Staff     The Tomer Devorah 2010-2011 / 5771 Staff     The staff at Tomer Devorah is made up of a hand-picked group of the very best educators and role models available to orthodox young women today. Our teachers and administrators have years of experience in girls’ and women’s education on the high school, seminary and community level. Tomer Devorah maintains an uncommonly high staff to student ratio to ensure that each student feels that she is receiving maximum personal attention. The signature of the teaching and administrative staff of Tomer Devorah is its warm, personable and welcoming demeanor towards our students.       Rabbi Noam Fix, Dean     Rabbi Noam Fix grew up in Queens, N.Y., where he began his work with teens as Regional President of the New York Ohr Chadash Region. After studying in Yeshivat Sha’arei Mevaseret Tzion in Israel, Yeshivat Ohr HaChaim in Queens and graduating Summa Cum Laude from Touro College with a B.A. in Psychology, Rabbi Fix went on to be ordained by Dayan Zalman Nechemiah Goldberg. Rabbi Fix’s warm and gentle personality has touched the lives of countless students over the years. His vision and leadership abilities have also led him to launching and coordinating a very successful “big-brother” outreach program in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel. Rabbi Fix currently resides in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife Rivka and their five sons.       Rabbi Moshe Rosenstein, Dean     Rabbi Moshe Rosenstein grew up in Elizabeth, NJ. A former National President of NCSY, Rabbi Rosenstein’s commitment to Jewish education and outreach manifested itself early on in his life. He learned at Yeshivat Ohr Yerushalayim after high school, and then returned to America where he attended Touro College and Yeshivat Ohr HaChaim in Queens. Known for his dynamic and personable speaking style, Rabbi Rosenstein is a sought after lecturer and teacher in the Chicago area. Aside from speaking for schools, shuls and NCSY programs on a wide range of Torah topics, Rabbi Rosenstein has been a popular women’s teacher for many years. An often featured lecturer on www.torahmedia.com, he initiated and taught a long-running women’s halacha class in Passaic, NJ and in Chicago, IL. Rabbi Rosenstein has been teaching halacha and machshava at the Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov High School in Chicago, where he touched the lives of his students both in the classroom, at his Shabbos table and in his role as guidance counselor.       Rabbi Yosef Brown, Menahel Ruchani     Rabbi Brown comes to Tomer Devorah with over twenty glowing years of teaching experience. After learning in Mishkan HaTorah, since 1982 Rabbi Brown has held positions in many prominent yeshivos and seminaries, including Sharfman’s, Bnos Chayil, and several Neve Yerashalayim seminaries. Known for his ability to relate to students from all backgrounds, he specializes in counseling students about personal issues. Rabbi Brown’s unique, fascinating and exciting classes inspire students both to think and build their confidence as individuals.       Ms. Sarah Kesler, Mechanechet     Ms. Kesler, the Mechanechet at Tomer Devorah, hails from West Orange, NJ. She attended Bruriah High School, and then learned for two years at Bnot Torah Institute in Jerusalem. She then spent several years working and teaching in various seminaries in Yerushalayim. Ms. Kesler brings a fresh eye to her discussion and text-based classes and an open ear and heart to her students.       Mrs. Ilana Cowland, Rakezet     Mrs. Ilana Cowland, originally from London, England, attended Hasmonean High School. After high school, she attended BJJ Seminary in Jerusalem and then received a BA in Jewish Studies from the University of London, as well as a diploma in counseling. Having spent 9 years working as a rebbetzin in the London Aish Hatorah community, she and her family moved to Jerusalem in 2005 where she has been involved in teaching and education administration, including 3 years as the principal of a seminary for post high school graduates. Mrs. Cowland is a sought after lecturer and educator internationally, with a specialty in the topics of relationships and women's issues. In addition to her teaching seminary students, Mrs. Cowland is involved in teaching shalom bayit courses to young married women in Jerusalem. She lives with her family in Ramot Bet, within walking distance of Tomer Devorah.       