K’ilu Lab 2024 Cohort Bios
Tammy Anagnostis (She/Her)
Family Educator, Temple B'nai Jeshurun / Short Hills, NJ
Tammy Anagnostis has been working in her current role as Family Educator at Temple B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, New Jersey, since 2017 when the position was first created by the synagogue. She blends her creative vision for family engagement with a strategic approach to implementing meaningful programs connected to Jewish learning. Tammy holds an Undergraduate Degree in Psychology and Sociology as well as a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. She has spent her entire career working in Jewish Education starting with her role as the Teen Director at The JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly, NJ. Following this job, she moved into the position of National Junior Youth Program Director for the Union of Reform Judaism. She then entered the world of Jewish Day Schools, working at the Rashi School in Boston as a 4th grade teacher. She continued her work in Day Schools at Rodeph Sholom in New York City where she taught 4th grade and was the Social Justice Coordinator for the school. In addition to working at TBJ, Tammy serves as the Dean of Faculty at Golda Och Academy in West Orange where she has worked at the lower school campus for twelve years. Camp Harlam, NFTY, and Hillel played important roles in shaping Tammy into the educator that she has become. Since the beginning of her career, Tammy has prioritized inspiring children to become leaders and make a difference in the world, and to develop deep connections with the people around them. She also loves being active, appreciates being in nature, photography, paddleboarding, baking, coaching sports, and living in the moment. She is the proud Mom of two daughters, Talia and Jaiden, who along with her husband Rob enjoy being a part of our TBJ community.
Emily Cohen (She/Her)
Director of Family Engagement & Membership, Congregation Shaare Emeth / St. Louis, MO
Emily is the Director of Family Engagement and Membership at Congregation Shaare Emeth in St. Louis. In this role, she leads many of Shaare Emeth’s offerings for families with infants through second graders, including Shabbat and holiday programs, community outreach, and JQuest, a free and creative Sunday morning learning adventure for PreK-1st graders. Prior to this position, Emily was the Director of Education & Community Engagement at Temple Emanuel in St. Louis and the Director of Youth Education & Engagement at Temple Sinai in Atlanta. Emily holds an MA in Religious Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion through the Executive Masters program and a BS in Public Affairs-Nonprofit Management and an area certificate in Jewish Studies from Indiana University in Bloomington. Emily and her husband Brent are the proud parents of five year-old Abby and two year-old Bram.
Kelly Cohen (She/Her)
Senior Program Director, The Center for Experiential Jewish Education at the MJCCA / Atlanta, GA
Kelly Cohen, the Senior Program Director at the Center for Experiential Jewish Education in Atlanta's Marcus Jewish Community Center, is dedicated to enhancing Jewish experiences. Drawing from her extensive background in Jewish education across various settings, including camps, day schools, synagogues, Federations, and Israel travel, she brings a broad perspective to her role. Kelly previously served as the North American Director of Education for the Diller Teen Fellowship, shaping the educational vision of a global teen leadership program. Holding a Masters in Jewish Education from Hebrew College and a BA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University, her academic background fuels her commitment to creating innovative educational opportunities. With a fervent dedication to inspiring young learners, Kelly aims to advance the field of Jewish education and leave a lasting impact on her community.
Sarah DeWoskin (She/Her)
Director/Founder, LEV Children's Museum / Davie, FL
Sarah DeWoskin, an innovative Jewish educator based in South Florida, has worked with children and families for decades within settings such as preschools, supplementary schools, youth groups, and camps. Through LEV, the non-profit she founded and runs, Sarah delivers dynamic engagement and education for Jewish and interfaith families of all ages, learning styles, and backgrounds through multisensory, hands-on experiences. She graduated in May 2020 from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion's Executive Master’s program for Jewish Educational Leadership. Sarah is married to a Reform Rabbi and together they live in South FL with their three active teenagers and two rescue dogs!
