Staff     The Tomer Devorah 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. Aviva Feiner, Shana Bet Rakezet     Mrs. Feiner, a Shana Bet Rakezet at Tomer Devorah, has been teaching and lecturing around the world. In addition to her students at several Jerusalem seminaries, students and lecture attendees from Jerusalem, Israel to Birmingham, Alabama and from Calgary, Alberta to Rimini, Italy have been amazed and inspired by Mrs. Feiner’s dynamic and engaging classes. Mrs. Feiner holds a B.A. in Psychology from Queens College and a Masters Degree in Special Education from Johns Hopkins University.       Mrs. Aviva Landau, Rakezet     Mrs. Aviva Landau, a Rakezet in Tomer Devorah, grew up in London, England, and attended Hasmonean High School. She spent a year studying at Michlala, and then went on to complete a BA in History at University College, London. During that time, she was involved in various community projects, including mentoring high school students, giving tefillah shiurim, working with students with special needs at Kisharon, and developing "bat chayil" programs for the wider community. Mrs. Landau, her husband and their children now live in the Ramat Eshkol neighborhood of Jerusalem. Mrs. Landau has spent the past few years working in campus kiruv at Hebrew University as well as lecturing and acting as a mentor at Aish Hatorah's Jewel program. Along with her Inyanei Nashim class, her warm smile and sharp mind, Mrs. Landau’s support and advice is an integral feature of the Tomer Devorah students’ experience.       Mrs. Sara Tendler, Rakezet     Mrs. Sara Tendler, a new member of the Tomer Devorah Rakezet staff, grew up and went to school in New York. After high school, she went on to BJJ where she received a teacher's certificate upon graduating. She went on to receive a B.A. from Touro College in History and a Masters Degree from in Education Administration. Mrs. Tendler has been teaching and mentoring in several Jerusalem seminaries for the past seven years. She lives with her husband and children in the Sanhedria Murchevet neighborhood.       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. Deidre Bess     Mrs. Deidre Bess grew up in New Rochelle, New York. After graduating Westchester Hebrew Day school, she continued her studies at Yeshiva University High School for Girls. Inspired to go off and study Israel, she spent her post high school year at Bnot Torah Institute followed by another two years at Rika Breuers Seminary. While at Breuers she also studied at Touro College. In 1994, she married Chaim (Mark) Bess and moved to Los Angeles, California where she taught various Judaic subjects at Maimonides Day School. In the summer of 2005, the Bess family moved to Yerushalayim. Mrs. Bess currently lives in Givat Hamiftar with her husband and children.       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.       Rabbi Yehuda Greenman     After completing his B.A., Magna Cum Laude, in Spanish Translation and Interpretation from the American University in Washington,D.C., Rabbi Greenman planned a quick three week trip to Israel. However, for Rabbi Greenman, it was love at first sight when he arrived in Israel and the three week visit has stretched into a 15 year journey of learning and teaching. After 10 years in Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah in the Old City of Jerusalem where he learned, tutored, and taught, Rabbi Greenman received rabbinical ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. While at Bircas HaTorah, Rabbi Greenman also served as Director of Student Admissions and Director of Public Relations and Media. After leaving Bircas HaTorah, Rabbi Greenman began lecturing in seminaries in Jerusalem and continues to have the pleasure of seeing years of students challenge themselves and grow into powerful Jewish women. With close to a decade of teaching and counseling experience, Rabbi Greenman is known and liked for his warm and sensitive approach to each student as a world in and unto herself along with his humorous ability to bring out the underlying depth and meaning behind the seemingly mundane. He currently lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife and children.       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. 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.       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.       Mrs. Abby Weisberg     Mrs. Abby Weisberg grew up in Long Island, NY. She attended HAFTR high school and Michlalah and completed her degree in Judaic Studies at Stern College. She received certification in computer programming and then moved to Israel with her husband 11 years ago. She worked as a computer programmer and taught programming for several years before switching careers to teach in various seminaries. She and her husband raise their family in Ramat Shlomo, Yerushalayim.

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