a tutor.