Dr. Rena Alpert is the Director of Life Long Education. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education, an M.A. in Early Childhood Education and an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Supervision. She has over 40 years experience teaching in public school, at Rowan University as an adjunct professor, working with Rutgers University as a student teaching supervisor and working as director of Camp Hilltop, part of the JCC camps at Medford.

Ken Van Dyk holds a B.A. in Hebraic Studies and has completed his M.A. in Elementary Education at Wilmington University. He teaches at Wiliamstown Middle School. He has taught classes at Temple Emanuel since 1993. He teaches Holocaust Studies to the 8th grade.

Margery Ross  the Linguistic Director of Hebrew, has been a Temple Emanuel member for over 25 years.   She has taught all grades from Kindergarten through adults, including special education.   Margery worked at the JCC Camps in Medford for over 20 years.

Cindy Schiffman is the Administrative Assistant for the Religious School.  She focuses on the administrative needs of the Religious School, including organizing mailings and other communication between the school and families, ordering supplies, and maintaining the school’s database.  Cindy is a synagogue member; she has two daughters.   She can be reached at 856-489-0035, extension 19

Jean Klein the Ritual Administrative Assistant, assists the Cantor in the coordination of the B’nai Mitzvah program. She also works closely with Rabbi David and Rabbi Newburgh in various aspects of Temple life. She is proud of her 26 years of service.

Clergy

Each of our clergy members is actively involved in teaching in the Religious School. 

Rabbi Jerry David -- Confirmation Academy

Rabbi David teaches the 10th grade Confirmation Class, as well as visiting other classes for special programming.   Rabbi David and Peggy''s three sons -- Ben (now a rabbi), Jon (an architect) and Adam (a Temple Emanuel teacher) -- are all graduates of the Temple Emanuel Religious School. 

Rabbi Geri Newburge -- 7th Grade and Confirmation Academy

Rabbi Geri Newburge is Associate Rabbi at Temple Emanuel.  She teaches 7th Grade, elective courses in the Confirmation Academy and co-teaches 10th Grade for the second half of the year.  Rabbi Newburge enjoys cooking, working out and reading.

Religious School Teachers

Our teachers are committed to strong communication between home and Religious School.  If you have a question, comment or concern, your child's teacher would love to hear from you. 

If the web-site does not include an e-mail link to your child's teacher, please e-mail Cindy Schiffman and she will make sure that the teacher receives the message.To leave a phone message for one of our teachers, please call the Religious School office at 856-489-0035.