About Our Faculty

This is my fifth year teaching at Am Yisrael and every year has been a new adventure! We are so focused on the needs of our students that Mr. Sherman and I, in conjunction with Shira Sender and Rachel Prero have been working and reworking our curriculum to fit current needs. This year you can expect new perspectives in t’fillot, a heavy emphasis on tikun olam and of course our regular analysis of world events and how they’re affecting the Jewish community. It’s going to be a great year!

I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky before attending Indiana and Brandeis Universities, where I met my wife Robin. We live in Skokie with our two sons, Yoni (3) and Noah (3). When I’m not hanging around Am Yisrael, I’m working for Jewish National Fund, traveling around the midwest, raising money for Israel. I’m a career Jewish professional with a passion for Israel and Jewish life and I look forward to sharing my passions with you and your family. See you soon!

This is will be my fourth year teaching at the Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies. I began my relationship with the synagogue 10 years ago when I was the Youth Director. I attended The Ohio State University, where I studied English as my major, with a Yiddish minor. While at OSU, I became involved in the local Jewish Community, where I taught at a local synagogue for 2 years. I continued my education at National Louis University where I received my Masters in Education. In addition to my formal education background, I have spent years in informal education. I have spent 17 summers working at Jewish day camps, 5 years at JCC Chicago as Manager of Vacation Days, and have been involved with various Jewish Youth Groups. As the Aleph teacher, I will help guide our students through a year of Bible Studies, Holidays, Israel, and the beginning of Tefillah (Prayer). I look forward to building a community between our students, the parents, the synagogue, the madrichim, and myself.

I am the music teacher at Am Yisrael. This is my third year at the school. I was born in the former Soviet Union and moved to the U.S.A. in 1995. I have been teaching music in synagogue schools in the Champaign and Chicago areas for the last 14 years. I also have been a Cantorial Soloist during the High Holiday season at UIC Hillel for 12 years. My High Holiday singing is a very important part of my life. I find Jewish music to be one of the most moving musical genres that I have ever heard. Jewish music is an important part of our culture and our spirit. For some people Jewish music is what helps connect them to our religion and leads to a strong Jewish identity. It is my goal to impart my love for Jewish music to my students.

This is my ninth year teaching at Am Yisrael. I have been in informal Jewish education for 16 years beginning with a regional board position on my local USY chapter in Sharon, Massachusetts, to Montessori Hebrew School in Madison, Wisconsin (where I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in English Writing, Hebrew Language and Literature and a minor in Judaic Studies) to finally ending up in Skokie—first teaching at B’nai Emunah and then Am Yisrael. Somewhere in that whole journey, I got married and had five children ranging in ages from two to almost bar mitzvah.

I am thrilled to be teaching another year of exciting Heroes and Holidays curriculum. As we delve deep into the texts of the Torah, we’ll discover some major heroes, some unlikely heroes, and of course, some archenemies and evil villains! We will also be taking a closer look at our Jewish Holidays throughout the year examining their meanings and the stories behind their development. I am looking forward to an outstanding year with you at the Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies.

My name is Jamie Cooper. This is my second year as part of the Am Yisrael community as the Bet Class teacher. Along with being a teacher I am now going to be the Informal Lead Educator. I am excited to meet all the second graders that I will be working with this upcoming year as well as the K-5th graders that I will be taking on some exciting field trips. I attended Solomon Schechter from Kindergarten through eighth grade and developed a strong background in Judaism and Israel. With my strong love for Israel, I continued my own studies in the Hebrew language and Judaism through high school and college. I attended Indiana University in Bloomington, where I received my bachelor’s degree in elementary education. I am excited to share my knowledge and joy in Jewish prayer, the Hebrew language, Israel, Jewish holidays, and so much more through art projects, literature, music, and other exciting and fun activities. Through the study of Torah, the Bet class will learn about many of the values and morals that we practice through Judaism and connect it to their own daily lives. By participating in activities and applying what they learn, students will form a strong community in my classroom with both me and their peers. On our Informal Education field trips we will be applying the Jewish value of community by spend time with our Jewish friends in some fun ways. I am excited to work with the students and staff as a team to accomplish all the goals we set forth together for this year. I look forward to getting to know my students and sharing my love for Israel and Judaism with them.

