Jewish Elementary Teachers
Our mission is to create a collaborative community of practice for women teaching Judaic and secular studies in grades 1–5 within Yeshiva and Modern Orthodox day schools.
We aim to support, guide, and empower one another as educators, fostering growth in instructional excellence, academic innovation, and professional development.
Through shared wisdom and meaningful collaboration, we strive to address the educational, social-emotional, and behavioral needs of our students while uplifting and encouraging each other as dedicated teachers and leaders in our classrooms and communities.
The Jewish Elementary Teachers Community
Aliza Rodin
Jewish Elementary Teachers Community Leader
The Jewish Elementary Teachers Community is made up of
Women
From
Countries
Aliza Rodin
Jewish Elementary Teachers Community Leader
Aliza lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and children, where she helps run the Yeshiva high school dorm, serving as a “mother away from home” for the boys.
She is deeply involved in her community, creating programs and events for students and women as well as serving as a kallah teacher. Passionate about collaboration and growth, Aliza looks forward to building a supportive space where educators can connect, share, and inspire one another.
Aliza is currently a participant in the CORE MMC3 program.
Elissa Felder is a passionate Jewish communal leader and educator, serving as the coordinator of Core’s Communities of Practice, and the leader of the Chevra Kadisha Community of Practice. With a deep commitment to honoring Jewish end-of-life traditions, Elissa brings together Chevra Kadisha members from around the worlds to share knowledge, strengthen practices, and support one another in this sacred work. She is known for fostering compassion, connection, and continuity within this holy mitzvah.
Elissa is also the author of "From One Life to the Next Life: The Sacred Passage after Death." Her book explores how living in the shadow of death is the secret to leading a meaningful life. Faced with the loss of her baby son, the author shares her personal journey from paralyzing grief to living a life infused with purpose and passion. This powerful memoir is filled with Jewish teachings about birth, death, and the afterlife, including the how and why behind Jewish burial practices. It has inspired many.
Through her leadership at CORE, her writing, and her warm mentorship, Elissa has become a guiding voice in sustaining and elevating Jewish burial practices with reverence, empathy, and enduring impact.
Reva Judas is the founder and director of NechamaComfort, a global nonprofit organization that supports families coping with infant and pregnancy loss. With compassion born from personal experience, Reva has become a guiding voice for those facing grief, offering emotional, practical, and spiritual care.
She collaborates with hospitals, rabbis, and community leaders to raise awareness and ensure that no family navigates loss alone. In addition to her work with NechamaComfort,
Reva is also the leader of the Supporters of the Bereaved Community of Practice, a collaborative network for professionals and volunteers who support the bereaved. Through this role, she fosters education, peer support, and best practices across the Jewish community. Reva’s dedication to chesed, sensitivity, and respectful care has transformed how grief is addressed with dignity and compassion throughout Klal Yisrael.
She collaborates with hospitals, rabbis, and community leaders to raise awareness and ensure that no family navigates loss alone. In addition to her work with NechamaComfort,
Reva is also the leader of the Supporters of the Bereaved Community of Practice, a collaborative network for professionals and volunteers who support the bereaved. Through this role, she fosters education, peer support, and best practices across the Jewish community. Reva’s dedication to chesed, sensitivity, and respectful care has transformed how grief is addressed with dignity and compassion throughout Klal Yisrael.
Rochel Goldbaum has been teaching and mentoring Jewish women from around the world for over two decades. She currently serves as an adjunct educator for Aish of the Rockies, founder of My Gift of Mikvah, co-founder of Core, and creator of the Directed Dating Approach.
When Rochel is not traveling and presenting at conferences and women’s gatherings, she works as a dating, marriage and relationship mentor. Rochel trains Kallah Teachers and Dating Mentors across the world, and has developed unique resource materials on Taharas Hamishpacha for women of all backgrounds.
Her desire to encourage women, strengthen marriages, and unify the Jewish people has her presenting to audiences across the world with the goal of connecting them to HaShem, each other, and themselves, as well as enhancing intimacy in the Jewish home.
When Rochel is not traveling and presenting at conferences and women’s gatherings, she works as a dating, marriage and relationship mentor. Rochel trains Kallah Teachers and Dating Mentors across the world, and has developed unique resource materials on Taharas Hamishpacha for women of all backgrounds.
