Ilana is the Temple Emanuel Director of Education. After teaching in every Jewish denomination, she is dedicated to Jewish pluralism and helping students find their personal connections to Judaism and Israel. Through her personal and professional Jewish education journey, Ilana developed a passion for providing supplemental school students a Jewish day-school caliber experience and education.
Previously, Ilana served as the Executive Director of Kesher Newton, as Associate Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League in New England and as Director of Academic Affairs at the Consulate General of Israel to New England, all while teaching Religious School on the side, including 5th grade at Temple Emanuel! Ilana holds a B.A. and M.A. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University with a Massachusetts State Certification in Elementary Education and minors in both Hebrew language and History. She also studied abroad at the University of Haifa in Israel.
Ilana lives in Newton with her husband Avner, and almost 5-year-old son, Izzy.
Lori Kipnes
Director of the Kesher Afterschool Program and
Hebrew/Curriculum Specialist for the Religious School
Lori is excited to bring the renowned Kesher Afterschool Program to Temple Emanuel and to work with the Religious School on Hebrew learning and curriculum development. Lori joined Kesher Newton in 2017 and served as Executive Director for the past two years. Prior to that, she was Kesher’s Director of Curriculum, Learning, and Inclusion; Hebrew Coordinator; and a teacher. Lori reinvigorated Hebrew proficiency principles at Kesher and moved its Yahadut curriculum to full project-based learning.
Lori has extensive experience coaching teachers as well as developing and creatively implementing Hebrew and Judaic studies curriculum. For 40 years, she has taught children from preschool through 8th grade in day school, supplementary school, camp and tutoring settings. She has a background in Jewish pluralistic settings, including Kesher Newton, the Jewish Community Day School of Greater Boston (JCDS) and Gann Academy. As a teacher and a parent, Lori has worked with children with many different learning styles and is well-versed in differentiated instruction and inclusion protocols. She lived, worked, and raised four children in Israel; two of her daughters and her grandchildren live there still.
Lori holds a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education with a concentration in Hebrew additional-language instruction from the Delet Program at Brandeis University. She also earned a Master of Social Work degree from Simmons University and a BA from Wesleyan University in Women’s Studies and Religion.
In her spare time, Lori enjoys reading, theater, and spending time with her family and friends.
Beth Kozinn
Education Coordinator
Beth Kozinn is excited to join the Temple Emanuel as Education Coordinator. A graduate of Brandeis University and Suffolk Law School, Beth has worked in Jewish nonprofit for nearly 30 years. During her 25 years working for the Union for Reform Judaism, Beth served as a regional office manager, executive assistant, event planner, and program coordinator. Most recently she worked as the Director of Operations for Kesher Newton, managing all the administrative aspects of the program. Over the years Beth has worked with a variety of lay leaders, clergy, religious school students, and people exploring Judaism. When not at Kesher Beth enjoys volunteering at Temple Beth Avodah in Newton and Mayyim Hayyim Community Mikveh, gardening, reading, exercising and music. Beth lives in Newton with her husband, and they have a daughter who recently graduated college.
Amanda Cutter
K-8 Program Coordinator
Amanda is the K-8 Program Coordinator for the Temple Emanuel Religious School. After living in Israel for 6 months, she is dedicated to Jewish pluralism and helping students find their personal connections to Judaism and Israel.
Amanda grew up in Newton in the Oak Hill Park neighborhood going to Temple Beth Avodah. After graduating from Newton South High School she went on to Hofstra University, where she studied History and Jewish Studies. While in college she travelled to Ireland, Italy and Greece. She participated in Hillel where she attended weekly shabbat dinners and Jewsy Sushis. Amanda also participated in Birthright. Previously, Amanda interned at the Koret International School for the Studies of the Jewish People at ANU Museum of the Jewish People, where she worked helped with outreach and programs.
