Administration, Faculty, Staff

ADMINISTRATION

Bruce Powell, Head of School
• Ph.D., University of Southern California
• M.A., California State University, Northridge
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Rabbi David Vorspan, Rabbi-in-Residence
• Doctor of Divinity, Jewish Theological Seminary of America
• Doctor of Divinity, Hebrew Union College
• Rabbinic Ordination and M.A.H.L., Hebrew Union College
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Ellen Howard, Principal
• M.A., Educational Administration, California State University, Northridge
• M.A., Secondary Education, California State University, Northridge
• B.A., California State University, Northridge

Neil Kramer, Dean of Strategic Planning
• Ph.D., Claremont Graduate School
• M.A., Claremont Graduate School
• B.A., Union College, New York

Kathleen Edwards, Dean of Students
• M.A., California State University, Northridge
• B.A., University of California, San Diego

Jill Zuckerman, Director of Admissions
• B.A., California State University, Northridge

Michelle November, Associate Director of Admissions
• M.S., Columbia University
• B.A., University of California, Berkeley

Betsy Berger, Director of Advancement
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Sheryl Myerson, Assistant Director of Advancement
• B.S., Muhlenberg College

David Marcus, Business Manager
• B.A., California State University, Fullerton

Carolyn Hapeman, CPA, Chief Financial Officer
• B.S., Messiah College

Cheri Mayman, Director of Marketing
• M.S.W., University of California, Los Angeles
• B.A., University of the Pacific

Sam Gliksman, Director of Educational Technology
• M.A. Educational Technology, Tel Aviv University, Israel
• B.A. Education, Monash University, Australia
• Bachelor of Commerce, Melbourne University, Australia

Gabriel Lynn, Office Manager, Transportation Coordinator
• B.F.A., University of Utah

STUDENT SERVICES

Susan DeRuyter, Director of College Guidance, Dean of Academic Advisement
• Ed.M., Loyola Marymount University
• B.A., Loyola Marymount University

Aviva Walls, Associate Director of College Guidance, Associate Dean of Academic Advisement
• M.B.A., New York University
• B.A., Columbia University

Tammy Shpall, Dean of Grade-Level Deans, 9th Grade Dean
• B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara

Beverley Kamenir, 10th Grade Dean
• Higher Diploma in Education/Jewish Studies, University of Cape Town
• B.A., University of Cape Town

Gregory Keer, 11th Grade Dean, Director of Student Life
• M.F.A., University of California, Los Angeles
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Mark Shpall, 12th Grade Dean, Director of Community Programs
• J.D., University of Southern California
• M.A., Pepperdine University
• B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara

Julie Brennglass, M.A., MFT, School Counselor
• M.A., Phillips Graduate Institute
• B.A., California State University, Northridge

Matthew Vacca, Academic Coordinator
• B.A., California State University, Northridge

Rebecca Bodenstein, Director of Jewish Life, Coordinator of Class Trips
• M.A., University of Judaism
• B.A., University of Wisconsin, Madison

Renee Levine-Blonder, Shabbaton Coordinator
• M.A.J.E., Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
• B.A., University of California, San Diego

Yoav Ben-Horin, Director of Global Jewish Education
• M.A., Oxford University, U.K.
• B.A., Oxford University, U.K.

Adina Farkash Cohen, Global Jewish Education Coordinator
• Teaching Degree: Seminar Hakibbutzim, Israel

Shari Davis Ferdman, Coordinator of Interdisciplinary & Service Learning
• B.A., State University of New York, Empire State College

Tami Bandel, Study Hall Supervisor
• B.A., University of Judaism

FACULTY

ATHLETICS

Sina Monjazeb, Athletic Director
• B.A., California State University, Long Beach

Earl Roth, Assistant Athletic Director
• M.A., California State University, Los Angeles
• B.A., California State University, Long Beach

ENGLISH

Jaimi Leess, Chair, Student Council Advisor
• M.A., California State University, Northridge
• B.A., New York University

Gregory Keer
• M.F.A., University of California, Los Angeles
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Michelle Lindner
• B.S., University of Maine
• B.A., University of Maine

Cameron LoBianco
• M.A., Boston University
• B.A., Boston University

Erin Rogers
• M.F.A., University of Southern California
• B.A., Colby College

Tony Soltis
• M.A., Slippery Rock State Univ., Pennsylvania
• B.A., Slippery Rock State Univ., Pennsylvania

HEBREW

Iris Cohen, Chair
• M.A., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• B.A., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Dina Appleby
• Teaching Seminary, Beersheva, Israel

Adina Farkash Cohen
• Teaching Affiliation: BJE, Greater LA
• Teaching Degree: Seminar Hakibbutzim, Israel

Adi Kogman
• B.A., Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, Israel

Orit Shwartz
• B.Ed., Seminar Hakibbutzim, Israel

HISTORY

Matthew Vacca, Chair
• B.A., California State University, Northridge

Etan Kelman
• M.A., California State University, Northridge
• B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz

Neil Kramer
• Ph.D., Claremont Graduate School
• M.A., Claremont Graduate School
• B.A., Union College, New York