Mrs. Rivka Lichtman, Rakezet     Rivka Lichtman grew up in Paramus, NJ, but her heart has been in Yerushalayim since she was young. After attending Darchei Binah seminary, Mrs. Lichtman taught Nach in Manhattan Day School while completing her Bachelors degree in Psychology. Eretz Yisrael still beckoned, and she moved there immediately after getting married. Mrs. Lichtman has taught and been involved in a number of institutions around Yerushalayim including various "year-long" programs and a women’s branch of Aish HaTorah. The diligent care and understanding that Mrs. Lichtman shows each student is something that builds meaningful, lifelong bonds and she continues to connect with girls from over 10 years ago. Mrs. Lichtman takes great pride in her devotion and is so thrilled to be part of the wonderful staff of Tomer Devorah.       Mrs. Chana Peled, Rakezet     Mrs.Chana Peled was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up in Miami Beach, Florida. There she attended the R.A.S.G. Hebrew Academy Elementary and High Schools. After two years at B'not Torah Institute, and extensive study at FIU (Florida International University), Maalot Seminary (Flatbush), and Touro College (Flatbush), Mrs. Peled married, and began teaching in Toras Emes Elementary Day School in Miami Beach. She subsequently moved with her husband to Yerushalayim. Mrs. Peled taught and mentored at various institutions prior to joining the Tomer Devorah staff . Her classes encourage introspection and participation, leaving the students truly inspired to follow up with their own motivated growth. Her warmth and realness afford her students a feeling of comfort, allowing them to connect and learn from her, in and out of the classroom. Aside from her teaching at Tomer Devorah, Mrs. Peled is a very busy mother to her six energetic little daughters, and lives with them and her husband in Ramot Eshkol.       Mrs. Chaya Werfel, Rakezet     Mrs. Werfel is currently a Rakezt in Tomer Devorah. Before moving to Eretz Yisrael, Mrs. Werfel was the founder and director of the Kreative Kids Pre School Program in Far Rockaway and the Pre-School Director of the Yeshiva of the Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island. She and her family then made aliyah 8 years ago. Even before Mrs. Werfel was the Shana Bet Mechanechet at Tomer Devorah this past year, she was no stranger to the seminary and education scene, having served as administrative assistant, extra curricular coordinator, Eim Bayit, teacher of Early Childhood Methodology, and Mechanechet in other Yerushalayim institutions. With her easy smile and upbeat personality, Mrs. Werfel's rapport with her studnets is renowned. She and her husband raise their family in Har Nof, Jerusalem.       Mrs. Sarit Tzoref, Office Manager     Mrs. Tzoref, a graduate of Bais Yaakov HaChadash, Yerushalayim, was born and raised in the Old City of Jerusalem. Her parents had made Aliya from the States after the Six Day War. She now resides in Beitar Ilit with her husband and children. Sarit works "behind the scenes," using her bilingual skills to ensure that Tomer Devorah's office runs smoothly and efficiently. Seeing to it that all technical aspects of the school, classes and building are under control, oordinating the MASA scholarships, and handling all School Office related issues are just a few aspects of her multifaceted job.       Mrs. Michelle (Michal) Baruch     Mrs. Baruch grew up in Queens and Long Island, New York. She attended SUNY at Stony Brook and graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa majoring in History with a minor in Women's Studies. She worked for the City of New York, Department of Housing Preservation and Development as a Special Assistant and then went on to study and graduate from NYU School of Law. After working in the Real Estate Department of the law firm of Robinson, Silverman, Pearce, Aronsohn and Berman for three years, Mrs. Baruch decided to dedicate significantly more time to her home office, a.k.a. the Baruch family. She thereafter held part-time law positions and was Assistant Principal of Bait Yaakov Ohel Simcha, a kiruv High School in Queens. In 2002, the Baruch family made Aliyah and moved to Ramat Beit Shemesh. Mrs. Baruch currently helps her husband, Dr. Shaul Baruch of Sha'arei Zedeck Medical Center, with his medical practice while she continues to nurture her growing family. Mrs. Baruch is also involved in the art of scrapbooking and she runs classes for teenage girls and women teaching them this creative and fulfilling craft. Finally, she has spoken to many groups of girls in different High Schools and Seminaries about her journey from secular to observant Jew and has found these encounters to be mutually inspirational.       