Center for Congregational Learning Staff Bios 5774 ANDREW APT (Kitah Daled) is an aspiring teacher originally from Southern New Jersey, but recently moved to the Greater Philadelphia area. He earned his B.A. in History at Kean University in Union, New Jersey, and also holds a Masters in Jewish Education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He lived in Israel for a total of three years, and was fortunate enough to staff a BBYO Passport trip to Israel for three weeks. This will be his second year teaching Hebrew school, and is very excited to bring his passion for Jewish history and Israel to the Temple Sinai Community! MARJORIE BOXBAUM (Learning Specialist) Taught in the OROT program at Perelman Jewish Day School in Elkins Park for the last nine years, where she instructs special needs students in Hebrew and Jewish studies. Her educational background includes a Master s Degree in Creative Arts in Therapy from Hahnemann University (now part of Drexel University), and a teaching certificate from Gratz College in Jewish Education. She is very excited about starting another new school year at Temple Sinai and looks forward to working closely with staff, students and their families.
JACKIE BAVER (Program Assistant to the Director of Congregational Learning.) This is Jackie s second year here at Temple Sinai as the Program Assistant to the Director of Congregational Learning. Jackie worked in a conservative synagogue in the area before coming here to Temple Sinai. Jackie loves working in a religious school setting where she can help students and families to enjoy an educational and fun environment. While working at her previous position, Jackie led a Wimpel making workshop for the 3 rd grade parents. She instructed them on designing and creating beautiful Torah wrappers to be presented to their children at Consecration and used as wrappers for the Torah during the child s Bar/Bat Mitzvah. This was one of the highlights of her previous job. She is looking forward to working closely with the congregation and contributing to its rich community. Jackie is mother of 3 grown children and is married to her husband Dale. They live in Newtown, PA. SIGAL CASTIEL (Kitah Hey) is a proud mom of two: nine-year old Noa and seven-year old Edan. Sigal came from Israel in 1989 after serving in the Israeli military. She has degrees in Nursing and Jewish Education. She has been working as a Hebrew teacher for more than 18 years (loving every minute of it), and is also a Pre-K teacher at Flanagan s Preschool. Sigal s language skills extend beyond Hebrew to her work as a Spanish specialist. She loves teaching Hebrew through music, helping her students learn about their Jewish traditions and Israel. She works diligently to make her students proud of their heritage. CHANA DICKTER (Kitah Zayin) Born and bred in Brooklyn, Chana (known outside the Jewish world as Ann Ellen) Dickter has lived in the Philadelphia area since graduate school. A former educational audiologist and health care administrator, she has spent over 15 years pursuing her passion in Jewish education. She is the proud parent of two college-aged sons, and looks forward to joining the Temple Sinai team.
SHELBIE FREEDMAN (Mechina Bet) is excited to join the Temple Sinai team! She has lived in the Philadelphia area for most of her life. She grew up in Huntingdon Valley, attended Germantown Academy and Penn State University before moving to Israel, where she lived for 10 years. While living in Israel, Shelbie worked for many years as a preschool teacher. Shelbie has a Bachelor's Degree from Penn State and a Master's Degree in Education from St. Joseph's University. She now lives in Huntingdon Valley with her son, while her three daughters complete their service in the Israeli Army. Shelbie can't wait to meet the Temple Sinai families and to share her love of Israel and Judaism with the Mechina Bet students. WENDY GARTENBERG (Mechina Gan) received a Bachelor s degree in social work from Syracuse University. She attended New York University, earning a Master s Degree in social work with a concentration in child welfare. After completing her training, Wendy worked as a behavioral specialist serving young children in a variety of settings. She also assisted in running a Headstart preschool program. Wendy has three children, all of whom are graduates of the Ann Newman Preschool and now attend Temple Sinai s Religious School. Wendy views Temple Sinai as a home away from home and hopes to provide that same feeling for each student and their family.
