Mehanekhet Department - Faculty List

Mrs. Nina Bieler is both Director of Admissions and Head Mehanekhet, and she serves as a tenth grade mehanekhet. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Stern College, and an M.S.W. from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University, where she received an award for Excellence in Jewish Community Service.  Prior to joining Ma’ayanot in 2004, Mrs. Bieler honed her community organization skills through her work at the UJA Federation of NY, The Jewish Community Relations Council in NY, and the Lenox Hill Bikur Cholim. 

Mrs. Nechama Becker is one of Ma'ayanot's founding faculty members, having taught Jewish History to our earliest classes. She left Ma'ayanot briefly to pursue a Masters in Social Work, and then rejoined the faculty in 2007 to serve as Guidance Counselor and mehanekhet for ninth grade. Mrs. Becker earned an M.A. in Jewish History from Bernard Revel Graduate School at Yeshiva University and an M.S.W from Fordham University.

Mrs. Amy Birman serves as a guidance counselor and mehanekhet for ninth grade.  Mrs. Birman has a B.A. in Psychology from Barnard College and an M.S.W. from New York University’s Shirley M. Ehrenkranz School of Social Work. In addition to her prior work at Ma’ayanot, she has held positions as a social worker at Cancer Care and Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services, and as a social work intern at Riverdale Mental Health Center and These Our Treasures. Mrs. Birman’s warmth and understanding make her a valued member of our guidance department.

Mrs. Dena Block, a Ma'ayanot alumna, teaches Talmud, History and Jewish History. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Mrs. Block serves as Director of Student Programming and as a ninth grade mehanekhet. After graduating from Ma’ayanot in 2004, Mrs. Block first studied at Migdal Oz in Israel before attending Barnard College. She earned a B.A. in History from Barnard College and an M.A. in Biblical and Talmudic Interpretation from the Graduate Program for Advanced Talmudic Studies at Yeshiva University. Mrs. Block is currently studying toward an M.A. in Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School at Yeshiva University and is training to become a Yoetzet Halacha through Nishmat.

Dr. Oshra Cohen is the guidance counselor and mehanekhet for the eleventh grade. Dr. Cohen earned her B.A in Psychology at McGill University and her Ph.D in Clinical Psychology from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. Prior to coming to Ma'ayanot in 2009, she worked at The New York State Psychiatric Institute, served as a clinical health psychologist at CAPS of Rockland County, and was an adjunct faculty member at Stern College and at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology. In addition to working at Ma'ayanot, Dr. Cohen maintains private practice offices in Manhattan and Rockland County.

Ms. F., Assistant Principal, as she is affectionately known to her students, has been a teacher of Tanakh for over a decade at Ma’ayanot, and served as Director of Student Activities for many years before assuming the position of Assistant Principal. Ms. Flaumenhaft is an honors graduate of Stern College for Women, holds a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School, and is a recipient of the prestigious Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. Her philosophy of educating each student’s whole self and maximizing the best of each student’s abilities is manifest through the extensive and varied committee and club options she has developed for the student body.  Her passion is evident every day in the classroom, where she engages the minds of her students, challenges them to develop critical thinking skills, and shares her love of learning Torah. It is her goal that each young woman graduate having a sense of who she is, what potential she has, and how to engage her talents in the world beyond Ma’ayanot.

Mrs. Julie Goldstein teaches ninth grade Jewish History and serves as a tenth grade mehanekhet.  In addition to teaching, she is currently working on her doctoral dissertation at NYU on the topic of the representation of children in medieval martyrdom narratives. Mrs. Goldstein, along with her husband Rabbi Uri Goldstein, also founded an advanced Jewish learning program at the UCLA Hillel. She received a B.A. in Jewish Studies from Stern College and an M.A. in Medieval Jewish Philosophy from Bernard Revel Graduate School at Yeshiva University.

Ms. Sarah Gordon, Ma'ayanot's Director of Student Activities, also teaches Talmud and Jewish Philosophy and serves as an eleventh grade mehanekhet. After graduating from Stern College with a B.A. in Judaic Studies, Ms. Gordon spent two years studying at Yeshiva University's Graduate Program in Advanced Talmudic Studies. She holds an M.A. in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Yeshiva University and another M.A. in Modern Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University. She has spent time studying in education programs at Midreshet Lindenbaum and Pardes and is currently participating in a Certificate program in Experiential Jewish Education through Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future. Ms. Gordon also has extensive experience in informal Jewish education, having served in a number of leadership positions at Camp Stone, including Educational Director, as well as working as a Program Head for Bnei Akiva's MachHach Ba'Aretz Israel trip.

