Faculty

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

pultmana@maayanot.org

Mrs. Adeena Pultman

Film & Law

reinerb@maayanot.org • ext 151

Mr. Benny Reiner

Director of Information Technology

rappst@maayanot.org

Ms. Tammie Rapps

English

rotenbergc@maayanot.org

Mrs. Chani Rotenberg

History Department Chair, Co-Director of Humanities Enrichment & Interdisciplinary Programming

rosenbauma@maayanot.org

Mrs. Ariella Rosenbaum

Computer Science

saffernc@maayanot.org

Mrs. Chanie Saffern

Math Department Facilitator

samuelsy@maayanot.org • ext 231

Mr. Yaakov Samuels

History

sandersj@maayanot.org • ext 224

Coach Jen Sanders

Athletic Director

schriero@maayanot.org

Mrs. Ora Schrier

Director of Religious Programming, Tanakh

schapiros@maayanot.org

Mrs. Shifra Schapiro

Tanakh, Creative Writing

slomnickie@maayanot.org

Mrs. Esther Slomnicki

Biology

madeline@maayanot.org • ext 104

Mrs. Madeline Schmuckler

Administrative Assistant

steing@maayanot.org • ext 118

Mrs. Gila Stein

Science Department Chair & Director of STEAM

steinfelds@maayanot.org

Mrs. Shira Steinfeld

Math

transportation@maayanot.org

Mr. AJ Stone

Transportation Coordinator

tal-timenm@maayanot.org

Mrs. Merav Tal-Timen

Hebrew Department Chair

Mrs. Racheli Taubes

Biology & Chemistry Teacher

Mrs. Basya Teitelbaum

Learning Center

weily@maayanot.org

Mrs. Yael Weil

Halakha

zomberga@maayanot.org

Ms. Arielle Zomberg

Biology & Chemistry

yaishr@maayanot.org • ext 106

Dr. Rayzel Yaish

Director of Guidance

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Mrs. Adeena Pultman

Film & Law

email: pultmana@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Adeena Pultman

Mrs. Adeena Pultman holds a J.D. from Rutgers University and a B.A. in English from Queens College. Her course Film & Law brings to life our most important constitutional rights through the use of film and other media. Mrs. Pultman also coaches our College Bowl team. For the past two years, Mrs. Pultman taught Current Events, in which she engaged her students with challenging discussions about the state of affairs in Israel, the Middle East, and throughout the world. She exhibits her great communications skills and attention to individualized instruction as a talented fitness instructor.

Mr. Benny Reiner

Director of Information Technology

email: reinerb@maayanot.org

ext: 151

About Mr. Benny Reiner

Mr. Benny Reiner is Director of Information Technology. He has taught the Coding elective and works on Ma'ayanot video production, STEAM Research and Development, and runs the Technology Club. Prior to joining Ma’ayanot’s faculty, Mr. Reiner worked as an Engineer Specialist for The Garb Consulting Group, where he specialized in networking and systems management.

Ms. Tammie Rapps

English

email: rappst@maayanot.org

About Ms. Tammie Rapps

Mrs. Tammie Rapps has joined our English department. Mrs. Rapps most recently served as Head of School at Akiba Academy of Dallas from 2014-2018. Prior to that she worked at Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville, MD for 20 years, first as an English teacher and English Department Chair and then as Assistant Principal. She has also taught English at Yeshiva University High School for Girls. She has worked on the editorial board of BabagaNewz, an educational magazine and website, and created their accompanying teachers' guide. Mrs. Rapps has an A.B. in English literature from Princeton University, cum laude, and an M.A. in Secondary English Education from Teachers College of Columbia University, where she was a Mellon Fellows-in-Teaching fellow.