Raymond Marcus
• M.A., Indiana University
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Mark Shpall
• J.D., University of Southern California
• M.A., Pepperdine University
• B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara

Tammy Shpall
• B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara

Kenneth Todd
• Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
• C.Phil., University of California, Los Angeles
• M.A., University of California, Los Angeles
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

JEWISH CIVILIZATION

Visual & Performing Arts Courses

Benny Ferdman, Artistic Director
• B.F.A., Massachusetts College of Art

Bill Aron - Photography
• Ph.D., University of Chicago
• M.A., University of Chicago
• B.A., University of Pennsylvania

Roger Blonder - Media Arts
• M.F.A., University of California, Los Angeles
• B.A., University of California, San Diego

Justine Bruner - Studio Art & Yearbook Advisor
• B.A., Rutgers University

Diane Feldman – Choral Music/Musical Theater
• M.A., New York University
• B.A., California State University, Northridge

Susan North Gilboa – Israeli Dance
• M.S., Adelphi University
• B.S., Adelphi University

Gregory Keer – Film Studies
• M.F.A., University of California, Los Angeles
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Dina Nelson - Modern Dance
• B.A., California State University, Northridge

Jared Stein – Music
• B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara

SEMINARS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS

Beverley Kamenir
• Higher Diploma in Education, Jewish Studies, University of Cape Town
• B.A., University of Cape Town

Doug Lasken, Debate
• M.A., National University
• B.A., University of Minnesota

Bruce Powell
• Ph.D., University of Southern California
• M.A., California State University, Northridge
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Rabbi David Vorspan
• Doctor of Divinity, Jewish Theological Seminary of America
• Doctor of Divinity, Hebrew Union College
• Rabbinic Ordination and M.A.H.L., Hebrew Union College
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

JEWISH STUDIES

Rabbi Tsafreer Haim Lev, Director
• Rabbinic Ordination and M.A., Jewish Theological Seminary
• MHL, University of Judaism
• B.A., California State University, Northridge

Rebecca Bodenstein
• M.A., University of Judaism
• B.A., University of Wisconsin, Madison

Hyim Brandes
• B.A., University of California, Berkeley

Rabbi Benjamin Resnick
• Smicha, Yeshiva University / Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
• Smicha, Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, Beit Din of Jerusalem
• M.S.W., Wurzweiler School of Social Work
• B.A., Yeshiva University

Yonatan Rosner
• M.A., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Jerusalem
• B.A., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Rabbi J.B. Sacks
• D.M., Claremont School of Theology
• M.A. and Rabbinic Ordination, Jewish Theological Seminary
• B.A., University of Judaism
• A.B., Ohio University

Rabbi Devin Villarreal
• Smicha, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah
• M.A., American Jewish University
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Rabbi David Vorspan
• Doctor of Divinity, Jewish Theological Seminary of America
• Doctor of Divinity, Hebrew Union College
• Rabbinic Ordination and M.A.H.L., Hebrew Union College
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

MATHEMATICS

Howard Mendelson, Chair
• M.D., University of Illinois
• B.S., University of Illinois

Robert Ahdoot
• B.S., University of Maryland

Kathleen Edwards
• M.A., California State University, Northridge
• B.A., University of California, San Diego

Ellen Howard
• M.A., Educational Administration, California State University, Northridge
• M.A., Secondary Education, California State University, Northridge
• B.A., California State University, Northridge

Alicia Kasif
• M.A., California State University, Fullerton
• B.S., Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Merzak Toubal
• B.S., Cal Poly Pomona

SCIENCE

Eric Sloate, Chair
• Graduate work, Florida Institute of Technology
• B.S., Fairleigh Dickinson University

Lauren Arbetman
• B.S., University of California, Los Angeles

Prudence Cathaway
• M.S., California State University, Northridge
• B.S., California Lutheran University

Shadi Eliaspour
• D.C., Cleveland Chiropractic College
• B.S., California State University, Los Angeles

Sivan Lipman
• M.A., American Jewish University
• B.S., University of California, Santa Barbara

Christine Mikhail
• B.S., University of California, Los Angeles

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

(See Jewish Civilization)

WORLD LANGUAGES

Raquel Safdie, Chair, Spanish
• M.A., University of Judaism
• B.S., University of Buenos Aires

Solange Dichter, American Sign Language
• Fashion Design Degree, Shanker College, Tel Aviv

Andrea Fuentes, French, Spanish
• M.A., Columbia University
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Sheila Liberman Reich, Yiddish
• B.A., Hunter College, New York

STAFF

Kaye Bernstein, Tuition Administrator
• B.S., University of California, Los Angeles

Barbara Edberg, Administrative Assistant
• D.C., Cleveland Chiropractic College
• B.S., Cleveland Chiropractic College

Jessica Fish, Administrative Assistant
• B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Elena Karapetian, Bookkeeper
• B.A., Volgograd University

Omer Maor, Technology Assistant

Stefanie Phillips, Advancement Assistant, Alumni Relations, Assistant to Head of School

• B.A., California State University, Northridge

Joyce Ritch, Admissions Administrative Assistant