I have been working as part of the Am Yisrael team for almost 20 years as the Art Teacher. My education includes both a BFA in Art Education and an MA in Art Therapy/Counseling from the University of Illinois at Chicago, an MJ in Child & Family Law from Loyola University as well as my Jewish Day School education as a graduate of Hillel Torah Day School and Ida Crown Jewish Academy. I enjoy being able to build real relationships with my students by working with all of the grades and seeing them year-to-year. My goals for this year include continuing to mesh the art experience with the rest of the curriculum through art classes and art chugim. My projects will include beautifying the school and synagogue while bringing the joy of art and creativity to my students.

I am delighted to be in my fourth year at the School of Jewish Studies and this year I am assuming a different role that has several components. Primary among them has been to set up and maintain a resource room of materials for teachers to use to enhance their instruction. Throughout the year I will be available to meet with teachers to discuss lesson ideas (including those for our seven SmartBoards), prepare games, and develop new approaches to what we do. New resources will be added as they become available. I will also be creating Hebrew Reading Assessments for each grade. Lastly, I have developed a Madrichim course, along with a manual and instruction guide for our Teaching Assistants that will provide them with skills necessary for being most effective as aides in the classroom.

Jewish education is both my career and my passion. I have a BS in Special Education from the University of Michigan and an MA as a Reading Disabilities Specialist, as well as additional coursework in school administration and Judaica, including summer studies at the Melton Centre at Hebrew University. I have had a wonderful 25-year career in synagogue school adminstration, directing schools in Buffalo, New York and Fort Worth, Texas and at Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook. I am also active in the JEA (Jewish Educators Assembly) national board and am a former officer in that organization.

Shalom! I was born on the South Side of Chicago, I reside on the North Shore, and part of my heart and soul lives — or comes alive — in Israel. For many years now, I have been engaged in Jewish education as a creator, director, and teacher of Jewish programming, operations, and educational services. I have a broad-based knowledge of, and experience teaching, Biblical, Talmudic and Rabbinic texts (both ancient and modern), Jewish values and ethics, Israel and Holocaust education, Jewish history, ritual and thought.

I like to look forward, and I’d like to think that everything I have learned and shared so far is only a small part of what is to come in the future. But when I do look back, what I dwell on is not my awards or accolades, but rather, two very important things. One is my incredible personal journey toward understanding just what our being Jewish means and requires from us. Two, and most important, are all the people, some older, some younger, and many in-between, that I have been privileged to teach, learn from and study with. At the top of that list are the young men and women I had the zechut, the privilege, to engage with here at Am Yisrael last year. It was a great experience for me! Accordingly, I am eagerly anticipating returning for another year of learning, engaging, and growing here at Am Yisrael! I look forward to seeing you, but until then, shalom and l’hitraot.

I am delighted to be beginning my third year as a teacher at Am Yisrael. I have been teaching in day schools and congregational schools in the Chicago area for the last 19 years, and in addition to teaching at Am Yisrael, I am currently a Middle School Jewish Studies teacher at Chicago Jewish Day School. I was born in Israel and studied early childhood education and received a bachelors degree at the University of Jerusalem. I am also a certified teacher in the Montessori method of education. I bring this experience and these skills to my passion of teaching at our school. My main class will be the Gimel group, and we will focus on Hebrew reading acquisition using a textbook called Shalom U’vrachah. We will learn how to write Hebrew script and we will also learn to speak simple Hebrew phrases related to the classroom environment. Additionally, we will learn to read and chant tefillot (prayers) and learn about our homeland, Israel. We will learn about the Jewish holidays using a book from the Tal Am curriculum. The rest of our curriculum can be viewed on the Gimel Class home page. Finally, I will be teaching a chug (elective) about Israeli culture. I am looking forward to a productive year.