Mrs. Chani Rotenberg

History Department Chair, Co-Director of Humanities Enrichment & Interdisciplinary Programming

email: rotenbergc@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Chani Rotenberg

Mrs. Chani Rotenberg is the Chair of our History Department, Co-Director of Interdisciplinary Programming, and Co-Director of Humanities Enrichment. She graduated from Barnard College with a major in Political Science and a minor in US History, and earned two Master's Degrees: a Master's in Public Administration from NYU and a Master's in Adolescent Social Studies Education from Hunter College. Prior to joining Ma'ayanot's faculty, Mrs. Rotenberg was a student teacher of US History at Manhattan/Hunter Science High School. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Rotenberg has tutored groups of students as part of the AVID College Preparedness Program and has conducted research on various education topics, including STEM schools, teacher quality, charter schools and small high schools, at NYU's Institute for Education and Social Policy.

Mrs. Ariella Rosenbaum

Computer Science

email: rosenbauma@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Ariella Rosenbaum

Mrs. Ariella Rosenbaum has returned to Ma’ayanot to teach AP Computer Science in a distance-learning format. From 2008-2015, Mrs. Rosenbaum taught several courses at Ma’ayanot, including Chemistry, Physics (including AP) and Algebra. In 2016, she moved to Ohio, where she has been teaching Biology, Health, and Advanced & AP Chemistry and AP Physics at Columbus Torah Academy. Mrs. Rosenbaum earned dual degrees, summa cum laude, at Stern College, a B.A. in Physics and a B.A. in Jewish Studies/Bible. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Teaching Physics Grades 7-12 at Teachers College at Columbia University.

Mrs. Chanie Saffern

Math Department Facilitator

email: saffernc@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Chanie Saffern

Mrs. Chanie Saffern, our Math Department Facilitator and teacher of AP Calculus AB, has been teaching and tutoring all levels of mathematics for over 25 years. She currently works for the district in our Learning Center building the confidence and skills of our students. She graduated from Queens College with a major in mathematics and completed her Master of Arts in mathematics education at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her thesis on math anxiety was propelled by an interest in understanding its origin and what we can do to allay it. Mrs. Saffern takes pride in her ability to convey complex information to all students by breaking it down into smaller components. She takes the time to comprehend how the individual student preliminarily understands the material. She taught all levels of mathematics classes at Ma'ayanot from Algebra through Pre-calculus in the early years of Maayanot from 1999-2005.

Mr. Yaakov Samuels

History

email: samuelsy@maayanot.org

ext: 231

About Mr. Yaakov Samuels

Mr. Yaakov Samuels teaches History and serves as the adviser for the Model U.N. team. Mr. Samuels received his B.A. in History from Rutgers University and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He holds K-12 State Teacher Certification in Social Studies and designation as a “Highly Qualified Teacher of Social Studies” from New Jersey City University. Mr. Samuels also works with students in all grades to handle any tracking changes or residency issues. He is a practitioner of martial arts and competes in Spartan obstacle course races.

Coach Jen Sanders

Athletic Director

email: sandersj@maayanot.org

ext: 224

About Coach Jen Sanders

Ms. Jennifer Sanders, fondly known as "Coach Jen," serves as Ma'ayanot's Athletic Director. She teaches Physical Education in all grades as well as Health in 10th grade. She holds a B.S. in Psychology, with concentrations in sport psychology and social psychology, from the University of Florida. She is LGI/CPR/FA certified, holds Lifeguard and ACE Personal Trainer certifications, and is a Silver Sneakers Instructor. She is a personal trainer and has worked as an Aquatics Director for Camp Shalom for more than 10 years teaching swimming and supervising lifeguards. Prior to joining Ma'ayanot's faculty, Ms. Sanders worked as a Physical Education teacher at Yeshivat Noam and Ben Porat Yosef, she was the Director of Fitness, Recreation and Aquatics at the YM & YWHA in Clifton, NJ.

Mrs. Ora Schrier

Director of Religious Programming, Tanakh

email: schriero@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Ora Schrier

In addition to serving as Director of Religious Programming, Mrs. Ora Schrier also teaches Tanakh and Chasidic Thought and coordinates Senior Seminar. Prior to joining the Ma’ayanot faculty in 2014, she earned an M.S. in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education. She is an honors graduate of Stern College for Women, where she received her B.A. in Jewish Education and Political Science. Mrs. Schrier and her husband are resident scholars at Darchei Noam in Fairlawn, NJ. During the summers she teaches and serves as Assistant Director of Michlelet, NCSY’s Israel learning program for high school girls. She was also a fellow at Brandeis University for the Orthodox Union's Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus.