JASON GOLDBERG (USY Advisor) has many ties to Temple Sinai. He has been teaching in the Religious School for 16 years. He and his wife were married here in 1996. Two of their three daughters (Carly - 13, Hayley 8 and Madison 5) were named here. His wife (Jennifer) became a bat mitzvah here and sings in the High Holiday Choir. Jason is currently a Math Instructional Support Teacher at Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy in the Norristown Area School District and has been there 10 years. He is an Administrative Supervisor and Transportation Director at Southampton Summer Day Camp where he just celebrated his 21 st season. Jason is thrilled to have been asked back to Temple Sinai, a place which still holds a place in his heart!.jason s goal is to make Temple Sinai USY a top notch experience for all teens. Jason can be reached at templesinaiusy@hotmail.com AMY GOLDMAN (Kitah Bet/ Gimel) has lived in Philadelphia her entire life. She attended Arcadia University and received a BA in Psychology and Special Education. She has taught Religious School since 1988. She feels strongly about introducing children to their heritage, Jewish current events, and performing mitzvoth/tikkunolam. She has participated in many Jewish activities and mitzvah projects including the Jewish Relief Agency, and the Interfaith Hospitality Network. By day, Amy works for the First Judicial District as a supervisor and has been there for 26 years. She is excited to begin the school year and looks forward to learning with students and families. DEBORAH KLINE (Kitah Hey) Is really looking forward to another year at Temple Sinai. Deb has taught Jewish studies for five years and has been teaching Deaf 4th/5th grade students for fourteen years. She attended Hebrew day school and had such an amazing experience with her Jewish education that she hopes to share this enthusiasm with her current students. Deb was fortunate to travel to Israel with Sar-El several years ago and hopes to make another visit very soon. This summer Deb has been training with Student Run Philly Style. She is also a huge Philly sports fan. She hopes everyone one had a wonderful summer and is energized for a wonderful year of Religious School!
LAURIE MATEZ (Mechina Gan) Laurie Matez (teacher): I have been a teacher here at Temple Sinai for many years. I am married to my husband, David, and we have three beautiful children: Zachary, Marshall, and Liana. They each attended the Ann Newman Preschool here at Temple Sinai. I am excited to be teaching in the Religious school as well. I attended Temple University and I hold a Bachelor s degree in Communications and Theatre. In addition, I have a CDA (Child Development Associates) certification. I have always loved young children and desired to work here so I could use my talents and abilities to enrich their lives. These skills have lead to my success as the director of Camp Maccabee here at the synagogue. I hope to remain a part of Temple Sinai for many years to come. ALISSA MORRIS-ALEXANDER (Kitah Daled), was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, attending Ner Zedek-Ezrath Israel (NZEI) from Hebrew School through Confirmation. Alissa also attended the Jewish Community High School and earned her Teaching Certificate at Gratz College. Alissa served as NZEI USY Chapter President, as well as held various positions on the Hagesher USY Regional Board, traveling to Israel as Hagesher liaison and sole representative from Philadelphia. Alissa met her husband Michael through JDate on Purim at Beth Zion Beth Israel in Philadelphia. Alissa, Michael, and their two young children, Samantha and Maya, live in Abington. Alissa enjoys Mah Jongg, Tai Chi, reading, and spending time with friends and family. She is looking forward to the start of a new Religious School year. DOROTHY RAGINSKY (Mechina Aleph) is excited to be working with Michele Whitman again this year. She is currently attending Arcadia University pursuing elementary education and global communications. She also graduated with honors from the Jewish Community High School Division of Gratz College earning the teaching certificate along with her diploma. Dorothy looks forward to watching the Mechina Aleph students continue to grow and love Judaism as much as she does.
