Mrs. Rivka Kahan has been active in shaping academic and religious life at Ma'ayanot since she joined the faculty in 2002. Before becoming principal, Mrs. Kahan served as Tanakh Chair, Director of Israel Guidance, Director of Professional Development, and Assistant Principal. She also wrote Ma'ayanot's Halakha curriculum and taught Tanakh, Talmud, Halakha, and Jewish Philosophy. She holds an M.A. in Bible from Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University, and Certification in Talmud and Jewish Law from the Drisha Scholars Circle. She studied at Nishmat in Jerusalem and has a B.A. from Barnard College. Mrs. Kahan embodies a passion for education and a deep commitment to Ma'ayanot's unique educational vision of helping students develop the skills and confidence they need to be active, creative, critical thinkers in all areas of learning and life.
Mrs. Tamar Appel, our Assistant Principal, has brought her passion for teaching to Ma'ayanot since 2004, where she has taught Hebrew, American History, European History, Jewish History and Public Speaking. She is also a 9th grade mekhaneket. Mrs. Appel has a B.A. in American History and an M.A. in Modern Jewish History from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also completed her coursework toward a Ph.D. and won the Penn Prize for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching. She is committed not only to guiding students toward intellectual development, but also to helping them find their own personal paths as young Jewish women.
Dr. Shoshana Klein Poupko is our Dean of Students. She earned an Ed.D. in Educational Administration, as well as a M.S. in Secondary Education, from Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University. She is also working toward an M.S.W. at Rutgers University and holds a B.A. in Judaic Studies from Stern College. Prior to joining the Ma’ayanot administration, Dr. Poupko was an Assistant Principal for Judaic Studies at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School, where she worked for 15 years. Dr. Poupko’s varied interests include sports, gardening, and reading.
Ms. Marta Baez was born in Argentina, where she earned a B.A. in Physical Education. In the United States, she studied Health Education at Montclair State University and achieved NJ State Certification in Health and Physical Education. Prior to joining the Ma'ayanot faculty in 2012, Ms. Baez taught physical education for seven years in the public school systems in Jersey City and Hoboken. In addition to teaching Physical Education at Ma'ayanot, Ms. Baez works as a personal trainer and as an instructor of aerobics and zumba and belongs to the Teaneck Women’s Soccer League.
Mrs. Lisa Baron will be teaching Biology and working in the Learning Center. Prior to joining Ma’ayanot, she taught Language Arts in 8th Grade at RYNJ for four years and was a Head Teacher in the Elementary School and Early Childhood of Yeshivat Noam for 12 years. She also coordinated General Studies Support Services in Grades 2-5 and mentored teachers at Yeshivat Noam. She has a B.A. in Biology from Stern College and and an M.S. in Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities Grades K-12 from Teachers College at Columbia University Graduate School of Education.
Mr. Fred Bartels teaches AP Computer Science. He earned a B.A. in Geography from Syracuse University and an M.A. in Geography from Columbia University; he also earned a Certificate in Sustainable Design from the Yestermorrow Design Build School. Prior to joining the Ma’ayanot faculty, Mr. Bartels served as the Director of Information Technology at the Rye Country Day School where he taught AP Computer Science for almost thirty years, and he oversaw the integration of a 1:1 laptop program. Mr. Bartels is the author of a book titled Learning with Laptops. He started The School Computing Wiki and helped launch The Independent School Educators Ning.
Mrs. Nechama Becker, LMSW, 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 Master's in Social Work, and then rejoined the faculty in 2007 to serve as Guidance Counselor and mehanekhet. 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.
Dr. Duncan Bell is a mentor in our STEAM department. He mentors all 9th and 10th graders and assists in program development for all grades. Dr. Bell holds a Ph.D. in Botany and Plant Biophysics from Michigan State University. He recently retired from a career developing research robots for the pharmaceutical industry. He is a founding member of the Nyack Library Makerspace and a former instructor at the Bergen Academy and Rockland County Makerspaces. He is a developer of special effects for the theater and for storefront windows.
Mrs. Heather Benjamin will be teaching U.S. History. She has taught Social Studies at RYNJ for 17 years, and has taught U.S. History and AP U.S. History at Heichal HaTorah. She has also served as an adjunct lecturer and Associate Professor of Sociology at Drew University. Mrs. Benjamin earned a B.A. in History from Rutgers University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, an M.A. in Sociology from New York University, and she completed her Ph.D. Comprehensive Exams in American Law, Gender, and Family at NYU.
Mrs. Gabrielle Berger, a Ma'ayanot alumna, joined the Ma'ayanot team in 2015 and teaches Talmud and Tanakh. Mrs. Berger holds a B.A. in Jewish Education from Stern College, an M.S. in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education, an M.A. in Bible from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and an M.A. in Biblical and Talmudic Interpretation from the Graduate Program for Advanced Talmudic Studies (GPATS) at Yeshiva University. She also serves as the Torah Bowl coach and is a certified kallah teacher.
Mrs. Rivki Berman, M.S., R.D., a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, teaches our Nutrition elective. She also teaches our continuing education Nutrition series. Mrs. Berman earned both a B.S. in Nutrition and Food Science and an M.S. in Nutrition from the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College. After receiving her degrees, Mrs. Berman completed a Dietetic Internship, also at Hunter’s School of Public Health, after which she served as a nutrition teacher for Lifeline Challenge to Healthy Living Program for students in four New Jersey public schools. She has taught nutrition with City Harvest and the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. Previously, she was the Dietitian at Hackensack Hospital's outpatient Cardiac Rehab Department before opening a private practice in Fair Lawn, NJ.