Mrs. Shifra Schapiro

Tanakh, Creative Writing

email: schapiros@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Shifra Schapiro

Mrs. Shifra Schapiro teaches Tanakh and serves as Co-Director of Professional Development, Middle States Accreditation Coordinator, and faculty adviser of Ma’ayanei Torah. Mrs. Schapiro earned her B.A. in Biology and Judaic Studies as a Distinguished Scholar from Stern College, where she was the Judaic Studies valedictorian. She earned an M.A. in Bible from Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel Graduate School. Before coming to Ma’ayanot, Mrs. Schapiro assisted in the preparation of several volumes of the series MeOtzar HoRav: Selected Writings of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, and she continues to edit Jewish scholarly works during the summers.

Mrs. Esther Slomnicki

Biology

email: slomnickie@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Esther Slomnicki

Mrs. Esther Slomnicki teaches Biology and AP Biology, and serves as a mentor for Math and Science teachers during their first two years at Ma'ayanot. Prior to coming to Ma'ayanot, Mrs. Slomnicki worked at Lawrence Woodmere Academy, where she taught Biology and AP Biology and developed her own syllabus for teaching Genetics and Anatomy. She has also worked as a research technician at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she investigated genes possibly related to prostate cancer. Mrs. Slomnicki holds a B.A. in Biology from Queens College, where she won the Laura H. and Arthur L. Colwin Prize in the Biology Department.

Mrs. Madeline Schmuckler

Administrative Assistant

email: madeline@maayanot.org

ext: 104

About Mrs. Madeline Schmuckler

Mrs. Madeline Schmuckler, Administrative Staff, works in the front office and produces The Stream, Ma’ayanot’s online newsletter. She received her B.S. in Biology and French Language and Literature, Magna Cum Laude, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa at City College of New York. She earned an M.A.T. in Biology and Education at Yale University and an M.A. in Educational Administration at St. John’s University in Queens. She also holds New York State Certification in Administration and Supervision.

Mrs. Gila Stein

Science Department Chair & Director of STEAM

email: steing@maayanot.org

ext: 118

About Mrs. Gila Stein

Mrs. Gila Stein is Science Department Chair and STEAM Department Chair at Ma’ayanot, where she also teaches Chemistry, AP Chemistry, Physics and Forensics. In addition, Mrs. Stein co-founded Ma’ayanot’s STEAM program and oversees the integration of project-based learning in the fields of science, technology, and engineering. Mrs. Stein strives to provide each of her students with a passion for science and a broad and deep knowledge of fundamental scientific principles. She has been invited to present her research and experience with other educators and students at numerous science and STEM conferences. She earned her B.A. in Biochemistry from Queens College and her M.A. in Secondary Science Education from Columbia Teachers College. In addition, Mrs. Stein conducted laboratory research for two years at Queens College and later as part of Columbia University's Summer Research Program for Science Teachers. Prior to joining Ma’ayanot’s faculty in 2004, Mrs. Stein taught Biology and Physics at the Ramaz Upper School in Manhattan.

Mrs. Shira Steinfeld

Math

email: steinfelds@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Shira Steinfeld

Mrs. Shira Steinfeld is a welcome addition to our math department. Most recently, she taught high school and middle school math at Ateres Bais Yaakov in Spring Valley, NY. Passionate about math education, Mrs. Steinfeld has a Master’s Degree in Mathematics Education from Touro College (grades 7-12) and a B.A. in Education/Math from Thomas Edison State College. With more than a decade of teaching experience, she has also taught at Torah Academy for Girls in Far Rockaway, NY, and Nefesh Academy in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to teaching mathematics in a school setting, Mrs. Steinfeld is also a certified swimming instructor, an avid hiker, and a private math tutor.