Debbie Gardner
Gan (K)/Inclusion Specialist
Stella Kamenetsky
Gan (K)
Stella Kamenetsky is a teacher in Gan Class. She grew up in Israel. Sharon has been Stella’s home for the past 18 years where she lives with her husband Alex and two sons Benjamin and Nathaniel. Stella enjoys spending time reading, going to the gym, and enjoying time with her family and friends. Stella has over 24 years of teaching experience in a preschool environment and 11 years in the religious school. She loves teaching Gan children to see the growth, and the language acquisition of children always amazes her. Stella is committed to providing your children with a loving and a developmentally sound foundation for a lifetime of learning Hebrew and Jewish study. She believes every child should be valued and treated with respect.
Lizzie Ravech
Alef (1st)
Arielle Waite
Bet (2nd)
Nancy Werner
Bet (2nd)
Anat Engel
Gimel (3rd) /6th and 7th grade Hebrew
Sue Green
Gimel (3rd) /7th and 8th grade Jewish Life Cycle
Judith Olshansky Gragg
Dalet (4th)
Judith Olshansky Gragg is pleased to join the Temple Emanuel community. She was recently a kindergarten and second grade teacher at the Rashi school in Dedham, Massachusetts. Before that, she was a teacher at the Ma’Or Hebrew School program, located at the JCC, as well as a long time teacher at Temple Aliyah in Needham.
Judith grew up in Boston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and then back to Boston. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and is the mother of three adult children. In her free time, she likes to read, crochet and procrastinate exercising.
Margie Matross
Hay (5th)
Dalia Mendel
Hay (5th)
Eugenia Gerstein
Music Teacher/Choir Leader (Shira)
Eugenia Gerstein has been at Temple Emanuel for 25 years as the Choral director and music educator. She conducts various children and youth choirs, Kol Emanuel, the adult choir and Zamira, the TE women group; and teaches music at our Religious school.
Seven years ago, Eugenia’s creativity lead to a new program – iGenesis studio. The recording studio is equipped with the latest technology for audio and video production. The iGenesis video program has become a major component in for Temple Emanuel during the Pandemic, producing numerous music videos for Holidays, bringing Temple Emanuel community together in the virtual time.
Eugenia graduated from Ural Conservatory magna cum laude with a Master’s Degree in choral conducting and received her Bachelor degree in music education and in Teaching music theory from Moscow Music teachers’ College. She also holds a diploma in Piano playing from Moscow Music school.
Native of Moscow, Eugenia came to the USA in 1994 with her son Kirill Gerstein, a music prodigy, who became the youngest student at Berklee College of Music at age 14. Kirill Gerstein became a world- renown pianist, performing with leading orchestras. In 1997 her husband, Leonid was allowed to leave Russia, and was reunited with Eugenia and Kirill.
Deb Abner
Library (Sifriya)
Jon Tatelman
CHAI 6th-8th Tikun Olam/Hebrew
Jon Tatelman grew up in Newton MA around the corner from Temple Emanuel. His grandfather was the Cantor and his grandmother was the Principal at their Synagogue in Newton where Jon participated in services, read Torah, and was a high school youth leader.
Living in New York for fifteen years, Jon earned his MSW from Fordham University and worked for the Dorot, Yachad, and R.B.I. organizations.
Jon began working at Temple Emanuel in 2003 as a high holiday kids service leader, and shortly afterward began running the Ruach Shabbat kids services and became a teacher in Temple Emanuel’s Religious school. With each year Jon took on more roles at Emanuel becoming a B’nai Mitzvah tutor and working with teens with the Shevet Achim program and The Rosh Hashanah Family service.
Jon feels honored to be associated with the clergy, staff, and members of Temple Emanuel for all the wonderful work everyone does and for they’re contributing so much to the shul, and for enhancing the lives of people in our community, and beyond.
Adina Ichilov
Chai385
Tanya Ospovat
K’tonton
Amy Salinger
K’tonton
Rimon Rosen
Israeli Dance Teacher/Leader of ONOT
Hi, I’m Rimon! I am currently a senior at Newton North High School. In college, I hope to study Aeronautical Engineering. This is my 8th year doing Israeli Dance, and my 6th year teaching it to others. I am super excited to lead Temple Emanuel’s dance program this year! When I am not dancing, I love being in the outdoors! I love hiking in New Hampshire, biking along the Charles, or kayaking in it. Also, I am very involved with the Jewish community. I often lead Friday night and Saturday morning services and study Talmud at Hebrew College.