Mrs. Leah Herzog teaches Tanakh, serves as Co-Director of Israel Guidance, and is a ninth grade mehanekhet. She earned her Teacher’s Certification from Michlalah, the Jerusalem College for Women, and she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Psychology from Barnard College. Mrs. Herzog went on to earn her M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from Loyola University of Chicago, and she is A.B.D. in Educational Administration at the University of Cincinnati. Prior to joining Ma'ayanot's faculty, Mrs. Herzog taught Tanakh and Psychology at Ida Crown in Chicago, RITSS High School in Cincinnati and The Frisch School in New Jersey. She also taught at the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School for nine years, serving as Chair of the Tanakh Department for the last two. Mrs. Herzog, who participated in the AVI CHAI New Teachers’ Center Mentor Training Program, has mentored several new teachers at Ma'ayanot.

Mrs. Shalvi Isseroff teaches English and serves as a ninth grade mehanekhet. Mrs. Isseroff holds a B.A. in English Literature from Stern College and an M.A. in English Education from Teacher’s College of Columbia University. Prior to coming to Ma'ayanot she worked as a student teacher at the high school and middle school levels. 

Mrs. Becky Katz teaches Algebra and Geometry and serves as an eleventh grade mehanekhet. Mrs. Katz holds a B.A. in Math and Economics from Stern College and an M.A. in Education from the Bank Street Graduate School of Education. After having worked as an actuary for eight years, Mrs. Katz moved into the field of education by teaching math at Bat Torah for one year and then completing the Master's program at Bank Street. Mrs. Katz utilizes multiple and varied methods for teaching mathematical concepts in an effort to ensure that each student grasps the concepts in a way that is intuitive to her. Mrs. Katz’s many communal involvements include serving as a member of the Advisory Council at Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future, as a board member and past co-chair of the Education Committee at Yeshivat Noam, and as a member of the Advisory Committee and Adult Education Committee at Congregation Keter Torah.

Mrs. Lynn Kraft teaches Tanakh, advises the yearbook, and serves as a tenth  grade mehanekhet.   She earned her B.A.  in Judaic Studies and Psychology at Stern College for Women, and her M.A.  in Bible at Bernard Revel Graduate School at Yeshiva University. She helped to pioneer, and then studied in, Yeshiva University’s RIETS Israel Kollel Midrashiya, an advanced learning program for women in Jerusalem, Israel. Mrs. Kraft has also taught at Stella K. Abraham High School, Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim, and Sha’alvim for Women.

Ms. Samantha Kur teaches English at Ma’ayanot and is a mehanekhet for tenth grade. She earned a B.A. in English and an M.A.  in English Education from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ms. Kur came to Ma’ayanot with a variety of teaching experiences; she taught English, History and Drama in South Africa and England, and she taught Tanakh, Talmud and English at schools in Massachusetts and New Jersey. Ms. Kur also studied as a Fellow at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies in Israel, and has a degree in graphic design.

Mrs. Chava Lerner, a graduate of Ma’ayanot’s Class of 2004, teaches Tanakh and Gemara, and serves as an eleventh grade mehanekhet. Mrs. Lerner studied for two years at MMY before earning a B.A. in Judaic Studies and Psychology from Stern College. She also holds an M.A. in Bible from Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University, and an M.A. in Biblical and Talmudic Interpretation from Yeshiva University’s Graduate Program for Women in Advanced Talmudic Studies. Prior to joining the Ma'ayanot faculty, Mrs. Lerner worked at SAR Academy for two years, beginning as a Beit Midrash Fellow and then moving on to a position as a Judaic Studies teacher. Mrs. Lerner approaches her teaching with passion for Talmud Torah and dedication to progressive classroom instruction.

Mrs. Leebie Mallin serves as a college guidance counselor and as a tenth grade mehanekhet.  She previously worked as Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island and subsequently as Executive Director of the Hillels of Westchester Foundation, a multi-campus Hillel serving 1300 Jewish students. This experience gave her an intimate understanding of campus life, which serves her well in her work as a college guidance counselor. Ms. Mallin holds a B.A. in Political Science from Stern College, an M.A. in Political Science from Columbia University, an M.A. in Jewish History from Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University, and certification in Talmud and Jewish Law from the Drisha Scholars Circle. 

