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Dr.
Jonathan Mirvis
International Director (Israel)
As International Director of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School Institute since 1991, Jonathan is the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's foremost academic specialist in adult education and the new field of social entrepreneurship. He lectures to graduate students and conducts research on these subjects at the Hebrew University’s School of Education and Melton Centre for Jewish Education, The School of Social Work’s Program in Non-Profit Management and The Business School’s MBA Program.
He holds a doctorate in adult education from Surrey University in England, participated in the Jerusalem Fellows program and is a graduate of Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh in Israel. Jonathan was awarded a Kaye Innovation Prize by The Hebrew University in 2003 for his development of the social franchise model and in 2007 received a special recognition by the Rector of the university for excellence in teaching. |
 | Rabbi Loren Sykes
Director of the North American Division (North America)
Loren comes to the role of Director of the North American Division of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-Schools following a year of study in the Senior Educators Program of the Melton Centre for Jewish Education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. While in Jerusalem, Loren studied adult education and social entrepreneurship with our International Director, Dr. Jonathan Mirvis.
Prior to joining the FMAMS team, Loren spent eleven years as the Founding Executive Director of Camp Ramah Darom in Clayton, Georgia. During that time, Loren also created Camp Yofi: Family Camp for Jewish Families with Children with Autism at Ramah Darom. In 2006, Loren was one of three recipients of The Covenant Award in recognition of his entrepreneurial successes in Jewish camping and for successfully reaching out to an important, under-served population. Prior to his work in Atlanta, Loren served as the Assistant Director of Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and was a founder of The Rose Crown Minyan of the Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago.
A native Chicagoan, Loren earned his Bachelor's Degrees from Columbia University and the List College of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He received his Rabbinic Ordination and a Master's Degree from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1993. Loren is married to Rebecca Sykes. Loren and Rebecca, and their three children, currently live in Atlanta and will relocate to Chicago in June.
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Judy Mars Kupchan
Associate Director of the North American Division
(North America)
Judy has served the North American Division in many capacities since 1994, when she piloted and launched the Mini-School for Educators for the BJE of Chicago and co-authored the Teacher Enrichment Program with Betsy Katz. She was the founding director of the BJE Chicago Mini-School, and the Center for Jewish Teacher Education, where she remains on the faculty. Judy holds an MA in Jewish education and Contemporary Jewish Studies from Brandeis University. She is an alumna of the Melton Centre for Jewish Education's Senior Educators Program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She has worked in Jewish teacher education since 1974 and is the founding director of Jewish teacher centers in Washington D.C and Chicago. |
Educational Staff
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Haim
Aronovitz
Israel Seminars (Israel)
Haim is responsible for the development of Israel Seminars. He holds an MA from the Hebrew University in Contemporary Jewry, with an emphasis on informal Jewish education. He helped develop and then directed the Israel Experience Staff Training Institute at Melitz. He has worked as a tour educator for the Israel Seminar and as a staff member of the Melton Centre’s Jewish Educators Training Institute, and also serves as educational coordinator of the Senior Educators Program.
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Annie Glickman
Regional Director (North America)
Annie holds a BA from University of Washington in Jewish Studies, Jackson School of International Studies. She received her MA from The Jewish Theological Seminary, Davidson School of Jewish Education. She is an alumna of the Melton Centre for Jewish Education's Senior Educators Program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She was a member of faculty at Beit Rabban Day School, New York, and Camp Ramah Darom, Georgia. Since 2002, Annie was a member of faculty and served as Director of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, Dallas, Texas, at the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center. Under her leadership, the Melton School, which now offers a graduate program and an alumni association, has expanded to day schools and synagogues throughout the Dallas Metroplex. |
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Sue Parker Gerson
Regional Director (North America) as of 1 November, 2008
Sue has a MA in Jewish History from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and a BA from State University of New York, Binghamton NY. She has both a Principal's License and a Teacher's License. Since 2001 Sue has been employed by CAJE as director of the FMAMS in Denver, Colorado, which includes satellite campuses in Colorado Springs and Ft. Collins. She is also a member of faculty. Sue has Level II FMAMS Directors Certification. Since 2001 the number of graduates taking post-graduate Melton courses has quadrupled and Sue has been responsible for the establishment of the FMAMS Alumni Association in Denver. Previous to her Melton position Sue has had much work experience in Jewish education in a number of different positions in Denver, New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York. Sue is the co-author of the recently published book Teaching Jewish History (Behrman House, 2006). |
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Rabbi David M. Rosenberg
Director of Faculty (North America) as of 1 November 2008