Her desire to encourage women, strengthen marriages, and unify the Jewish people has her presenting to audiences across the world with the goal of connecting them to HaShem, each other, and themselves, as well as enhancing intimacy in the Jewish home.
Malki Rosenberg is a certified Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, Self Regulation Training (SRT) practitioner, and Transforming Touch® bodyworker based in Monsey, NY. She specializes in trauma-informed somatic healing, working with teens, adults, and occasionally children to help them move from survival to resilience through body-based therapies.
As a Core MMC (Mashpia-Mentor-Counselor), Malki integrates emotional and spiritual mentorship with somatic modalities, offering a holistic approach to healing. Her practice emphasizes the belief that every individual possesses inherent strengths, aiming to empower clients to live authentically and courageously.
Malki offers virtual appointments, self-regulation workshops, and a 12-step marriage coaching program designed to bring couples closer together in a harmonious way.
Rebbetzen Liat Mayerfeld, originally from New York and raised in Netanya, Israel, served in Israeli Military Intelligence before earning degrees in Tanach and Special Education from Michlalah Jerusalem College for Women. She began her career teaching in Jerusalem seminaries and later moved to the UK, where she served as Aish UK’s Women’s Educational Director and, with her husband, held the rabbinic position at Shomrei Hadath in London.
Now based in Manhattan, Liat and her husband co-founded Kii, a vibrant organization serving thousands of Jewish young professionals through education, community, and chesed. A gifted educator, Liat teaches for Aish.tv, the OU Women’s Initiative, and Olami, offering engaging classes on Parsha, Navi, Tefillah, and Jewish holidays.
With over 25 years of experience teaching kallahs and mentoring couples, she combines halacha, relationship psychology, and Torah values. Known for her clarity, warmth, and insight, Liat is a popular international speaker and gracious host. She and her husband are proud parents and grandparents.
Liora Wittlin is a seasoned Jewish educator and curriculum designer with over two decades of experience in Jewish education. She is the founder and chief educator of RAMOT Learning LLC, an educational consultancy dedicated to enriching Jewish learning through differentiated instruction, student-centered learning, and blended learning approaches.
Throughout her career, Liora has taught a wide range of Judaic courses across nearly all grade levels from kindergarten through twelfth grade and has regularly presented classes for Jewish adults on various subjects. Her roles have included classroom teacher, administrator, mechanechet (grade advisor), curriculum developer, and programming director. She has a particular passion for fostering curious minds and creating meaningful interpersonal connections through the beauty and truth of the Torah.
Liora holds a B.A. in Psychology and Judaic Studies from Yeshiva University and a Te’udat Morah LaGolah (Teaching Certificate for the Diaspora) from the Israeli Ministry of Education.
In addition to her work with RAMOT Learning, Liora serves as the Director of the Teacher’s Lounge Community of Practice for middle/high school and seminary teachers at CORE, an organization that supports Jewish women in strengthening their communities.
Liora is based in Denver, Colorado, where she continues to inspire and support educators and learners alike.
Sara Oppenheim is the Rebbetzin and Executive Director of the Charlotte Torah Center, a dynamic shul and outreach hub serving the broader Jewish community of Charlotte, North Carolina. Together with her husband, Rabbi Chanoch Oppenheim, she has spent the last 17 years building Jewish life in Charlotte, following a decade of outreach with Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem and DATA of Plano, Texas.
With experience in both outreach and community leadership, Sara’s role as Rebbetzin includes teaching classes, mentoring women, hosting, managing daily operations, and leading campus outreach through Olami. She also serves as a kallah teacher, dating and relationship coach, mikvah attendant, and Chevrah Kadisha member.
While at Aish, she founded N-Aish-Ay, a mentoring network for the wives of future rabbis, and later launched Women of Wisdom (WOW) in Charlotte. Her Core MMC capstone project led to the creation of Charlotte’s first kosher eruv.
While at Aish, she founded N-Aish-Ay, a mentoring network for the wives of future rabbis, and later launched Women of Wisdom (WOW) in Charlotte. Her Core MMC capstone project led to the creation of Charlotte’s first kosher eruv.
