The Team

Who We Are

Einav Symons

Einav has a M.Ed and a B.A in Religious studies. She is a certified NYS and Day school teacher. She is the recipient of the Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education and Buffalo's Business First Who's Who in Education. Currently, Einav is the Director of the Community Religious School and the Kg-12th Judaic Studies teacher at the Park President and chief consultant of Advanced Jewish Studies Services LLC.

Einav is a gifted educator, community builder and an avid supporter of Israel and Israel education and partnerships. Since coming to Buffalo from Toronto in 2000, she was the Head of Kadimah Academy and the Director of Education at TBT, the Gesher School and CSS-Gesher. Her consulting company provided programs and training to students and teachers in the Williamsville, Amherst and the Niagara Falls school districts.

She is married to Dr. Andrew Symons and is very proud of their children Gilad (20) and Shira (19).

Mrs. Symons sees her roles in Jewish education as a calling. She is excited to implement new initiatives at CRS. Einav is an animal lover and enjoys taking care of the ‘Symons’ Zoo’ which includes cats, dogs, bird, fishpond and duck.

Cindi Mikulik

For the better part of my life, I have been working in formal and informal Jewish education. Over the years, I have worked with every age group from pre-school to adult. I have worked at Kadimah, Camp Ramah, in Tel Aviv at a summer Israel Program, Hillel, and several synagogues. After bringing my daughter home from China, I embarked on a new (additional) career-- International Adoption. It was twofold. I founded a support group for Asian Adoptive families and through that met over 250 Western New York families with children adopted from Asia. We ran social, educational, and cultural programs, ran a Mandarin Language school and Chinese cultural camp. In addition, I prepared international adoption dossiers for countries all around the world and eventually became an in-house adoption consultant. I loved working with adoptive familes-- beginning the process with lots of forms and hopes, and ending with beautiful babies. Most recently, I have been tutoring Korean students in English. I have a BA in Judaic Studies with a minor in Hebrew Language and Literature, a Masters in Jewish Communal Service, and a Masters in Public Administration.

But, most of what I know, I have learned from my students, and my adoptive families.

I am honored and excited to be working with our amazing faculty and look forward to

an outstanding year.

Shira Symons

Hi! my name is Shira and I am a Kadimah School graduate who is now studying Health and Human Services/Social Work at UB. I have a deep love for community and education, so CRS is the place to be. My favorite things to do are to hike, metalsmith jewelry, and create new crafts. I am very excited to be working with everyone!!

Zahava Fried

Zahava Fried is thrilled to continue to be a part of the CRS family as TBT's Cantorial Intern and a Hebrew Tutor. She is currently a student at the Academy for Jewish Religion where she is in the process of earning cantorial ordination as well as a M.A. in Judaic Studies. She holds a B.A. in Education from SUNY Empire State College, and studied Judaic Studies at Yeshiva University. Zahava served as the Director of the former PALS-Kadimah preschool at Temple Beth Zion where she was also a Lead Teacher. She can often be found drinking multiple cups of coffee in her home in Williamsville, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and a small zoo of animals.

Aaron Blum

Hi, my name is Mr. Aaron and I’ve taught Hebrew school for many years. I started my teaching as a TA at Gesher Religious School and then became a teacher there. I look forward to being the 3rd grade teacher and Hebrew tutor at the Community Religious School. Besides teaching Hebrew school I am a teacher in the Early Childhood department at the JCC with the 2 year- old as well as a counselor in the after school program at the JCC. In my free time I like to spend time with my friends!

Linda Bergman

Shalom, I am Linda Bergman and have been teaching Religious School for 20 years mostly in kindergarten. I also teach Hebrew/Judaic studies at the JCC Early Childhood center as well as being an assistant teacher there for 18 plus years. I have two beautiful, intelligent daughters Pauline and Sarah and a lovable rescue dog named Honey. In my free time I do canine agility training and trials with Honey. I also love to sing with the Shir Shalom choir and am active in the sisterhood group. I’m excited to teach kindergarten this year!

Shailee Herter

Born and raised in the state of Israel. Moved to Buffalo ny in 2008 with my parents. I am a full time mom to two cute boys. My day job is a lead teacher at Chai Early childhood center. I have been a religious school / Hebrew teacher for 7 years.

Evan Ruttenberg

Evan is a former Kadimah school student and graduate who is currently pursuing a combined BS/MS in Computer Engineering at RIT.

Harvey Horowitz

Harvey Horowitz was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from The Johns Hopkins University and Baltimore Hebrew College and Teachers Training School there. He subsequently earned a masters degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. His engineering profession brought him to Buffalo to work in the bustling steel, paper, chemical, and cable-manufacturing industries!