Shalom! I am very excited to begin my 32^nd year at Am Yisrael. I look forward to teaching the Dalet and Heh Classes. I grew up in Israel, and after I finished my college program I came directly to Chicago. I taught at Solomon Schechter for two years, for five years at Judea Mitzpah, and for sixteen years at the Ida Crown Jewish Academy High School while also teaching at Am Yisrael. I have tutored many students in their Jewish Studies and have also assisted in B’nai Mitzvah preparation. I attend CAGE seminars and take classes in Hebrew whenever I am in Israel to keep up with the language and culture there. Last summer I went to Atlanta for a week to study Israel via history, bible, politics, and so forth.

I continue to teach adult Hebrew classes at Am Yisrael. My main goal for the Dalet Class is to help them master fluent Hebrew reading and be able to read and pray from the siddur. One of the true highlights of the year is their performance of the Megillat Esther story fully in Hebrew. My main goals for the Heh Class is to be able help the students learn how to lead Friday night services, the origin of the Jewish holidays, Israel, and Jewish history. As a culmination of their studies, the Heh students will perform a Hebrew musical entitled Siyyum Historia Yehudit. Over the years I have developed a wonderful relationship with many families and am still in touch with several students I have taught here at Am Yisrael.

I am delighted to serve as the Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies Band Teacher. I come to this position with a great deal of enthusiasm, having performed in numerous musicals and plays as a dancer and singer at New Trier East High School. I spent my summers at the National Music Camp at Interlochen in Michigan and then went on to the University of Utah where I double-majored in dance and musicology. I’ve been blessed with a long performance career in ballet as well as running a successful ballet company. I’ve taught music and dance to children for more than twenty-five years.

A seasoned guitar and piano player, I even have a little bit of experience with the trumpet. If you’ve attended our Friday Night Live service, you’ll recognize me as I have played and sung in the Shabbatones since the very beginning. I also sing with the Am Yisrael High Holiday choir. The power of Jewish music inspires me to a greater depth of spirituality and I hope to impart that to the children I teach.

I’ve taught and served as a librarian for some 30 years, including at Cleveland Sschool in Skokie, where I went to kindergarten, Niles North High School, and the Glenview Public Library. I most enjoyed and did the hardest work of my life teaching fourth grade. Having read with the Gan children last year, I look forward to seeing them again and meeting another class as well. Am Yisrael is a home to me — it’s where I became a Jew 25 years ago. Some people I knew as students are members of our congregation. I have children, grandchildren and live with Alice in south Wilmette.

I am super excited to begin my first year teaching at Am Yisrael! I recently moved to Chicago with my husband and daughter after living in Be’er Sheva, Israel for 3 years, and look forward to sharing some of my unbelievable experiences living there. I love Chicago! This isn’t my first time living here; I graduated from college in Chicago with a minor in Jewish Studies and lived here until 2007. I have a strong passion for providing people with Jewish learning opportunities so they can see how exciting and relevant Judaism is in the 21^st century. I have worked for NCSY, JSU, the JCC and the Jeff Seidel program which have allowed me the opportunity to work with children ages four through post graduate students in their thirties. I look forward to getting to know each of my students and their families, and bringing my experience in informal education to a formal setting resulting in a positive, exciting, and educational Jewish experience.

I am delighted to be returning to Am Yisrael to teach Israeli folk dance for my second year. I have taught at several different congregational schools for the past several years and this past summer taught campers at Ramah Day Camp. Dance has always been an important part of my life; I have an MFA in dance and a Masters degree in dance/movement therapy. Since 2001, I have created and presented dance as a means of spiritual expression in worship services at Shir Hadash. For many years, I have enjoyed participating in Israeli folk dancing with Israelis and Americans. I find it is a joyous way to connect to the culture of our people. In Israel, dance is synonymous with celebration and most people growing up in Israel learn folk dances. The music is infused with sounds from different ethnic groups and time periods; some dances were created before the birth of Israel and others are brand new. Today, people across the world enjoy Israeli folk dance—in fact one can watch YouTube videos of Israeli folk dancing from places such as Spain and Japan! Having thoroughly enjoyed teaching at Am Yisrael last year, I look forward to another good year in which I hope to continue to inspire members of Am Yisrael to experience the joy of Israeli folk dance.