Mrs. Randy Bernstein, Math chair, joined Ma'ayanot in 2011 after having taught all mathematical subjects, from Algebra I through Calculus, at the Bronx High School of Science for over thirty years. Mrs. Bernstein’s skill and experience are manifest in the clarity and confidence with which she explains mathematic concepts. She has also taken school leadership roles throughout her career, including serving as a mentor for teachers and as a member of the Best Practices Committee at Bronx High School of Science. Mrs. Bernstein holds a B.A. in Computer Science from SUNY Buffalo and an M.A. in Mathematics Education from Queens College.
Rabbi Donny Besser teaches Talmud and Halakha, serves as the Judaic Studies Enrichment Coordinator, and is Mashgiach Ruchani. Rabbi Besser also serves as a dayan for the RCA Beit Din of America, and was involved in editing the Masoret HaRav Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah machzorim and a new Birkon, whose commentaries incorporate insights of Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. Rabbi Besser joined the Ma'ayanot faculty in 2005, prior to which he practiced law for six years. He earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School and received semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University.
Mrs. Nina Bieler, Ninth Grade Dean, 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 a certificate for Excellence in Jewish Community Service. Mrs. Bieler formerly worked as Ma'ayanot's Director of Admissions for six years. 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. Amy Birman, LCSW, serves as a guidance counselor and mehanekhet. 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, where she won a Community Service Award. 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 and Halakha and serves as Director of Admissions. She has taught History, has been a 9th grade mehaneket, and has worked as Co-Director of Student Activities. After graduating from Ma’ayanot in 2004, Mrs. Block first studied at Migdal Oz in Israel before attending Barnard College, where she earned a B.A. in History. She holds an M.A. in Biblical and Talmudic Interpretation from the Graduate Program for Advanced Talmudic Studies (GPATS) at Yeshiva University and earned Yoetzet Halakha Certification from Nishmat's Miriam Glaubach Center's U.S. Yoatzot Halakha Program. She serves as a Yoetzet Halakha at the Mt. Sinai Jewish Center in Washington Heights and for the community of Stamford, CT.
Mrs. Chaya Brand has several years of experience teaching Math at all-girls yeshivot in New York and New Jersey. Prior to coming to Ma’ayanot, Mrs. Brand taught Math at Bais Yaakov High School and Yeshiva Ketana in Passaic, Torah Academy for Girls in Far Rockaway, and Bnos Malka Academy in Forest Hills. She earned a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Mathematics from Touro College and an M.A. in Middle Childhood Mathematics Education from Brooklyn College.
Mrs. Gillian Cofnas joined the Ma'ayanot team in 2015 and teaches Chemistry, Physics, and STEAM. Mrs. Cofnas earned BASc and MASc degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto. Early in her career, Ms. Cofnas gained extensive research experience through her work in biomedical research facilities. She shifted to a career in education by teaching Chemistry at RYNJ’s middle school and individually tutoring students, primarily in math and science. She is Ma'ayanot's Science Research Coordinator and coach of our Science Olympiad team.
Dr. Oshra Cohen serves as a guidance counselor. 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.
Mrs. Suzanne Cohen is the Tanakh Chair and serves as Co-Director of Israel Guidance. She holds a B.A. from Stern College, where she was both a Max Stern Scholar and a Kukin Fellow. She also earned an M.S. in Jewish Secondary Education from the Azrieli Graduate School at Yeshiva University and an M.A. in Bible from Bernard Revel Graduate School at Yeshiva University. Prior to joining Ma’ayanot’s faculty in 2003, Mrs. Cohen taught Tanakh at Bat Torah Academy and coached students for the National Bible Contest. Mrs. Cohen's is a past Chair of the RYNJ Board of Education.
As Executive Director, Mrs. Rachel Feldman manages the business office and works to ensure the smooth operation of daily activities for students, faculty, and administration. Since joining Ma’ayanot in 2008, her multi-faceted responsibilities have included budget management, building maintenance and security, and transportation. Mrs. Feldman also oversees the logistical coordination of all major events at Ma’ayanot, from Open House to Graduation. She received her B.A. in English Communications from Stern College for Women.
Mrs. Devora Dawidowicz joined the Ma'ayanot faculty in 2015 and teaches Talmud and Halakha. She earned a B.A. in Judaic Studies and Biology from Stern College for Women, an M.S. in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education at Yeshiva University, and is currently training to receive Yoetzet Halakha Certification from Nishmat's Miriam Glaubach Center's US Yoatzot Halakha Program. She also completed two prestigious Yeshiva University Fellowships, including The Legacy Heritage Teacher Training Fellowship and The Women’s Leadership Fellowship. Before joining the Ma’ayanot faculty she taught Tanakh at Maimonides Upper School, Torah Academy of Brighton and the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, NJ.
Rabbi Jeremy Donath teaches Halakha and Tanakh. He is currently the Rabbi of Congregation Darchei Noam in Fair Lawn and serves as the Bergen County Community Coordinator of OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services. Rabbi Donath received semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), an M.A. from Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, and a B.A. from Yeshiva College.
Mrs. Pam Ennis joined the Ma'ayanot faculty in 2000, and since that time has worked in many capacities; she currently serves as Ma'ayanot's Director of Development, and she previously served as Director of Community Relations, Middle States Coordinator, and a teacher of Law and Government. Mrs. Ennis' love for all things related to education is evident in her volunteer activities, as she has served on the boards and the education committees of both RYNJ and TABC. Mrs. Ennis holds a B.S. in Psychology from Queens College and a J.D. from Fordham Law School.