Mrs. Orly Nadler, Director of Educational Technology, also serves as a tenth grade mehanekhet. Mrs. Nadler is an honors graduate of the Sy Syms School of Business, with a B.S. in Management Information Systems, and she is currently completing an M.A. in Jewish Philosophy at Bernard Revel Graduate School at Yeshiva University. Prior to joining Ma'ayanot's faculty, Mrs. Nadler taught Jewish History at Bruriah High School, and computer courses at various other schools. She also worked as a Project Coordinator for a Judaic online learning website that is soon to debut. She is available as a resource to faculty and students, aiding the integration of technology into all aspects of the Ma’ayanot school culture.

Mrs. Nava Orlian works in Ma'ayanot's Office of Student Special Services, teaches Jewish Philosophy, and serves as an eleventh grade mehanekhet. Upon completing her B.A. in Education and Judaic Studies at Michlalah, the Jerusalem College for Women, she stayed on at Michlalah to both teach and to serve as an adviser to students in the overseas program. While in Israel she was also involved in founding the ELIYA School for the Blind in Jerusalem and she instructed students with various learning disabilities in Israeli high schools. Upon returning to the United States, Mrs. Orlian received her M. S. in Special Education from Hunter College, became certified as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired, and attended the Master’s Program in Jewish History at Touro College.

Mrs. Shoshana Samuels teaches Halakha and Jewish Philosophy and serves as a ninth grade mehanekhet. She earned a B.A. in Judaic Studies from Stern College, an M.A. in Jewish Philosophy from Ben Gurion University, and she is a graduate of the Keren Ariel Yoetzet Halakha Program at Nishmat in Israel.  While living in Israel, Mrs. Samuels taught high school students at Mekif Amit and at Yeshivat Bnei Akiva in Beer Sheva, and she also worked with elementary  through college-age students in a variety of informal Jewish educational settings. In addition to teaching at Ma’ayanot, Mrs. Samuels is the yoetzet halakha at Congregation Rinat Yisrael, Congregation Netivot Shalom, and Kesher Synagogue in Bergen County, and  she regularly visits the Jewish community in Los Angeles to give shiurim and to serve as yoetzet halakha there as well.

Mrs. Eileen Schwartz, a.k.a. "Coach," has served as Ma'ayanot's Athletic Director since 1997.  She teaches tenth grade Health and numerous Physical Education classes, she serves as a twelfth grade mehanekhet, and she directs our many athletic teams, including tennis, soccer, swim, track, softball, basketball, hockey and volleyball. Mrs. Schwartz earned a B.S. in Health and Physcial Education at William Paterson College and is also certified as a personal trainer. She is also an active member of AAHPERD (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) and NASPE (National Association for Sport and Physical Education).

Mrs. Elise Vitow is the Director of Student Special Services, she teaches Biology, and she serves as a ninth grade mehanekhet. Prior to joining the Ma’ayanot faculty, she served on the faculties of both HAFTR and HALB, where she taught various science and math courses for thirteen years. At HAFTR, she also served as the Chairperson of the Science Department of the Middle School, as well as a learning specialist, staff mentor, and in-service instructor of new faculty. Before returning to teaching full time, Mrs. Vitow was the Educational Administrator of the Stanley H. Kaplan Educational Center in Staten Island for eight years. Mrs. Vitow received both her B.A. in Languages and Literature and her M.S. in Special Education from CUNY, and she completed sixty credits towards an R.N. degree. She is a member of the team of founding educators of the National Association of Yeshiva Day Schools Serving Exceptional Children (NADSEC), as well as a member of the N.J. Association of Jewish Day Schools.

Dr. Rayzel Yaish serves as Ma'ayanot's Director of Guidance, guidance counselor for tenth and twelfth grades, and mehanekhet for twelfth grade. She earned a B.A. in Pre-Med and Psychology from Stern College, and she received her Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. Prior to coming to Ma’ayanot in 2007, Dr. Yaish was the Director of Guidance at the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy Middle School. She has worked with teens for many years, as a Head Counselor both at Camp HASC and Camp Simcha. Dr. Yaish enjoys consulting and presenting workshops for a variety of local and national organizations on topics related to mental health, general health, the special needs population, communication, leadership, and the interface of spirituality and psychology.