Shalom and welcome to what is going to be an exciting year at the Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies. This will be my second year teaching at Am Yisrael; however, my love for Judaism as well as teaching both go back a long way. Having grown up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and going through Hebrew school followed by Kadima and USY I learned very early on how much I love Judaism. As I got older I developed a strong passion for sharing my love of Judaism with children and young adults. After returning from my collegiate studies in business sales and management at Illinois State University, I began working part time as a youth advisor on top of my day job as a marketing director for a large company. I fell so much in love with my side job working with youth that I decided to make a career change.

I am now getting to live out my dream as I work as a Jewish educator, youth group director, and now even the kesher (caring) coordinator for Am Yisrael, which allows me to expand the group of people that I can connect with to the entire community. In addition, my career change has allowed me to return to college and get a new degree in elementary education. I also enjoy having more time to spend with my wife Shira and newborn baby daughter Lauri at our home in Vernon Hills. As an educator I enjoy being very hands-on and incorporating tons of new technology and methods into the classroom. A visit to my classroom will most likely find me up and out of my seat, as I am rarely sitting, and all of the students engaged in a Parashat HaShavuah project on the iPads, SmartBoard, or any other piece of technology I can incorporate into the lesson. On a monthly basis you will even find the students heavily engrossed in tefillah study as they use iPods, cd players, iPads, as well as traditional siddurim to navigate their way through the various services. Armed with over 6 years of Judaic teaching experience, a love for Judaism, an insatiable desire to incorporate new technologies into the classroom, as well as a general love for the work I do, I look forward to making this year a memorable one for all who enter my classroom.

After joining The Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies last year as a Madricha/Resource Room tutor, I am excited embark on a new adventure this year as I will be teaching Vav/Zayin and Prozdor/Pardes. The Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies sets itself apart from other synagogue schools in many ways, one of which is with its use and accessibility to technology. In my new teaching role with SJS, I intend to take full advantage of the technology the school has to offer — even leading a Technology/Multi-Media Production elective on Sunday mornings! In addition to teaching at SJS, I am excited to say that I will be the new Lead Informal Informal Educator for grades 6–12. I have a ton of fun and exciting programs planned for this year, so I look forward to having everyone actively participate!

I have been working at the Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies since 2004 as the assistant to art teacher Michelle Drucker. Together, we plan fun art projects for the students, ranging from clay dreidels to mosaics of Israel. I enjoy doing arts and crafts and working with the students and want to share my love of both art and Judaism with the students. I hope to help students express their Jewish identities through art, and that students will have fun while doing so. I am a graduate of Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies and a member of the congregation as well.

I have served as Cantor of Am Yisrael Congregation since 1984 after 8 years as Cantor of Northbrook Congregation Ezra-Habonim. In addition to leading all religious services at Am Yisrael, I am responsible for training all the B’nai Mitzvah students and teaching the Confirmation class. Up until a few years ago, I was balancing my cantorial career with my primary vocation as a management executive in the corporate world. I am very happy to now focus all my efforts toward Am Yisrael. Teaching is a joy for me and I love to interact with students of all ages. Our curriculum is fascinating and broad, including the Confirmation class’s focus on history of anti-Semitism and current events with extra concentration on Israel.

I have specific goals that I want my pupils to achieve by the end of the confirmation year. By studying the unit on the history of anti-Semitism, students will understand the dangers of discrimination and will advocate for all people who are afflicted, based upon the horrific experiences of our people. By studying current events, students will increase their worldliness, preparing them for the college campus and beyond. Students will take pride in their Judaism, and understand the importance of the existence of the state of Israel for the continued strength of our people and as a beacon of democracy and righteousness for all nations.

