Cantor Neil Berris - received his Ordination at Yeshiva University. He has served as Cantor at Temple Beth Torah–Tamarac Jewish Center in Tamarac, Florida and as Cantor-Educator at Commack Jewish Center. For eight years he was a Jewish Studies Instructor at Solomon Schechter Day School in Commack. During the summer Cantor Berries is Clergy–in-Residence at Berkshire Hills-Emanuel Camp in Copake, New York. He joins our staff in facilitating our seventh grade “Adventures in Judaism” program.
Ilene Brown - earned her undergraduate degree from University of Delaware and a Master's Degree from NYIT and is certified to teach Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade. She has been an early childhood teacher for the past 8 years and teaches Nursery School at Huntington Jewish Center. This is her fourth year as our kindergarten teacher!
Lucy Ezraty - is a graduate of the College of Management in Tel Aviv. Previously, Lucy served in the intelligence division of Israel’s military. She has taught Religious School in Fayetteville, NC and at North Shore Hebrew Academy in Great Neck. She has been part of our Hebrew team for four years.
Jennifer Fusco - earned a Master of Science Degree in Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Dowling College. Jennifer is an alumna of Temple Beth El Religious School. Jen taught Nursery School at Temple Beth David in Commack and is presently Director of the Old Westbury Nursery School. This is her seventh year teaching grades five and six!
Stephanie Ginsberg - received her MSW from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University and her Bachelor of Arts in Judaic Studies with a Minor in Rhetoric and Communication from University at Albany. She has previously been a Religious School teacher, an assistant program director at Surprise Lake Camp, a Hillel Program Director and Family Educator at the Sid Jacobson JCC and Director of Children’s and Youth Service at the Shaw JCC in Akron, Ohio. Stephanie presently works at the Mid-Island Y-JCC and teaches first grade for us.
Ada Gracin - spent more than 20 years teaching in Long Island Synagogues. She holds a Teaching Certificate from Hebrew Union College, which she earned in 1970. She graduated from Pratt Institute of Design. Her additional related experiences include: Chapter President of the Massapequa Chapter of Hadassah, Educational Vice President of Dix Hills Hadassah, Regional Representative on behalf of the Struggle for Soviet Jewry and Docent at the Holocaust Educational Center in Glen Cove. Ada is a returning faculty member, having taught Hebrew for us from 1970-1980!
Jayne Greenberg - has earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from C.W. Post College. She has been employed for the past five years by the Harborfields School District in a variety of positions at Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School, and is currently a Teacher Assistant at Oldfield Middle School. In addition to being a congregant, Jayne has also served as an active member of the Temple’s School Committee and was a member of the Rabbi Search Committee. She presently teaches grade fifth and sixth grade Judaic classes and coordinates our High Holy Day children’s services and activities.
Cecile Gruer - received her higher education in Salzburg, Austria. She became a proofreader for New Era Press and taught Hebrew at Dix Hills Jewish Center, Commack Jewish Center, Temple Beth Shalom of Smithtown, Temple Beth David, The Workman’s Circle and Solomon Schechter. Cecile is a graduate of the Morasha Teacher Training program (SAJES) and their advanced training program. She was our primary Hebrew substitute until becoming a formal part of our Hebrew team two years ago.
Edina Hochman - holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications and Marketing. She has lived in Israel for ten years and was a founder of Eretz Magazine. While in Israel, Edina also handled all of El Al and Bank Hapoalim’s international advertising. Since returning to America, Edina has taught Hebrew at local Synagogues. She owns an interior design company.
Wendy Isaac - received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education and her Masters in Special Education from CUNY- Queens College. She is State Certified in Elementary Education and with students with disabilities. Currently, she is a substitute teacher in local school districts. In her spare time she is a Vice President of Youth at ENJC. She is an active sisterhood member and Hadassah life member. This is her fourth year teaching at Beth El.
Mindy Kremer - is an attorney and Jewish communal professional, having worked as: a litigator for fifteen years, a Development Associate at UJA-Federation of New York, Family Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Suffolk Association for Educational Services (SAJES), Religious School teacher of grades 3-7, and private tutor of B'nai Mitzvah and Hebrew students at Temple Beth El and Temple Beth Sholom of Smithtown. After a seven year hiatus, Mindy returns to teach our second graders!
Cantor Ilana Plutzer - attended the University of Rochester where she earned a BA in Psychology and Theatre. She received her Masters degree in Sacred Music and was invested as Cantor in 2000 from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion-Sacred School of Music (HUC-JIR-SSM). She served as student cantor at The Community Synagogue in Port Washington, NY, The Hartford Jewish Center in Havre de Grace, MD, North Shore Synagogue in Syosset, NY and Temple Beth Tikvah in Madison, CT. In addition, she spent two years as the Assistant Cantor at North Shore Synagogue in Syosset. Cantor Ilana has been teaching religious school music here for three years and is excited about another great year.
Florence Roffman - is a graduate of the Morasha Teacher Training Program (SAJES). She is a long time Hebrew High teacher and a past president of Temple Beth El. Florence helped initiate our Re-Imagine initiative and teaches part of our seventh grade “Adventures in Judaism” program. Florence also teaches our fourth grade.
Nancy Seiden - received her M.S. in special Education from Dowling College and holds NYS Dual Certification in Students with Disabilities and Childhood Education (Grades 1-6). She is presently a Special Educator at Bilinguals, INC. in Huntington Station as well as providing ABA Therapy, SEIT and special education services to EI, CPSE and CSE students privately. This is her first year teaching in our Resource Room.
Ann Wieder - is a veteran Hebrew School teacher having taught at Merrick Jewish Center for almost 30 years. She developed and taught their Parallel Educational Program that allowed parents to learn, on an adult level, what their children were learning. Ann is a graduate of the Herzliah Teachers’ Seminary of New York. This is her first year as one of our Mitkadem Hebrew teachers.