Alyse Eisenberg (She/Her)
Family Engagement Specialist/Pedagogista, Aaron Family JCC / Dallas, TX
Alyse Eisenberg is the family engagement specialist and pedagogista at the Aaron Family JCC in Dallas, Texas, where she plans and facilitates family programs and supports early childhood educators on their Jewish studies journey. She previously was the early childhood specialist and PJ Library manager at the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas. She is a JECELI (Jewish Early Childhood Education Leadership Initiative) fellow and the Judaic specialist in residence at the B’nai Shalom Day School Early Childhood Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. Eisenberg is passionate about leveraging her national network to enrich her community and was recognized as a Master Leader by the Exchange Leadership Initiative because of her commitment to strengthening her organization, going beyond her position through building the profession and advocating for children and their families. She lives in Plano, Texas, with her husband of more than 33 years.
Jessie Gindea (She/Her)
Interim Head of School and Director of Judaic Studies, Gordon School / Miami, FL
Jessie is currently serving as the Interim Head of School and Director of Judaics at the Gordon School in Miami. Throughout her career, Jessie has worked in various educational and community-building settings including; Day Schools, Jewish summer camps, Hebrew schools, study abroad programming, philanthropic and leadership training programs, and was the Senior Educator at Base Miami for six years. Jessie earned a Master's degree in Jewish education and a Certificate of Advanced Jewish Studies from the Pardes Educators Program in Jerusalem as well as a Certificate in Jewish Day School Education from Hebrew College of Boston. Before receiving her M.A., Jessie received a B.A. in Modern Jewish Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from Columbia University. She was the recipient of the Covenant Foundation’s 2020 Pomegranate Prize. Jessie loves reading, baking, RVing with her family, learning parsha with students, and spending time outside. Jessie lives in Miami with her husband Adam, her two delicious kids, Charlie and Matan, and their sweet dog Nadi, named after her favorite cafe in Jerusalem.
Maxine Handelman(She/Her)
Director of Family Life & Learning, Anshe Emet Synagogue / Chicago, IL
Maxine Segal Handelman is the Director of Family Life & Learning at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago, where she gets to lead Tot Shabbat and create pathways to Jewish life and community for families with young children. Max bakes a mean challah, and she is passionate about chocolate. Max holds an M.A. in Jewish Education from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks College. She holds both the titles of Reform Jewish Educator (RJE), and Conservative Jewish Educator (CJE). She is a graduate of the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute and the Wexner Heritage Foundation. Max received the esteemed Covenant Award for Exceptional Jewish Educators in 2020. Max is the author of Jewish Every Day: The Complete Handbook for Early Childhood Teachers (A.R.E. Publishing, 2000), The Shabbat Angels (UAHC Press, 2003) and What’s Jewish About Butterflies (A.R.E. Publishing, 2004). Max has presented keynotes and workshops at conferences across North America. A professional storyteller, Max lives near Wrigley Field with her husband Jacob.
Jolie Helmbrecht(She/Her)
Director of Programming, Pomi & Families with Young Children Consultant, CJP / Newton, MA
As Director of Programming for Pomi, Jolie is in charge of all the Fun! Pomi, a new initiative of Combined Jewish Philanthropy and the JCC Great Boston, focuses on bringing community building opportunities to neighborhoods where families with young children are living. She is also a parenting expert having worked for over 25 years designing and delivering programming and workshops for young families in Greater Boston. She previously worked for Isis Parenting and later joined CJP to develop Welcome Baby! and leads professional peer groups for parenting experts in the area. Now she is lending her years of experience to deliver a new Jew"ish" way to engage!
Shira Kobren(She/Her)
Director of Family Engagement & Central Tots, Central Synagogue / New York, NY
Shira Kobren is the Director of Family Engagement and Central Tots at Central Synagogue, where she works to share the joys of Judaism with her young students and their families through music, dancing, video, and interactive celebrations. Shira is passionate about making Judaism accessible and fun for people of all ages who want to participate. Shira is also a singer, songwriter, and bandleader. With her band, “Shira & Friends,” she has released two albums: “B’yachad” (2020) and “When You’re A Kid” (2012). Shira’s music has been published by Transcontinental Music Publications and is sung in synagogues throughout the country. She is the recipient of the 2023 Robert M. Sherman Young Pioneers Award, which is awarded to Jewish Educators in the New York Area who demonstrate a commitment to new ideas and have made a significant impact on their communities. Shira is also a Grammy-voting member of the recording Academy. Shira earned her BFA in drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and, before joining Central Synagogue she performed in plays, films, TV shows, and commercials. She lives in New York City with her husband, Jason, and two children, Gavriella and Noam.
