Electives Department - Faculty List

Mrs. Shoshana Genack teaches a twelfth grade Nutrition elective. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Stern College and an M.S. in Nutrition and Food Science from New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education. In addition to teaching at Ma'ayanot, Mrs. Genack is the Chief Clinical Dietician at Wayne Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation.   Her previous positions include serving as a Dietetic Intern at Montefiore Medical Center and as the Special Diet Coordinator at Camp HASC. She has created a course that will provide an overview of nutrition science through units about the gastrointestinal tract, metabolism, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and other topics.

Mrs. Rebecca Herman teaches creative writing and journalism electives. In addition, she serves as a writing coach in our Learning Center and as the faculty advisor for Sambatyom, Ma'ayanot's literary journal. Mrs. Herman holds a B.A. in English Literature from Brandeis University and a J.D. from Temple University Law School. Before embarking on her legal career, Mrs. Herman worked as a journalist; she worked as a features writer, a freelance reporter, and as the Delaware Bureau Chief for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Mrs. Amy Kanarek teaches French and Spanish at Ma'ayanot. She has taught Spanish and French since 1998, in both private and public school settings. She also taught English to native French speakers in France as part of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange. She has a BA in French Language and Literature from the University of Pennsylvania and completed graduate studies in Spanish and French at Middlebury College and Florida Atlantic University. She also studied at Hebrew University and has an MA in Jewish Education from JTS.

Dr. Richard Katz teaches AP Psychology. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Case-Western Reserve University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College. He completed post-doctoral research at the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry and has authored a number of scientific articles. Most recently, he has taught courses, including Brain and Behavior and AP Biology, at Dwight-Englewood School. He has previous teaching experience in the psychology department of Johns Hopkins University and at Bryn Mawr College. 

Mr. Nicholas Meyer teaches AP Statistics.  He has a B.S. in Adolescence Education, with a minor in Mathematics, from SUNY, New Paltz. He has worked as a student teacher, mathematics tutor for college students, and engineering intern.  Mr. Meyer has a particular interest in exploring the role of technology in education, and we are thrilled that our students are the beneficiaries of this endeavor.

Rabbi Yaakov Nadler teaches a Yiddish elective. He is also a Judaic Studies teacher at RYNJ, and has held previous positions as a social worker at Ohel Children’s Home and as a youth director at Congregation Etz Chaim in Livingston, New Jersey. In addition to teaching Yiddish, which is his first language, Rabbi Nadler strives to provide his students with an understanding of and appreciation for Yiddish literature and culture.