FAITH B. RUBIN (Coordinator of Enhanced Education) a Boston native who earned both a Bachelors of Jewish Education and a Masters of Jewish Education from Hebrew College. After teaching and directing religious school programs in Newton and Needham, MA and New London, CT, Faith became the Education Director of Temple Sinai in 1980. She also directed the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College at Temple Sinai. After retirement in May of 2009, Faith was honored with the title of Educational Director Emerita. She continues as the Coordinator of Enhanced Education at Temple Sinai teaching Adult Education classes as well as a High School Shabbat class. Faith is a mother of 3 and a savta of 8. AVI SHARABI (Kitah Vav) Avi Sharabi grew up in New York City, and moved to the greater Philadelphia area in 2010. Growing up in a Hebrew/English speaking home he has always worked on refining the Hebrew language. He graduated from the Torah Academy of Brooklyn High School in 2005 as Valedictorian of Judaic Studies. Following graduation he studied abroad in Israel for 4 years, attaining a Bachelors of Talmudic Law degree (combined programs of Neveh Tzion, and Bais Yisroel). While there, he studied the grammatical aspect of the Hebrew language with Mrs. Hollinder, a woman who has written many online programs for people learning how to speak the language. Currently Avi is studying at Arcadia University working on a Masters of Medical Science with a focus on Physician Assistant studies. He currently lives in Bala Cynwyd, Pa with his wife and 1 year old daughter and new baby girl. MARJORIE SCHWARTZ (B nai Mitzvah Coordinator and Tutor) Marjorie was nine years old when her family joined Temple Sinai. She learned to chant Torah, became a Bat Mitzvah, was a member of the Confirmation class, and got married at Temple Sinai. She holds professional degrees from Temple University and Gratz College in Hebrew, French, Spanish, and Foreign Language Education. She has been part of the professional staff for fourteen years, training B nai Mitzvah students, supervising mitzvah projects, and coordinating Torah reading and readers year-round for the congregation. She lives in Lafayette Hill with her husband Len, who attends services with her every Shabbat morning. Marjorie and Len have two adult children, Stephanie, who lives in Washington DC with her husband Noam Kutler, and Jeremy, who lives in Manayunk with his boxer Mason.
Morgan Schwartz (Kitah Zayin) has lived her whole life in Bucks County, PA, aside from her four years at the University of Delaware. At UD she earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a minor in Jewish Studies that took her to Europe on a Holocaust-focused study abroad. In high school she took religious classes at Gratz and wants to continue being an active part of the Jewish community. She is excited about this opportunity to join the Temple Sinai team and looks forward to an exciting journey ahead! SHELLY SHOTEL (Kitah Gimel/Director of Family Engagement) began her first job teaching Religious School 20 years ago, pledging to try it out for a year to see if the fit was right... well many years later she is still trying it out. She has come to find that she LOVES teaching the morals, traditions, language, holidays, and customs of the Jewish people to our Jewish neophytes. Shelly s skills and passion were recognized when she was nominated as an Honoree of the Jewish Educators Assembly during the 2009-2010 school year, and in 2010-2011, The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) selected her as Class Nobel Educator of Distinction. In 2011-2012, Shelly received the B nai Brith Educator s Award and was featured as Citizen of the Week in the Ambler Gazette on July 26, 2012.This coming year, expect nothing less. The saying this year in her class will be, What happens in our Gimel class cannot wait to be shared at the family dinner table! CALVIN TESLER (Kitah Vav) recently moved back to Philadelphia, his hometown, after living in New York City for a few years. He graduated from Temple University with a B.A in Political Science and a M.A in Jewish Studies from Touro College. He is currently working on his PhD in History at Lehigh University. Calvin has been teaching Religious School for over nine years at Reform and Conservative synagogues in Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey. He has a great passion for teaching and believes that through learning and experiencing Judaism in a religious school setting children build a solid Jewish foundation they can carry with them throughout their lives. Calvin is excited to work at Temple Sinai and looks forward to a year full of fun, music, and interactive projects.
MICHELE WHITMAN (Mechina Aleph) is proud to be teaching for the fourth year in the synagogue her family has called home for 6 years. She is an active member of PTO and does her best to support the success of the religious school both as a parent and educator. Michele got her start in teaching as a tutor and then as a teacher in the religious school she attended as a child. After graduating from Temple University she worked as an elementary teacher for the School District of Philadelphia from 1991-2000. After an eight year hiatus from teaching, she is happy to be back in the classroom nurturing children to love learning, encouraging teamwork, and most importantly to love being Jewish. Michele is excited to spend another fun year with her students. Rabbi Daniel Wolpe (Kitah Zayin) was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1996. He has served synagogues in Boca Raton, Orlando, Detroit and Albany. He has served on the Orlando Cabinet of JNF and as President of the Greater Orlando Board of Rabbis. Additionally, he served on Governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm's, commission on faith based initiatives. An experienced educator, Rabbi Wolpe has been teaching for 33 years and has taught all ages from preschool children to adults. He was also an adjunct Professor at Rollins College for five years. Rabbi Wolpe is a produced playwright whose shows run in Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Albany and Jerusalem.