A proud Core MMC graduate, Sara co-leads the Core Shul Rebbetzin Community of Practice with Rebbetzin Jacqueline Feldman. She is known for her warmth, thoughtful teaching, and hospitality—and occasionally wonders what it might be like to have a hobby.
Rebbetzen Jacqueline Feldman serves as the Senior Rebbetzen of Bushey United Synagogue, one of the UK’s largest Orthodox communities, alongside her husband, Rabbi Elchonon Feldman. She is a graduate of Hasmonean High School and Bnos Chava Seminary and holds a BSc in Neuroscience from King’s College London. Jacqueline previously served as SENCO at Tiferes High School for Girls, supporting students with diverse educational needs.
A certified Ma’ayan educator through the Office of the Chief Rabbi, Jacqueline is deeply committed to women's Torah education and community building. In 2022 she founded and became Chair of the Rebbetzens' Representatives of the United Synagogue (RRUS).
She is also a Core MMC (Mashpia Mentor Counselor), offering emotional and spiritual support to women navigating life’s challenges through a Torah lens.
Dr. Marcy Forta is the founder and director of Atzmi, an organization dedicated to supporting the mental health of Jewish girls through programs that enhance self-esteem, promote body acceptance, and reduce focus on outward appearances. She specializes in eating disorder education, awareness, and prevention, with a particular focus on risk factors within the Orthodox Jewish adolescent female community.
Her doctoral research explored religious and environmental risk factors unique to this community by engaging rabbis, educators, and health professionals across the U.S. Midwest. This research underpins Atzmi’s tailored prevention programs, designed to effectively address community-specific needs.
Dr. Forta is also a Body Project Facilitator and Certified Holistic Nutritionist. She lectures widely, blogs, and is a sought-after expert in eating disorder prevention. Based in Oak Park, Michigan, she continues to raise awareness and foster healthier mindsets among young Jewish women.
Marcy is a dedicated change maker who believes that everyone has the power to transform their moods, situations, businesses, and themselves—if they are motivated to take action. She is inspired by those eager to change, even when unsure or nervous about the process.
As founder and principal consultant of BINAH Consulting, Inc., Marcy passionately helps organizations optimize their talent and workflows to reduce chaos and improve outcomes. Her coaching clients describe her as honest, sincere, and collaborative—a listener who never judges, yet is willing to ask the tough questions others avoid. She is committed to supporting each person in meaningful, personalized growth and consistently champions her clients, believing in them even when they doubt themselves.
Marcy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and certifications including Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), and coaching credentials from the Refuah Institute of Coaching. She is also an active member of the American Association of Professional Coaches and the Project Management Institute.
Rivky Boyarsky is a Certified Nurse Midwife, Registered Nurse, and experienced kallah teacher dedicated to empowering Jewish women through education, healthcare, and spiritual guidance. With a deep understanding of both medical science and halacha, she specializes in women's health across the lifespan—from puberty and fertility to menopause.
Rivky is a certified kallah teacher through Mikvah.org and a member of the Gedalia Society. She has contributed to community education initiatives, including the "Conversations with Our Children" series, which equips parents to guide their daughters through physical and emotional development with sensitivity and kedusha.
Known for her compassionate approach and ability to bridge clinical knowledge with spiritual insight, Rivky continues to be a trusted voice for women navigating the complexities of health, identity, and faith.
Rebbetzin Yehudis Golshevsky is a distinguished Torah educator and spiritual mentor based in Yerushalaim. She is the founder and director of SHIVITI, a women's education network that offers immersive Torah study with a focus on Chassidic teachings and personal spiritual growth.
With over 30 years of experience teaching in Israel and internationally, Rebbetzin Golshevsky is known for her deep connection to the deeper dimension of Torah and her ability to guide women toward meaningful spiritual lives. She holds teaching certifications from Yavne Teacher’s College in Cleveland and a BA in Classics-Judaic Studies from SUNY Buffalo.
In addition to her educational endeavors, she serves as a supervisor for the Core Mashpia Mentor Counselor (MMC) training program, a rigorous two-and-a-half-year initiative that prepares women to provide spiritual mentorship and counseling within their communities.
Rebbetzin Golshevsky is also a prolific writer and speaker, inspiring women worldwide to deepen their connection with Hashem and His Torah, and to live with greater spiritual awareness.