I am really looking forward to my first year at Am Yisrael teaching Kitah Aleph with Andrea Berlow and a combined Hebrew Class with Jamie Cooper. I was born and lived in the Ukraine for 20 years. There I began studying Hebrew. Later on, my husband and I moved to Israel, where we lived for 8 years, before moving to Illinois with our two boys. I am an Early Childhood teacher at the JCC and have 10 years of experience teaching children. I'm fluent in Russian, Ukrainian and English, as well as Hebrew. I'm glad that I get to meet and befriend so many new people! I love the kind atmosphere of Am Yisrael. I love enriching my life and the lives of those around me and I'm thrilled to be joining the Am Yisrael team. Here’s to a successful year of learning.

I have worn many hats here at Am Yisrael: the Gan Teacher, first grade teacher, the activity director for the young children at Friday Night Live, and the Interim Religious School Director. My job is to pass on my love and knowledge for Judaism, Hebrew and Israel. We do our learning through visits from the Rabbi, games, art projects, stories, songs, book discussions, and so much more. Our class is very lucky, we get to visit the library and have a book read to us by the librarian, Mr. Dick Nugent, and are told stories that teach us about the holidays, values and so much more. One other special part of the day is we have music: music ties us to all the generations who have come before us and helps us have ruach (spirit).

When I am not at Am Yisrael, I am a preschool teacher in Evanston. It will be my pleasure to help guide your children as they embark upon their Jewish Educational journey.

I look forward to beginning my fifth year on the Am Yisrael teaching staff as a Hebrew reading and writing tutor. I have lived in Chicago all my life and I have three sons. In addition to working at Am Yisrael, I have tutored at Beth Hillel for 18 years. I worked as a Teacher’s Assistant in Primary Special Education District 39 (Wilmette) for 22 years. I also taught primary remedial reading for 13 summers for District 39. I have spent the last three summers practicing Torah portions and Haftarah with Cantor Simon. My main goals this year are to help students who need a little extra work on their Hebrew reading and writing skills. I also hope to be able to assist Cantor Simon in preparing our students for their Haftarah portions, as needed. One additional part of my responsibilities will be helping younger siblings master the singing of the Ashrei so that they will be able to chant it at their older sibling’s b’nai mitzvah.

I have been attending Am Yisrael since the 2nd grade, and was confirmed last year. This is my first year as a madricha, and I’m so excited to help students learn, participate, and have fun in their religious studies classes. I am a junior at New Trier High School, and I’m actively involved in the social service programs. I study Hebrew at New Trier as well, and will be going into my third year of the language. I have also attended JCC’s Camp Chi for the past seven years, which has helped me keep my close ties with Judaism. I’m thrilled to sharing my passion for Israel and Judaism with the students at Am Yisrael. I’m truly looking forward to being a part of this fantastic school year!

I am so excited to join the team of madrichim for what I know is going to be an awesome year! I am currently a freshman at Evanston Township High School where I am taking Hebrew and play trombone in the marching band. Judaism is very important to me. I have spent the past four summers at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, where I love the sense of community and the people there. Outside of school, I enjoy hanging out with my friends and watching Cubs games. After many great years at SJS, I look forward to helping kids have the same great experience that I had.

Shalom! I am very excited to be a Madricha this year at Am Yisrael! I will be working with several classes and I can’t wait to share my knowledge with the students as well as to learn from them. I grew up attending Am Yisrael Hebrew School. Consequently, I wanted to work at Am Yisrael to further my Jewish education by helping to teach the younger students. I am the President of AMUSY and would like to have some students start to get involved in USY. Currently, I attend Highland Park High school as a Junior. I am involved in the band and other clubs. I am thrilled to be teaching what I have learned and enrich Judaism for the students.

I am a senior at Highland Park High School. This is my first year on staff at Am Yisrael as a madrich. I attended and graduated from the Am Yisreal School and am still active in the Jewish community. I have been on the AMUSY board for the past four years and am currently the Executive Vice President. Outside of the synagogue I enjoy spending time sailing, golfing, playing tennis, and water skiing. I’m very excited for the start of the School of Jewish Studies year.