Sari Kopitnikoff(She/Her)
Creator, That Jewish Moment / Passaic, NJ
Sari Kopitnikoff is an experiential educator, digital artist, and content creator who is passionate about creating books, games, activities, and shows that bring Judaism to life. For over a decade, she taught elementary through high school, and she now creates and gives Jewish "edutaining" workshops and mystery experiences all over for kids, teens, adults, and families -- on tapping into the beauty, joy, and creativity of Judaism. You can find her books, games, and lots of educational activities on her website, thatjewishmoment.com and on social media, @thatjewishmoment.
Marlena Lantos(She/Her)
Youth Programming and PJ Library Coordinator, Jewish Community Alliance / Portland, ME
Marlena grew up in the Portland, ME area and graduated from Skidmore College in 2016 with a degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. After graduating, Marlena worked as an elementary school teacher for 6 years before transitioning to her position at the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine as the Youth Programming Coordinator. In this position, Marlena runs the JCA’s afterschool program and works to connect families through PJ library programming through the year. She also gets to spend the summers at Center Day Camp as the assistant director, where she has worked for the past 10 years.
Yael Kahn Pinto(She/Her)
Director, Center for Family Life, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan / New York, NY
Yael Kahn Pinto earned her MS E.d. in Early Childhood General and Special Education from Bank Street College of Education. She began her teaching career at the JCC Manhattan, where she became passionate about and developed expertise in the Reggio Emilia approach and constructivist education. She then spent several years working as an educational consultant at The Jewish Education Project, focusing on leadership development and teacher training. She currently works as the Director of the Center for Family Life at the JCC Manhattan, overseeing children's classes, parenting and family programs. Yael is passionate about working with children and families and cultivating meaningful Jewish experiences.
Matt Rissien(He/Him)
Director of Congregational Learning, Temple Jeremiah / Northfield, IL
Matt Rissien is the Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Jeremiah in Northfield, IL, where he is responsible for all the education ranging from birth through adult education. Matt started his role at Temple Jeremiah in 2021 after serving as the Midwest Director of IsraelLINK, an interactive middle school online Israel curriculum. Matt grew up in Kansas City and now lives in the Northwest Suburbs with his wife Brittany, his 1-and-a-half-year-old son Henry and Reese the dog. When he’s not working, Matt enjoys networking with Jewish professionals from all over, going to any form of live event and is always up for Karaoke. Having grown up in Kansas, Matt is also an avid fan of all Kansas and Kansas City sports team!