Sara Eisemann is a licensed clinical therapist and educator based in Oak Park, Michigan. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from Wayne State University and began her career at Jewish Family Service of Detroit, where she was involved in the Windows domestic violence prevention program, and then moved on to private practice at the Birmingham-Maple Clinic.
Sara currently serves as Co-Director of Education for Core’s Mashpia Mentor Counselor (MMC) Training Program—a rigorous two-and-a-half-year initiative that equips women to provide Torah-based spiritual mentorship and emotional support within their communities.
In addition to her clinical work, Sara is a certified dating coach and a sought-after speaker on topics of Torah, authenticity, and relationships. She is a regular contributor to Family First and she hosted the MakeShift podcast, which explored contemporary issues affecting Jewish women and families.
Sara is also a founding board member of Atzmi, an organization dedicated to promoting mental health and body acceptance among Jewish girls, and the professional liaison for Kesher, a young adult mentorship program.
Known for her compassionate approach and commitment to authenticity, Sara continues to inspire and guide individuals seeking personal growth and meaningful connections.
Debbie Greenblatt is a respected educator and mentor with over thirty years of experience as a popular lecturer, columnist, and coach. She teaches a wide range of topics including Jewish texts, Jewish thought, and relationships, and is known for her deep insights and ability to connect both intellectually and emotionally with her audience.
Debbie is the Educational Co-Director of Core’s Mashpia Mentor Counselor (MMC) Training Program, where she helps guide and shape the next generation of spiritual mentors and leaders. She is also the founder of the Women’s Division of the Gateways kiruv organization, and gives regular classes in the New York metropolitan area, as well as lectures around the country.
For over three decades, her weekly class on the works of Rabbi Dessler has been a spiritual anchor for herself and a transformative experience for countless students. Known for her warmth and personal approach, Debbie has earned the trust and admiration of women around the world.
Mrs. Yael Kaisman is a veteran educator, life coach, and outreach professional with over 45 years of experience teaching in girls' high schools. She is a senior lecturer at both Sinai and Heritage Retreats, known for her ability to explain Jewish philosophical ideas with humor, warmth, and wit, captivating audiences of all backgrounds and levels of Jewish knowledge and education.
In addition to her educational endeavors, Yael serves as a Clinical Supervisor for Core’s Mashpia Mentor Counselor (MMC) Training Program.
Yael is also a sought-after speaker, sharing her insights on various topics through platforms like TorahAnytime.
Her dedication to education and mentorship continues to inspire and guide women worldwide.
Aliza Bulow is the Founding Director of Core. With over four decades of experience, she has worked with hundreds of women in more than 50 cities across five continents, strengthening the social fabric of Klal Yisroel through networking, education, and mentorship.
Aliza has been deeply engaged in Jewish communal causes since her youth—leading youth groups, campaigning for Soviet Jewry and helping build settlements in Israel while serving in Nachal. That early passion has only grown stronger over time.
Aliza began her professional journey in organizations like Dorot, Partners in Torah and The Jewish Experience, and later served as Director of Ner LeElef’s North American Women’s Program for 11 years. In that role, she travelled extensively, mentoring rebbetzins and supporting outreach professionals across North America.
Through Core's MMC program and the Core Communities of Practice, Aliza continues to inspire and guide Jewish women worldwide, helping them build communities for a stronger, more connected Jewish future.
Rav Brudny is a Rosh Yeshivah in Mir-Brooklyn and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Torah of Agudath Israel of America.
Rav Aaron Lopiansky is the Rosh HaYeshiva of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington – Tiferes Gedaliah, a position he has held since 1994. Born and raised on New York’s Lower East Side, he studied at the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalaim under the guidance of Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz zt”l and Rav Nachum Partzovitz zt”l. He is also the son-in-law of Rav Beinish Finkel zt”l, the late Rosh Yeshiva of Mir Yerushalayim.
Rav Lopiansky is a prolific author, having written over 20 works on Torah thought, liturgy, and philosophy, including the widely acclaimed Orchos Chaim: A Ben Torah for Life. His teachings are deeply influenced by his close association with Rav Moshe Shapiro zt”l.
Rabbi Yaakov Robinson is the Rav of Beis Medrash Mikor Hachaim in Chicago and Menahel of the Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbonim. A Chicago native, he received semicha from Yeshivas Ner Yisroel and spent several years in kollel before entering community rabbanus. He is known for his engaging shiurim on halacha, shalom bayis, and chinuch, and founded the Zichron Avraham Gershon Kollel Boker.