I am currently a sophomore at Glenbrook South High School and this is my first year being a madrich at the Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies. At Glenbrook South, I participate in the Marching and Symphonic Bands, the Debate Team, Math Team, Juggling Club, Engineering Club, and Israeli Culture Club. My favorite subjects in school are AP Calculus and Comparative Eastern and Western Religions. From a Jewish standpoint, I started with preschool at BJBE Reform Congregation, where my family was members until shortly before my Bar Mitzvah, when we moved to Am Yisrael. I went to Ramah Day Camp for 4 years, and I went to OSRUI in Wisconsin for one Summer. Her at Am Yisrael, I am the Communications Vice President for our chapter of USY, AMUSY. I hope to help out with the Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies in any way that I can to make this year the best yet.

Judaism has always been a very important part of my life. I went to Ramah Day Camp for 3 years, and then OSRUI for another 5 years. I am on the AMUSY board as Israeli Affairs Vice President and have been on our USY Board for the past 4 years. I am currently a senior at Glenbrook South High School, where I participate in the juggling club. I am very excited to start helping out in the SJS as a madrich!

I attended Solomon Schechter Day School from Kindergarten through 8th grade and am a junior at Chicagoland Jewish High School. In school, I love to study history, math and Talmud. Outside of class, I often enjoy playing basketball and various musical instruments, such as the drums, bass guitar and piano. In past summers, I attended Camp Young Judea in Wisconsin and Tel Yehudah overnight camp in New York. At camp, I had the wonderful opportunity to learn about Israel and the importance of Zionism today. Over the years I have realized that one of the richest aspects of Judaism is its language, which every Jew should have the option to learn. Using the skills I have acquired through Jewish day school and my summer camp, I greatly look forward to helping the Am Yisrael students improve their Hebrew and bestowing upon them a love for Israel whenever I can. I am thrilled to meet the students and work with them all year to help them gain a better Jewish identity and understanding of the Hebrew language.

This will be my first year as a madricha at Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies. I am a sophomore at Glenbrook South High School, where I play on the tennis team and work on the yearbook. I went to Solomon Schechter for nine years and have been to Israel twice. I am excited to work as a madricha this year. I hope to share some of what I have learned at Schechter such as the Hebrew language, Jewish history, and Tanach.

In my first year as a Madricha, I am excited and ready to start helping the younger students learn Hebrew and Judaism. Many generations of my family have been a part of this congregation for several years. I have been attending Hebrew school since 3rd grade and got confirmed last year. I am a junior at New Trier High School and play on the girls’ varsity golf team. Judaism plays a big role in my life and will forever. It has inspired me to keep pursuing beyond what we learn in Hebrew school. To be able to help apply my knowledge and understanding of being Jewish to younger students will be a great experience. Can’t wait to be a part of a great faculty and make this year a great one!

I am proud to say that my identity is strongly related to Judaism. While the foundation for the religion has always been in the home, I greatly acknowledge the influence of Solomon Schechter Day School for 5 years and two trips to Israel, which further laid the foundation for more love and interest in the history, mitzvot, and language of our people. As a freshman at New Trier High School, I continue to study Hebrew language with a tutor and find Shabbat service attendance a nice retreat from the hustle and bustle of the North Shore. When not in the synagogue or school, I can be found referring AYSO games, attending Wolves games or traveling the world with my family. I love being able to pick up a prayer book and read the same language of our people whether it be in Israel, South Carolina, Mexico, France or a cruise ship. It is my hope that I can pass just some of my enthusiasm for what we stand for this coming school year. I would love for you to be the next generation of regular Torah readers on this pulpit!