Rabbi David Rosenberg received his BA in Russian and East European Studies from Yale University (magna cum laude). He serves as Coordinator of Jewish Educational Services for Jewish Child & Family Services in Chicago. In 1992 he received his semichah (rabbinical ordination) and a master's degree in Bible from Yeshiva University. As a rabbinical student, he held a graduate fellowship with the Wexner Foundation. Following ordination, he served as rabbi of Congregation Beth Tefilah in London, Ontario. He came to Chicago in 1997 to serve as Executive Director of the Johanna and Herman H. Newberger Hillel Center at the University of Chicago. David teaches for the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School in Chicago. He is a member of the Education Committee of Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School and served for nine years on the governing board of the Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School. |
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Rabbi
Morey Schwartz
Director of Curriculum Development (Israel)
As Director of Curriculum Development, Morey is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the curriculum of the Mini-School, as well as the production of the FMAMS Scholar's Curriculum, a specially designed series of courses for Mini-School graduates. Toward this end, Morey solicits director, faculty and student feedback and initiates ongoing discussions on the curriculum. Morey was a member of the Kansas City Mini-School faculty from 1995-2000. He taught Ethics and Purposes, as well as several graduate courses. He is a graduate of Yeshiva University, with a Master's from the Bernard Revel Graduate School, and ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. Morey has lived in Israel with his family since 2000. |
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Rabbi Efrat Zarren-Zohar
Regional Director (North America)
Rabbi Efrat Zarren-Zohar did her undergraduate work in Political Science and Women's Studies at the University of Michigan, where she also worked as program director at the University of Michigan Hillel. She received her Master's degree in Hebrew Literature and ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. Efrat served as assistant rabbi at Temple Solel in Hollywood for one year and since then she has worked at the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education, where she presently is the Director of Adult Learning and Growth. Since 1997, Efrat has served as the Director of Miami Melton, during which time she has taught all 4 curricula, earned Level II Melton certification, and raised over $100,000 with the help of a team of the Miami Advisory Board. |
Administrative Staff
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Rena Ashkenazi
(Israel)
Rena came on aliyah from South Africa in the early '80's. She is a graduate of the Hebrew University with a degree in International Relations. Rena is delighted to be a member of the FMAMS staff, an organization she has seen expand greatly since first working for the Melton Center 15 years ago. |
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Irene Bennett
Director of Operations (North America)
Irene has a background in business organization, computers and office management. Before joining the North American office, Irene was the registrar for Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute. She is also the lead vocalist with the Tony Caselli Orchestra as well as an event planner. |
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Alison Epstein
Website Content Coordinator (Israel) |
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Kitty
Hoffman
Administrative Assistant (North America)
Kitty comes to the Florence Melton Adult Mini School North American office with many years of administrative experience in both a hospital and residential facility. She is a Morasha graduate, was a TEP participant, and taught kindergarten in the religious school of McHenry County Jewish Congregation for five years. Once she realized she already knew half of the people in the office, she was most eager to become an active member of the staff. Another important part of her life is the volunteer work she does for Willow House, an organization that provides grief support and services for young families dealing with the death of a parent or child. She's got a great husband and daughter.
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Jody Hyman, JD
Director of Development & Alumni Services (North America)
Jody is the Director of Development & Alumni Services for the North American office of the FMAMS. She is responsible for maintaining and growing the FMAMS Alumni Network, and works with directors and the FMAMS staff to encourage alumni participation. Jody is also responsible for grant writing and other development efforts. As a recent Melton graduate and founder of the International Alumni Association, Jody has enthusiastically embraced her position with the FMAMS. She is an attorney and practiced labor and employment law for ten years before leaving the practice to raise her children. She assists her husband, Bruce, in the management of his medical practice, and is actively involved in fundraising for the local PTA and temple. |
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Tamar Katz
Administrator, International Office (Israel)
Since 1995, Tamar has been responsible for the administration of the FMAMS Institute in Jerusalem. She holds a BA in Archeology from the Hebrew University and has participated in archeological digs in the Sinai Desert, United States and France. Tamar has also translated books for an Israeli publishing house. |
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Jennie Mohl
Marketing Director New York Region (North America)
Jennie worked as a consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers and Credit Suisse First Boston. She holds a BS in Finance from Yeshiva University. She later became the founding director of the Mini-School at the The 14th Street Y in New York. Jennie recruited 80 students in her first year and recruited an outstanding staff. Jennie resides in Teaneck, NJ, and previously lived in the New York City. Jennie is very much looking forward to bringing FMAMS back to Manhattan. |
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Betty
Sobelman
Director of Finance (North America)
Betty served as the Financial Administrator of the Solomon Schechter Day Schools of Chicago for a period of 11 years. She served in leadership positions for ORT, Na'Amat and the Chicago Board of Jewish Education and developed and operated several successful private businesses before embarking on her career in the not-for-profit world. |
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