Faculty

Search by LAST NAME or filter by DEPARTMENT to find FACULTY members. Hover over each faculty member for contact and bio information.

gordons@maayanot.org • ext 222

Ms. Sarah Gordon

Director of Israel Guidance and Experiential Education, Talmud

info@maayanot.org • ext 256

Mrs. Sara Gruenspecht

Administrative Assistant

guzmang@maayanot.org

Mrs. Gila Guzman

Nutrition

hanauerm@maayanot.org • ext 321

Mrs. Meredith Hanauer

Business Manager

horowitze@maayanot.org

Mrs. Emma Horowitz

English

Meytal Ishai

isseroffs@maayanot.org

Mrs. Shalvi Isseroff

English

kadishn@maayanot.org

Ms. Natalia Kadish

Art

gottlieba@maayanot.org

Mrs. Aliza Adler

Director of Student Activities & Tanakh Teacher

katzensteina@maayanot.org • ext 219

Mrs. Adele Katzenstein

Learning Specialist, Algebra

kapustinm@maayanot.org

Mrs. Melissa Kapustin

Jewish Philosophy

kellerc@maayanot.org

Dr. Caryn Keller

History

knappl@maayanot.org

Dr. Leah Knapp

Psychology

klapperd@maayanot.org

Mrs. Dina Klapper

Math

kurs@maayanot.org

Ms. Samantha Kur

English Department Chair

krauser@maayanot.org

Mrs. Reyce Krause

Director of STEAM Curriculum

lernerc@maayanot.org

Mrs. Chava Lerner

Talmud Department Chair

Mrs. Lori Linzer

majorm@maayanot.org

Mrs. Michele Major

Director of Educational Technology

mallinl@maayanot.org • ext 276

Ms. Leebie Mallin

Director of College Guidance

lowym@maayanot.org

Mr. Mike Lowy

Technology Associate

meyersc@maayanot.org • ext 200

Mrs. Chana Meyers

Director of Learning Center

Ms. Zahava Moskowitz

Tanakh Teacher & Chesed Coordinator

millera@maayanot.org

Mrs. Allison Miller

English

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Ms. Sarah Gordon

Director of Israel Guidance and Experiential Education, Talmud

email: gordons@maayanot.org

ext: 222

About Ms. Sarah Gordon

Ms. Sarah Gordon, a Ma'ayanot teacher since 2008, serves as the Director of Israel Guidance and Experiential Education, and teaches Talmud and chairs the 12th-grade Contemporary Israel course. She previously served as the Director of Student Activities for ten years. She holds a B.A. in Judaic Studies from Stern College, an M.A. in Modern Jewish History from Bernard Revel Graduate School, and an M.A. in Jewish Education from Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education, where she is currently pursuing her Ed.D as a Wexner Fellow and Davidson Scholar. She also completed the Stern College Graduate Program in Advanced Talmudic Studies. Ms. Gordon has studied in education programs at Midreshet Lindenbaum, Matan, and Pardes Institute, and is the recipient of the Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. Her extensive experience in informal Jewish education includes leadership positions at Camp Stone and Bnei Akiva’s Mach Hach Ba’Aretz program. Most recently, she has spent summers teaching in Drisha's Dr. Beth Samuels High School Program.

Mrs. Sara Gruenspecht

Administrative Assistant

email: info@maayanot.org

ext: 256

About Mrs. Sara Gruenspecht

Mrs. Sara Gruenspecht, Administrative Assistant, works in the front office. Everything she needs to know she learned in nursery school, having taught at Gan Rina, Teaneck Jewish Center and Bnai Yeshurun. Sara earned her B.A. in Art History from Barnard College and served as a museum educator and assistant to the director at Yeshiva University Museum. Most recently, she held the position of executive assistant to the senior partner at Leshkowitz & Company, an accounting and law firm in Manhattan.

Mrs. Gila Guzman

Nutrition

email: guzmang@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Gila Guzman

Mrs. Gila Guzman teaches Nutrition at Ma’ayanot. She is the Director of Main Asset Health LLC, a health coaching practice. She is the in-house Nutrition Health Coach at Grand and Essex Market, where she has her own line of “Coach Gila-Approved” healthy takeout foods. She serves as the Camp Nutritional Specialist at Camp Mesorah, where she teaches nutrition workshops and is responsible for all of the special dietary needs of campers and staff. Coach Gila is also a health columnist for The Jewish Link and Shopping Maven. She has taught healthy cooking classes at Ma’ayanot and at Yachad’s vocational program, and in addition to teaching Nutrition at Ma’ayanot will also be teaching a Nutrition/Cooking Elective at Yavneh Academy this year. She holds a B.A. from Stern College, a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, and certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

Mrs. Meredith Hanauer

Business Manager

email: hanauerm@maayanot.org

ext: 321

About Mrs. Meredith Hanauer

Mrs. Meredith Hanauer is Ma'ayanot's Business Manager. Prior to joining our staff in 2014, Mrs. Hanauer worked as an HR Manager. She earned a B.S. from the Sy Sim School of Business at Yeshiva University.