It is not difficult for anyone to immediately know that I have a Hebrew name. My parents gave me the name Taila Schiff over thirteen years ago and I have been proud of it and being Jewish ever since. I still fondly remember attending Gan Yeladim preschool in Skokie and learning the early prayers. This was the beginning of a journey that led me to Solomon Schechter and onto Sunset Ridge School in Northfield for middle school. I feel so lucky to have traveled to Israel twice and even attended camp there last summer. My Bat Mitzvah last year was not the end of my Jewish education, but just another stop on my journey. I continue to study one-on-one with a tutor every Sunday and look forward to taking Henrew at New Trier High School. I love finding kosher food in restaurants and stores through the countries I have journeyed throughout the world. It is even more exciting to attend Shabbat services wherever I travel. I immediately have a connection with people from many different lands. In addition to regular synagogue attendance, I can be found playing AYSO soccer or refereeing local games or skating on the ice rink. All of the stops on my journey require motivation and dedication. The more you put into it, the more you will get back. I hope we will all put in a lot of positive energy this year and get tons of enthusiasm back.

I am currently a Junior at Chicagoland Jewish High School. Some of my favorite subjects are AP U.S. History and Literature. I am a member of the basketball team at my school. This will be my second year working as a Madrich at Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies and I could not be more excited. I love connecting with the students through teaching about Israel and Judaism. I am looking forward to a great school year!

My family has been going to Am Yisrael since 1980. I am a junior at New Trier High School. I enjoy playing and watching sports. I am on the New Trier Swim Team and Water Polo Team. I’m also a huge White Sox Fan. In addition I am an Eagle Scout and active in boy scouts. Last school year, I graduated from the Am Yisrael School for Jewish Studies. My goal is to help children be successful in class and have a positive attitude towards their Jewish studies. I am excited to start this school year.

I am excited for my second year as a madricha at Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies. I attended religious school at Am Yisrael since I was in fourth grade. Judaism has always been a huge part of my life and my famiy. I am starting my senior year at New Trier High School this year. My sister attends Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies. My brother is starting his Jewish education at AYSJS this year, which will be great. I am so excited for another amazing year at Am Yisrael!

I am going to be a madrich in the First Grade class. My family and I have been members of Am Yisrael for over ten years. I am a Junior at New Trier High School and I love being around kids. Besides being on the honor roll at New Trier, I play water polo and am a member of the New Trier Boys Swim Team and the New Trier Boys Water Polo team. In addition to my activities at New Trier, I was confirmed at Am Yisrael last year. As part of the confirmation class, I participated in the Shorashim Program that included an unforgetable trip to New York City. My goal is help kids have a positive experience at religious school. I am really looking forward to this year.

I am currently a senior at Glenbrook Off-Campus High School and at Glenbrook South High School. I’m pumped for my secibd year as a madrich. I’m ready with an Android tablet to take quotes of the week.

I am excited to start my second year as a madrich at Am Yisrael. My family has been with the congregation for several years, and I have attended religious school through Confirmation. I have prior experience in child work, as I was a Counselor at Greenwoods Camp for Boys this past summer. I am currently a senior at New Trier High School in Winnetka. In school, I enjoy studying science, history, and geography, as well as participating in a few service clubs. I am also a member of the New Trier boys’ tennis team in the spring. Judaism has always been a big factor in my life, and it will continue to be important to me forever. I have learned many valuable life lessons and skills through my Jewish education experience. I am looking forward to sharing what I have learned with the current students at Am Yisrael this year. This year will be a fantastic year at Am Yisrael, and I am glad to be a part of it!

I’m starting my freshman year at Glenbrook South this fall. I went to Solomon Schecter for the past nine years and have learned a lot about the Hebrew language and my Jewish identity. I went to Israel this past spring with my eighth grade class and hope to return there soon. In my free time I like to dance, read and volunteer at Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook. I am looking forward to helping kids learn Hebrew and Judaica.

This will be my first year as a madricha at Am Yisrael. I spent nine years at Solomon Schechter and learned a lot about Jewish values, Israel, and the Hebrew language. I am currently a sophomore at Deerfield High School where I am taking Hebrew Honors 4 to continue my Hebrew education. I am taking a child development class at my high school, so I am excited to make connections from the class to the kids I get to see every Sunday at Am Yisrael. I am also a part of the cheerleading team at Deerfield. I love being a part of the team and spending time with the friends I have made on the squad. I am very excited to be a madricha at Am Yisrael and look forward to be teaching the kids about Judaism and Hebrew this year.