Logan gabrielle Schulman(They/Them)
Associate-Producing Director &Teaching Artist, Flying Leap Productions & Congregation B'nai Jeshurun / Brooklyn, NY
Logan gabrielle Schulman [they/them] is a New York-based interdisciplinary theatrical director, Jewish cultural educator, teaching artist, and social practice artist. Recently directed works for Jewish families include A Children's Ceremony for Flying Leap Productions and Welcome to the Shiva House for FringeArts, Arthur Ross Gallery, and Melbourne Fringe. Currently, Logan is a Solomon R. Guggenheim Teaching Artist, a company puppeteer with the Central Park Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, an associate-producing director with Flying Leap Productions, and Teaching Artist in Residence at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia, PA. Logan gabrielle is an alumna of the Drama League Directors Project, and former resident artist of the Social Practice Institute at the Greensboro Contemporary Jewish Museum. Their written dramatic work has been commissioned by the Walnut Street Theatre, The Neighborhood, and Reconstructing Judaism’s Ritualwell. Logan gained their degree in Theatre and Religion from New College of Florida, where prior to Gov. Ron DeSantis' hostile takeover of the university, they also recently served as an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation-funded adjunct Theatre faculty through Spring 2022. @schul.mmm / loganschulman.net
Nicole Stroll(She/Her)
Director of Curriculum and Teacher Training, First Foundations Jewish Community Preschools / Toronto, ON
Nicole Stroll is the Director of Curriculum and Teacher Training at First Foundations Jewish Community Preschools. With over 11 years of experience, Nicole is a leading expert in Jewish early childhood education in Canada. WIth Nicole as a critical part of the team, First Foundations has developed and implemented a cutting-edge model for Jewish preschools of the future. The successful model is based on modern play-based learning, extensive teacher training, professionally delivered parent support programs, and family engagement in Jewish practice - including grandparents. Nicole’s work at First Foundations for the most part has focused on designing and implementing an intensive teacher training and support program. This program designed for non- Jewish educators is the only one of its kind and is implemented by way of an integrated team approach led in part by Nicole’s exceptional leadership and talent. Nicole leads a team of programmers who train over 35 educators each year, 90% that are not Jewish. Outside of her professional life, Nicole is a proud mom to two amazing boys, ages 8 and 5. Nicole lives in Canada, and is grateful for the diversity of the First Foundations team that serves as a powerful symbol of a shared society reflecting the values of diversity, inclusion, and mutual understanding.
Sarah Topal(She/Her)
Director of Youth & Family Engagement, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El / Highland Park, IL
Sarah is the Director of Youth & Family Engagement at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park where she works with families and children of all ages. Sarah received a master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in Jewish Education from the William Davidson School at JTS. Her previous work at Adas Israel in Washington D.C, and at Camp Ramah has given her opportunities to interact with students from all ages and in a variety of Jewish settings She lives in Highland Park with her husband and son and loves exploring the neighborhood.
Emily Warheit(She/Her)
Visual and Performing Arts specialist, Congregation Beth Israel Forest School / Charlottesville, VA
Emily Warheit is the Visual and Performing Arts specialist at Congregation Beth Israel Forest School in Charlottesville, VA, where she has developed an arts curriculum that incorporates the natural environment and Jewish values and culture into inquiry-based multidisciplinary explorations of music, theatre, visual art, and handcrafts. She received a PhD in theatre and performance studies from University of Maryland where her research focused on applied, educational, and community performance. She has taught music, theatre, and interdisciplinary arts in a variety of school and community settings and has a particular interest in the arts as a tool for community building
Gavi Young(She/Her)
Judaic Curriculum Coordinator, Congregation Kol Ami's Early Childhood Program / White Plains, NY
Gavi Young is proud to serve as the Judaic Curriculum Coordinator at Congregation Kol Ami of Westchester’s Early Childhood Program in White Plains, NY. After studying Theater and Education Studies at Brandeis University, Gavi worked in Development Departments of non-profit professional theater companies in New York City and Washington, DC. She then earned a Dual Masters in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education from Bank Street College. With a decade of experience in the classroom, she believes that when we serve students well, we are serving their parents and families too. Gavi is the proud parent to two kiddos with her spouse Rabbi Jason Fenster, a hopeless theater nerd, and a passionate proponent of the Science of Reading and of justice education for our youngest learners.
Becca Yudkoff(She/Her)
Director of Early Childhood Engagement, Temple Shalom of Newton / Newton, MA
Becca Yudkoff is a dedicated and accomplished professional in the field of early childhood education, currently serving as the Director of Early Childhood Engagement at Temple Shalom of Newton. Becca holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Lesley University and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from the University of British Columbia. Becca takes on multifaceted responsibilities at Temple Shalom & Temple Shalom Nursery School including family engagement, admissions, marketing, and outreach. Her background in dance, theater and music have brought to life a world of captivating young (and old!) audiences through the art of storytelling. Becca lives in Newton with her husband, Ben, and their three children. Becca enjoys singing, biking, sewing and going out to hear live music - especially if it involves a banjo!