Mrs. Emma Horowitz

English

email: horowitze@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Emma Horowitz

Mrs. Emma Horowitz teaches English at Ma’ayanot. She graduated Washington University in St. Louis magna cum laude with an A.B. in English Literature and a minor in General Business. She earned a J.D. from Benjamin Cardozo School of Law with a Concentration in Intellectual Property Law, and has been admitted to the bar in New York and New Jersey. She has worked in the field of law for the past 13 years. For more than six years, she was an Assistant District Attorney in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, managing hundreds of felony, misdemeanor and Grand Jury cases.

Meytal Ishai

About Meytal Ishai

Mrs. Shalvi Isseroff

English

email: isseroffs@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Shalvi Isseroff

Mrs. Shalvi Isseroff teaches English and serves as the Co-Director of Interdisciplinary Studies. She 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, Mrs. Isseroff worked as a student teacher at the high school and middle school levels.

Ms. Natalia Kadish

Art

email: kadishn@maayanot.org

About Ms. Natalia Kadish

Natalia Kadish joined the Ma'ayanot faculty in 2014 and teaches Art. Mrs. Kadish, who holds a B.A. in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York, has extensive and varied experience as an art teacher: she is the president and founder of Kadish Studios, where she conducts artistic workshops to promote understanding and stimulate creativity for students seeking art enrichment; she created and directed Spirit Art Camp and has worked as an art instructor for numerous other summer camps; and she conducts art therapy for the elderly. Ms. Kadish is also a professional illustrator whose artwork and stained glass have been displayed at numerous venues in New York and New Jersey.

Mrs. Aliza Adler

Director of Student Activities & Tanakh Teacher

email: gottlieba@maayanot.org

ext: 266

About Mrs. Aliza Adler

Mrs. Adele Katzenstein

Learning Specialist, Algebra

email: katzensteina@maayanot.org

ext: 219

About Mrs. Adele Katzenstein

Mrs. Adele Katzenstein works as a Learning Specialist in Ma'ayanot's Learning Center and teaches Algebra and Jewish Philosophy. She joined Ma'ayanot in 2014. In addition to working at Ma'ayanot, Mrs. Katzenstein maintains a private tutorial practice and is a Parent Trainer for EPIC (Every Parent Influences Children) in Rockland, NY. Mrs. Katzenstein has had extensive experience in special education in yeshiva day schools for more than 30 years. Mrs. Katzenstein earned a B.A. in Special Education from Baruch College and a Master's in Education and Reading from Walden University. She has presented numerous staff development workshops throughout the tri-state area.

Mrs. Melissa Kapustin

Jewish Philosophy

email: kapustinm@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Melissa Kapustin

Mrs. Melissa Kapustin teaches Jewish Philosophy at Ma’ayanot. She is a partner at The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP as well as a frequent lecturer on the topics of Jewish History and Law. She has been a guest speaker in many communities across the Northeast, including the Institute for Jewish Ethics as well as Yeshiva University’s Midreshet Yom Rishon. Mrs. Kapustin attended Stern College as a Forcheimer Academic Scholar earning a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, in Judaic and American Studies. While pursuing a B.A., Mrs. Kapustin also attended a joint degree program at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University where she received an M.A. in Modern Jewish History. After several years of teaching Jewish History at Ma’ayanot, Mrs. Kapustin earned a J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law-Newark, graduating with High Honors as well as receiving acceptance into the “Order of the Coif,” a National Honors Society for law school graduates.

Dr. Caryn Keller

History

email: kellerc@maayanot.org

About Dr. Caryn Keller

Dr. Caryn Keller teaches History and has been a member of the Ma'ayanot faculty since 2014. She is the faculty advisor to the Chesed Committee and serves as a teacher mentor. Prior to coming to Ma’ayanot, Ms. Keller taught History at Kohelet Yeshiva High School and at Delaware Valley High School, both in Pennsylvania. Dr. Keller served as a docent for the Museum of Jewish Heritage, where she guided tours for public school students to educate them on the history of the Holocaust. She earned a B.A. in History from Stern College and an M.A. in Teaching Social Studies from Teachers College at Columbia University. She has also earned an Ed.D. at Azrieli Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Leah Knapp

Psychology

email: knappl@maayanot.org

About Dr. Leah Knapp

Dr. Leah Knapp teaches AP Psychology and Topics in Psychology. Dr. Knapp earned a B.A. in Psychology from Stern College and a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Ferkauf School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. In addition to teaching at Ma’ayanot, Dr. Knapp maintains a private practice in Teaneck, where she provides psychotherapy to individuals and couples experiencing a range of difficulties and diagnoses. She also gives lectures and workshops to educators and support staff on relationships and parenting.

Mrs. Dina Klapper

Math

email: klapperd@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Dina Klapper

Mrs. Dina Klapper teaches Algebra II and Geometry. She has an M.S. in Mathematics Education (5-12) from Touro College and a B.S. in Management from the University of Massachusetts. Previously, she taught middle-school mathematics at Ben Porat Yosef. Ms. Klapper also served in the Israeli Defense Forces as a Sergeant/Instructor for the Education Unit. She is a Certified Personal Trainer.