Mr. AJ Stone

Transportation Coordinator

email: transportation@maayanot.org

About Mr. AJ Stone

Mrs. Merav Tal-Timen

Hebrew Department Chair

email: tal-timenm@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Merav Tal-Timen

Giveret Tal-Timen, Hebrew Chair, teaches all levels of Hebrew, including the 12th grade Bechina Yerushalmit elective, and serves as Co-Director of Professional Development at Ma'ayanot. Mrs. Tal-Timen earned a B.A. in Education from the David Yellin College for Education in Jerusalem and is working towards a Master's in Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Prior to joining the Ma'ayanot faculty, Mrs. Tal-Timen taught for several years in Israeli schools. In addition to teaching Hebrew language, Mrs. Tal-Timen strives to promote a love for the land of Israel and a devotion to the people of Israel in all of her classes.

Mrs. Racheli Taubes

Biology & Chemistry Teacher

About Mrs. Racheli Taubes

Racheli grew up in Brooklyn, NY and studied in Israel at Michlalah, and majored in Jewish Education with a minor in chemistry at Stern College. She was in the first cohort of the Legacy Heritage Jewish Educators Program, which combines courses in education, psychology and Judaic studies, with intensive classroom fieldwork. Racheli holds master’s degrees in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, and Bible from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. She has taught Judaic Studies at Yeshivat Noam, Torah Academy of Philadelphia, and Ramaz Upper School. She previously served as the Orthodox Union Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (OU-JLIC) educators at the University of Pennsylvania along with her husband Yaakov. She currently lives in Washington Heights, NY and serves as the rebbetzin and Yoetzet Halacha at Mount Sinai Jewish Center. She is the proud mother of three children.

Mrs. Basya Teitelbaum

Learning Center

About Mrs. Basya Teitelbaum

With a background as a speech and language pathologist, Mrs. Teitelbaum understands the interplay between language and education and uses this knowledge to help her students best access the curriculum. Mrs. Teitelbaum has a B.A. in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Stern College for Women and a Masters in Communication Disorders from Kean University. In addition, she has taken many continuing education courses at The Windward Institute on reading, writing, and language. She has previously worked as a learning specialist for middle school students at The Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey, as well as at Torah Academy of Greater Philadelphia, and as a speech therapist for Sinai Schools. As a learning specialist in the Ma'ayanot Learning Center, she is passionate about helping her students recognize their strengths, instilling confidence in her students, and empowering them to take ownership of their learning.

Mrs. Yael Weil

Halakha

email: weily@maayanot.org

About Mrs. Yael Weil

Mrs. Yael Weil teaches Halakha as well as a Biur Tefillah elective. She also serves as the adviser to MIPAC, promoting Israel advocacy to the student body. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and Jewish Studies from Stern College, and Special Education and Child Life Certification from the Bank Street College of Education. Mrs. Weil comes to Ma'ayanot with tremendous teaching experience as she has taught numerous Judaic studies subjects at the elementary, middle and high school levels at various Yeshivot in California, New York and New Jersey. She is a well-known guest lecturer who has been hosted as a scholar-in-residence by numerous national Jewish organizations and women's groups. She currently teaches a weekly parsha class at Teaneck's Keter Torah, as well as kallah classes.

Ms. Arielle Zomberg

Biology & Chemistry

email: zomberga@maayanot.org

About Ms. Arielle Zomberg

Ms. Arielle Zomberg teaches Biology and Chemistry. Prior to joining the Ma’ayanot faculty, Ms. Zomberg was a science teacher at Bronx Collegiate Academy for three years. She served as a Teach for America corps member, having been selected from among approximately 48,000 applicants to commit to teaching for two years in an under-resourced public school. She has also been an AP Chemistry homeschool teacher and a research assistant in the Neuroscience Department of Rutgers University. Ms. Zomberg earned a B.A. in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience from Stern College, and an M.S. in Teaching, with a major in Teaching Exceptional Adolescents: Grades 7-12, at Fordham University.

Dr. Rayzel Yaish

Director of Guidance

email: yaishr@maayanot.org

ext: 106

About Dr. Rayzel Yaish

Dr. Rayzel Yaish serves as Ma'ayanot's Director of Guidance. She earned a B.A. in Pre-Med and Psychology from Stern College, and 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.