Educators

Jerusha has been teaching in the Pelham Jewish Center for 23 years. She has taught children from Nitzanim through Kitah Zayin. Jerusha is a Special Education teacher, working with young children with various learning disabilities. She earned her degrees from Boston University, Manhattanville College and Touro College.  As always, Jerusha is looking forward to a wonderful year with your children!

Josie Kagan is delighted to join the PJC Learning Center as our Kitah Alef teacher. She is passionate about creating an inclusive, engaging classroom where every student feels welcome and has the opportunity to thrive.This year, students will explore Jewish holidays, Torah, Hebrew reading, and so much more through hands-on activities, crafts, music, games, and interactive learning. Josie has visited Israel twice and has a special connection to the country. In 2023, she celebrated her Bat Mitzvah at Robinson’s Arch, just outside the Kotel.Josie is excited to meet her students and families and looks forward to a wonderful year of learning, connection, and Jewish joy together!

Rivka earned her Master’s degree in Education and School Counseling from Lehman College. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dance from the Rubin Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem. Rivka has been teaching for 22 years at the Elementary and Middle School levels both in Israel and the US. During the summer, she teaches Jewish cooking at Sprouts Day Camp at Croton-on-Hudson.

Gail holds an MA in Art Therapy, an MSEd in Recreation Education, and is certified as a Nature Specialist. She has taught nature from a Jewish, spiritual perspective at numerous early childhood centers and religious schools and has also taught Jewish art electives and family holiday programs at Westchester Jewish Center and B’nai Or in Morristown, NJ. Gail was a founding faculty member of Avenues: The World School’s @Home program and, in addition to PJC, teaches religious school at WJC. Gail loves to travel—especially to Israel where she has lots of family—and loves to go on nature walks with her three grown children, husband, Steve, and their two “grand-dogs!”

Sonia is a Hebrew Language and Reading specialist.  She received an M.A. in Education from Tel Aviv University and a second M.A. in Jewish Education from Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.  Her research was focused on teaching Hebrew decoding skills to children with dyslexia, and other language/reading disabilities, based on data available in Israel, Europe, Russia, and the United States.  Through her practice with this novel decoding system, Sonia found that it can be used to teach Hebrew reading not only to children with learning disabilities but to students at any level.  In addition to being a seasoned teacher, Sonia also facilitates professional education training.  During the week, she works as a reading learning specialist at SAR Academy in Riverdale, NY. She currently lives in New Jersey with her children.

Emily is excited to be returning to the PJC, where she had previously taught Kitah Gimmel from 2005-2007.  She has a Master’s Degree in Early Education and has been teaching in nursery schools for over 15 years.  In addition to Kitah Gimmel, Emily has taught Gan classes at religious schools for 10 years.  She is also a learning specialist at the Beth El Synagogue Religious School.  She is a certified yoga instructor (200 hr and children’s) and has been teaching yoga for eight years, with a focus on children’s yoga, Jewish-themed yoga and children’s Jewish-themed yoga.  Emily is the host of The Jewish Yogi podcast.  When she is not teaching religious school or yoga, she can be found enjoying her friends, her family and nature.

Sheri Silver is excited to lead Bubby’s Kitchen, where she brings together her love of food, learning, and community.

Throughout the school year, Sheri will introduce students to basic kitchen skills while exploring a variety of delicious dishes and discovering the connections between food, culture, and history. Her goal is to create a fun, engaging, and hands-on environment where children can build confidence in the kitchen, try something new, and make meaningful memories along the way.

A proud Pelham resident for more than 10 years and mother of three wonderful children, Sheri is thrilled to share her enthusiasm and creativity with the Bubby’s Kitchen community!

Zev is a children’s musician who has been performing original, hip and fun kids music at schools, camps, family events, and private parties for over 10 years. As a music artist Zev has written recorded numerous children’s recording, winning the 2009 Children’s music web award for best album for pre-schooler and best song for his album “chicken scratch” in addition his music has been featured on Sirius XM, NBC’s Today show, Dateline.

Lior Dreval is excited to join the Pelham Jewish Center community this year. Recently graduated from Ben Zvi High School in Kiryat Ono, Israel, Lior is looking forward to sharing her experiences of growing up in Israel and connecting with the PJC community through engaging and meaningful activities. A passionate animal lover, Lior has both a dog and an adorable cat at home. In her free time, she enjoys playing sports, exploring architecture, and learning new things. At PJC, Lior hopes to create fun, interactive experiences that bring people together and offer a deeper understanding of Israeli life, culture, and traditions. Through games, sports, hands-on building projects, arts and crafts, and other creative activities, she hopes to make learning about Israel both meaningful and memorable. Lior is excited for the year ahead and looks forward to learning from the PJC community while sharing her own experiences and love of Israel.

This is Michael’s first year of teaching the Bnei Mitzvah class after a 30-year career in nursing. Earlier as a kibbutznik,  he took part in forming a new kibbutz by the Dead Sea called Kibbutz Kalia, where he raised cows for 14 years and served in the Israeli Army during the Yom Kippur War. He became a registered nurse after graduating from Mount Vernon Hospital School of Nursing in 1993,  and has worked since then as a Psychiatric RN in a psychiatric hospital in Westchester County. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 2012 at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry.  He and his wife live in Hastings-On-Hudson, and are proud grandparents of a new grandson.

Barry Konner is excited to join the Pelham Jewish Center community as a teacher of Bar and Bat Mitzvah students. His own journey began many years ago when Cantor Siegel taught him to read Torah and Haftarah in preparation for his Bar Mitzvah. Since then, Barry has continued reading Torah and Haftarah throughout his life and had the privilege of teaching these traditions to his own son and daughter. For the past 28 years, Barry has been sharing his love of Torah and chanting with students, helping them prepare for one of the most meaningful milestones in their Jewish lives. He finds great joy in watching his students develop confidence and skill throughout the process and is continually amazed and inspired by how beautifully they chant on their big day. Barry looks forward to helping PJC students discover their own connection to Torah and celebrating their accomplishments along the way.

Sandi has been an Early Childhood educator for over 20 years, working with children ages 3-5.  She earned a Master’s Degree from Manhattanville College in Early Childhood Education.  She ran a lovely Tot Shabbat program for many years.  The services were engaging and interactive, and connected children and their families to Shabbat through prayers, songs, movement, games and stories.  Sandi has subbed in a Gan class, and has done many leave replacements.  Currently, she is working at Riverdale Temple, in a UPK class.  She is looking forward to continuing the shared partnership with PJCs parents and children on Saturday morning during Torah Time.  Sandi has three grown children and two wonderful grandchildren.