Mrs. Alana Berkowitz           Mrs. Leah Bistricer     Mrs. Bistricer began her teaching career a decade ago. She has taught Judaic and secular studies in schools both in the United States and Israel, including several prominent seminaries in Jerusalem. She graduated from university Summa Cum Laude with a BS in computer science. Mrs. Bistricer has also starred in two popular movies and in numerous plays produced for Jewish audiences. She also does studio voice-overs and edits screenplays for directors. She lives in the Minchat Yitzchok section of Jerusalem with her husband and three daughters.       Mrs. Shaindy Bondi     Mrs. Shaindy Bondi grew up in Brooklyn, and is grateful to be living and teaching in Israel since her marriage. After graduating high school, she attended Beth Jacob Jerusalem (BJJ) and earned a Judaic studies teaching diploma. Upon returning to the States, she pursued a B.A. in education and earned New York State Teacher Certification, for secular studies grades K-6. Besides for teaching Judaic and secular elementary school courses, she ran an art education program in Manhattan’s Lower East Side Beth Jacob. During this time, she also directed an all-girls kiruv summer camp for Shoroshim, an organization addressing the needs of Jewish-Russian immigrants. Since moving to Israel, Mrs. Bondi, granddaughter of the Noviminsker Rebbe, has continued to share her passion for learning by teaching in Michlelet Esther seminary and tutoring in other Jerusalem seminaries.       Mrs. Miriam Cohen     Miriam Cohen lives in Ramot, Yerushalayim with her husband and three children. After completing her seminary year in MMY, Mrs. Cohen she received her BA in Judaic studies and Psychology and her MA from Hunter College in Special Education. She is also on the staff at Gan Eliya, early intervention preschool for children who are blind and visually impaired.       Mrs. Menucha Lieberman     Originally from Lakewood, NJ, Mrs. Lieberman has lived in Israel for the past five years. She has taught in a variety of institutions in America and Israel and currently teaches high school students at Seminar Alei Be’er in Jerusalem as well as college students at Michlalah of Ofakim and Sheransky in Tel Aviv. Mrs. Leiberman also lectures to teachers in Israel. She is involved with Aish HaTorah and gives classes in its Jewel program for women. Known for her powerhouse approach to teaching Chumash, Mrs. Lieberman guides her students to grasp the meaning and depth of the pesukim by exploring the Mefarshei Chumash in an innovative and truly exhilarating fashion.       Mrs. Hyndi Mendelowitz     Mrs. Hyndi Mendelovitz, of Brooklyn, NY attended Manhattan High School, and has a BA in Computer Science. She's always been drawn to drama, and views the classroom as the stage on which to share an enthusiasm for exploring Tanach and Judaism with a mature eye. She's taught at the elementary and high school level in New York, and has taught Chumash, Megillot, Parsha and other topics in Judaism in seminaries and to women since coming to live in Yerushalaim. Mrs. Mendelowitz is also a JME certified teacher of taharat hamishpacha to kallahs.       Mrs. Thiya Nevies           Rabbi Don Perkal     Rabbi Don Perkal has been involved in education in Israel for decades. Rabbi Perkal serves as the Mashgiach Ruchani for Yeshivat Tiferet Jerusalem ("TJ") and is known for his clear and thought provoking classes and personal discussions. In addition to teaching the Chayei Olam class in Tomer Devorah, because of his proximity to the seminary, Rabbi Perkal is from time to time a featured guest speaker at school Shabbatonim.       