Rabbi Robinson also serves on several communal boards and advisory councils, supporting Torah education and family well-being. He is the author of the Safah Berurah series on practical halacha and awaiting Mashiach.
Rabbi Robinson also serves on several communal boards and advisory councils, supporting Torah education and family well-being. He is the author of the Safah Berurah series on practical halacha and awaiting Mashiach.
Rabbi Yitzchok Breitowitz is a senior lecturer at Yeshivas Ohr Somayach in Yerushalayim and a renowned posek, educator, and speaker. Originally from the U.S., he earned semicha from Ner Yisroel and holds a Harvard Law degree. He served for many years as Rav of the Woodside Shul in Silver Spring, Maryland, before making aliyah.
Rabbi Breitowitz is widely respected for his clarity in halacha, depth in hashkafa, and ability to address contemporary issues through a Torah lens. His lectures reach thousands worldwide, offering insight into complex topics with sensitivity and depth. He continues to guide talmidim and communities with wisdom, warmth, and unwavering commitment to Torah values.
Rabbi Breitowitz is widely respected for his clarity in halacha, depth in hashkafa, and ability to address contemporary issues through a Torah lens. His lectures reach thousands worldwide, offering insight into complex topics with sensitivity and depth. He continues to guide talmidim and communities with wisdom, warmth, and unwavering commitment to Torah values.
Rabbi Avraham Edelstein is the Director of the Ner LeElef Institute and a leading thinker in the world of Jewish outreach and education. Originally from South Africa, he has spent decades shaping global kiruv strategy and training leaders for effective Torah-based engagement.
Rabbi Edelstein is known for his clarity of vision, deep understanding of societal trends, and ability to apply timeless Torah principles to modern challenges. He has authored numerous articles and books on Jewish thought, leadership, and community development. Through his guidance, thousands of men and women around the world have been inspired to live fuller, more connected Jewish lives.
Rabbi Edelstein is known for his clarity of vision, deep understanding of societal trends, and ability to apply timeless Torah principles to modern challenges. He has authored numerous articles and books on Jewish thought, leadership, and community development. Through his guidance, thousands of men and women around the world have been inspired to live fuller, more connected Jewish lives.
HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlit”a is the Rosh HaYeshiva of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia and one of the most respected senior gedolei Torah in America. A son of Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l, he has devoted his life to Torah learning, chinuch, and guiding Klal Yisrael with humility and wisdom.
The Rosh Yeshiva is a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and is known for his exceptional warmth, accessibility, and balanced daas Torah. For decades, he has played a leading role in addressing the spiritual and communal needs of the generation, influencing countless talmidim and rabbanim across the globe through his counsel, psak, and personal example of gadlus baTorah and middos tovos.
The Rosh Yeshiva is a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and is known for his exceptional warmth, accessibility, and balanced daas Torah. For decades, he has played a leading role in addressing the spiritual and communal needs of the generation, influencing countless talmidim and rabbanim across the globe through his counsel, psak, and personal example of gadlus baTorah and middos tovos.
Linda has served as a nurse for over 40 years, with a focus on oncology and, later, on community-based palliative care. She has worked in both the UK and Israel, bringing compassionate presence and skilled care to patients and families navigating serious illness.
Linda believes that every person deserves to die with dignity—feeling safe, loved, and in a place they choose. For her, accompanying someone through their final journey is a sacred privilege and a profound responsibility. She is married, a proud mother of six, and a devoted grandmother.
Linda believes that every person deserves to die with dignity—feeling safe, loved, and in a place they choose. For her, accompanying someone through their final journey is a sacred privilege and a profound responsibility. She is married, a proud mother of six, and a devoted grandmother.
Beth is a professor on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, where she has specialized in Hospice and Palliative Medicine for over three decades. As a clinician, educator, and leader in her field, she has served on hospital ethics committees and contributed to national and state policy through her work with professional societies.
Deeply committed to bridging medicine and community, Dr. Popp has been extensively involved in educating rabbinic leaders about the medical realities of serious illness, decision-making, and end-of-life care.
She lives in New York and is married, with four grown children.