Ms. Samantha Kur

English Department Chair

email: kurs@maayanot.org

About Ms. Samantha Kur

Ms. Samantha Kur, our English Chair, teaches English and Writing Seminar, as well as advising our Poetry Slam team and serving as Co-Director of Humanities Enrichment. Ms. Kur earned a B.A. in English and an M.A. in English Education from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. She came to Ma’ayanot with a variety of teaching experiences; she taught English, History and Drama in South Africa and England, as well as 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. Reyce Krause

Director of STEAM Curriculum

email: krauser@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Reyce Krause

A beloved math teacher for many years, Mrs. Reyce Krause is Director of our STEAM curriculum, working with our Director of STEAM Education & Innovation to coordinate the planning, development and implementation of our constantly evolving, cutting-edge STEAM curriculum. Mrs. Krause teaches our freshman and sophomore STEAM course at Ma’ayanot. She earned her B.S. in Math from Ramapo College where she won the Wiley Prize for Excellence in Mathematics. Prior to joining Ma'ayanot's faculty, Mrs. Krause worked as a computer programmer.

Mrs. Chava Lerner

Talmud Department Chair

email: lernerc@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Chava Lerner

Mrs. Chava Lerner, a graduate of Ma’ayanot’s Class of 2004, serves as Chair of the Talmud Department and teaches Talmud. Mrs. Lerner has 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 (GPATS). 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. Lori Linzer

About Mrs. Lori Linzer

Mrs. Michele Major

Director of Educational Technology

email: majorm@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Michele Major

Mrs. Michele Major joins the Ma’ayanot faculty with extensive experience in educational technology. For the past 15 years, she has served in many capacities at Yeshivat Noam, most recently as an educational technologist, math teacher, technology teacher, and General Studies head teacher. Her role as an educational technologist includes training faculty to conduct assessment programs, leading professional development in the use of technology tools in both Judaic and General Studies, and overseeing the technology curriculum. She has also led instruction in creative applications, Google and Office suites, presentation tools and coding skills. Prior to teaching at Yeshivat Noam, Mrs. Major taught in Ramaz Lower School and worked as a technical recruiter at AC Lion International. She has a B.S. in Human Development from Binghamton University, an M.S. in Elementary Education from Hunter College and earned a certificate in Online and Blended Learning from Yeshiva University.

Ms. Leebie Mallin

Director of College Guidance

email: mallinl@maayanot.org

ext: 276

About Ms. Leebie Mallin

Ms. Leebie Mallin is Director of College Guidance. She is a member of the National Association of College Admission Counselors, the New Jersey Association of College Admission Counselors, and Counselor Advocacy for the Jewish University Experience. 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.

Mr. Mike Lowy

Technology Associate

email: lowym@maayanot.org

About Mr. Mike Lowy

Mr. Michael Lowy is a Technology Associate at Ma’ayanot. Prior to joining Ma’ayanot's faculty, he was an IT Analyst and Manager at various corporations and organizations. Mr. Lowy’s responsibilities include supporting the Technology Department’s mission of ensuring the smooth functioning and usage of the school's technological resources.

Mrs. Chana Meyers

Director of Learning Center

email: meyersc@maayanot.org

ext: 200

About Mrs. Chana Meyers

Mrs. Chana Meyers is Director of our Learning Center. She has a B.A. in Elementary Education from Stern College and a MS.Ed. in Special Education with a concentration in learning disabilities from Hunter College. Prior to joining the Ma'ayanot faculty, Mrs. Meyers taught for 19 years at the Moriah School as a classroom teacher, student support teacher, and teacher in the maximum support of the Gesher Yehuda program. She also worked at the Stephen Gaynor School in New York.

Ms. Zahava Moskowitz

Tanakh Teacher & Chesed Coordinator

About Ms. Zahava Moskowitz

Miss Zahava Moskowitz is extremely excited to have joined the Ma'ayanot family! In addition to teaching Tanakh, she serves as the school's chesed coordinator and coaches Torah Bowl. Ms. Moskowitz earned her B.A. from Queens College and received her M.S. degree in Jewish Education and Administration from The Azrieli Graduate School. She is also a graduate of the The Bellows Eshkolot Educators Institute for Tanakh and Jewish Studies in Israel. Prior to joining the Ma'ayanot faculty, Ms. Moskowitz taught for four years at North Shore Hebrew Academy Middle School.

Mrs. Allison Miller

English

email: millera@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Allison Miller

Mrs. Allison Miller teaches English. Most recently, she taught English, AP English Language and Composition, and a “Writing About Food” course at TABC. She participated as a mentee in the Jewish New Teacher Project, which provides professional development and mentorship to new teachers. Mrs. Miller has also taught English at HAFTR and SAR. She holds an Advanced Certificate in Secondary English Language from the Graduate School of Education at Lehman College, an M.A. in English and American Literature from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Fordham University, and a B.A. in English Literature, magna cum laude, from Columbia University.