Rabbi Aaron Preil     Rabbi Preil grew up in Elizabeth, NJ. After learning, and then teaching, for 5 years in Yeshivat Neve Tzion, Rabbi Preil returned to America for a year and learned in Ner Yisroel in Baltimore. He then returned to Israel where, for the past 25 years he has been learning and teaching at an array of prestigious Yeshivot in Israel, including Meshech Chochma, Lakewood East, Yagdil Torah, and Shaarei Tevunah. Rabbi Preil lives with his family in Ramat Shlomo, Jerusalem.       Mrs. Leah Rosenstein, Chessed Coordinator           Mrs. Talya Rosenstein     Mrs. Talya Rosenstein grew up in Toronto, Canada, where she attended Ulpanat Orot High School. Following graduation, she spent a year at Michlelet Orot seminary in Eretz Yisrael. She then obtained a BASc degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto. During this period, she helped organize Shabbatonim, Shiurim, and other programs for the women's division of Jewish Education Program (JEP). Mrs. Rosenstein attended Post-Shalhevet at Neve Yerushalayim. During the first two years of her marriage, she returned to Neve as a tutor. She also studied and currently practices massage and reflexology from her home in Kiryat Sefer, where she lives with her husband and their two children. In addition to the profound and enlightening insights she brings to the classroom, Mrs. Rosenstein, as a singer and choir leader, is a valued addition to Tomer Devorah’s extracurricular programming.       Miss Chanie Rudman     Miss Chanie Rudman is originally from Brooklyn, NY and has been living in Israel for the past 8 years. Miss Rudman attended Michlalah for 3 years and has a BA in Liberal Arts from Thomas Edison College. In addition to teaching both Shana Aleph and Shana Bet in Tomer Devorah, Miss Rudman has been an instrumental part of the Tomer Devorah staff, including her involvement in the Machshava Paper and as an advisor for the Tomer Devorah Kedma choir performances. In her free time, Miss Rudman likes to organizes benefit events and overnight stays in the hospital with sick babies. Miss Rudman has spent the last ten summers working for Camp HASC, the past four years in the position of division head.       Mrs. Chava Schwartz           Rabbi Nachman Seltzer     Rabbi Nachman Seltzer grew up in Brooklyn N.Y. At the age of fourteen his family made aliyah to a small settlement in the West Bank. He studied at Yeshivas Torah Ohr and went on to The Mir where he still studies for part of the day. He was ordained by Rav Yitzchok Berkovitz at The Jerusalem Kollel. Besides for teaching and learning, Rabbi Seltzer is an author; having published nine books as of now. "Stories With A Twist," "The Network" and "The Link," are among his more famous books. His latest book published by Artscroll is enitled "It Could Have Been You." Rabbi Seltzer runs the Shira Chadasha Boys Choir based in Jerusalem and Ramat Beit Shemesh as well. They have released three recordings and are currently working on their fourth. He lives with his wife and children in Ramat Beit Shemesh.       Mrs. Elana Stahler     Mrs. Elana Stahler grew up in West Hempstead, New York. After attending Stella K. Abraham high school Elana then continued her learning in Israel at Bnot Torah Institute, where she studied for two years. Upon her return to New York, Elana attended Touro College, where she received her B.A. in Psychology. Mrs. Stahler then moved back to Israel where, over the past 4 years, she has taught in various Russian schools, Hebrew schools, and seminaries. She now resides with her husband and son in Ramat Eshkol.       Rabbi Yaakov Thaler     Rabbi Thaler, Tomer Devorah’s Shana Bet Hilchot Shabbat teacher, grew up in Queens, N.Y. After learning in Yeshivat Hakotel, he returned to New York to learn in Yeshivat Ohr Hachaim while attending Queens College. He graduated Queens College Magna Cum Laude with a dual major in accounting and economics. After graduation, Rabbi Thaler went on to learn and receive his semicha ordination from the RIETS program at Yeshiva University. For the past 11 years Rabbi Thaler has held various teaching positions in Yeshivat Hakotel and subsequently at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh, as well as being a popular lecturer at Aish Hatorah's Discovery program. Rabbi Thaler lives with his wife and family in Beitar Illit where he has years of experience working with off-the-derech teens.

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