His first opportunity to help train a bar mitzvah boy occurred in summer camp, while a teenager. Over the past quarter century he has helped prepare children for bar and bat mitzvah in many of the local synagogues, including Temple Beth El, Temple Beth Zion, Temple Sinai, Temple Shaarey Zedek, Temple Beth Tzedek, Temple Beth Abraham, Temple Beth Am, and Congregation Shir Shalom. He has taught in our own Religious School for over twenty years.

When he is not tutoring or writing lesson plans, you can find him walking Eastern Hills Mall preparing for the upcoming Jewish Heritage tour of cities along the Danube River or entertaining his 4 grandchildren and two granddogs.

Renee Herman

Renee Herman earned her degrees in Education at Buffalo State College and Boston University and has been teaching in Buffalo religious schools since 1991, as well as teaching in a variety of other academic settings. Renee is an experienced Hebrew and Judaics teacher at many grade levels. Judaism has always been a central part of Renee's life, having been actively involved in youth group, program coordinator of Yad b'Yad, and a Kadimah student, parent, volunteer, board member, and teacher. Renee is currently the USY advisor at Temple Beth Tzedek. She met her very supportive husband at Hillel and has 3 fantastic children whom she loves very much!

Michael Raab

Shalom! My name is Michael Raab. I was born and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel. After serving in the Israeli military intelligence and completing formal education in Meteorology, Hydrology and environmental science, I was appointed to the position of the Director of the Erie County Environmental Compliance services. I was also the president of Hillel and the Executive Director of the Great Lakes Environmental Education Institute. For more than forty years I enjoyed teaching Hebrew, Jewish history and Jewish traditions to two generations of the Buffalo Jewish community.

Fern Bernstein

Shalom Horim v’ Talmidim ( Hello Parents and Students). I am looking forward to working with your child (children) as a private tutor in Hebrew. I am a retired Spanish and French teacher as well a former religious school teacher from Gesher Religious School. I am passionate about seeing the richness of our Jewish heritage, customs and language passed down to the next generation. I wish all of you a very sweet and healthy New Year.

Michal Shmuel-Lewis

Michal Shmuel-Lewis, a native of Israel, was the Hebrew Language teacher at Kadimah Academy from 2001-2019 and a school counselor since 2016. She teaches Hebrew Language to grades K through 12 at Park School. Besides teaching Hebrew language, Michal has run health, wellness, leadership and other character-education programs under her counselor role. In 2010, she received the national Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. She and her husband, Shai Lewis, live in Amherst and have two daughters.

Ben Avetisian

My name is Ben Avetissian. I am 20 years old and I live in Hamilton Ontario, Canada. I grew up enriched in Jewish life. I went to Jewish private school and I’ve been speaking Hebrew and teaching Hebrew for upwards of seven years. I had the pleasure of working with Einav for two years and that is where I really learned a lot about teaching 😊 I enjoy chanting Torah and and I grasp various melodies with ease. I’ve always loved teaching and am so excited to be a remote Hebrew tutor.

Talia Berkowitz

Shalom! My name is Talia Berkowitz and this year I am a Hebrew tutor at CRS. I have been involved with formal and informal Jewish education for over 30 years. After working in Teaneck and Baltimore, I returned to Buffalo to teach at my alma mater, Kadimah. In addition to CRS, I currently teach General Studies at Ohr Temimim. I look forward to using my love of music, books, crafts, movement, and of course, food, during our AMAZING year of learning!

Jillian Ribakove

Shalom! My name is Jillian Ribakove and I look forward to teaching 5th grade at CRS! I grew up attending and volunteering at Gesher Religious School, developing a passion for education in the Mishpacha classroom, and now teach in districts throughout Western New York. In addition to teaching Hebrew school, I'm a lead counselor at Kids Place after school program at the JCC. When not teaching, I enjoy spending time reading, playing with my dog, Rainbow, and traveling. I look forward to being part of the amazing kehillah (community) at CRS and getting to work with all the amazing students and teachers!

Jonathan Zarzecki

Shalom! My name is Jonathan Zarzecki and I will be teaching at the Buffalo Community Religious School. I am currently a student at the University at Buffalo School of Law. I am a Kadimah Alumni and enjoy being involved in our loving community. I have spent time studying in Israel and have visited different Jewish communities in Europe, Asia, and Africa. I hope to share my skills and knowledge to CRS in a meaningful and long lasting way. In my free time I love being outside and watching soccer.

Sara Weinstein

Sara Weinstein, MS Ed has worked in the field of education for the past 7 years. She has experience working with youth in public schools, community-based organizations, and higher education. Sara is passionate about teaching, Judaism, Israel, engaging young people, and community-building. In her spare time, Sara enjoys baking, reading, staying active, traveling, and spending time with her loved ones.

Maya Martin

Hello! My name is Maya Martin, and I’m currently an Anthropology
student at Buffalo State looking to minor in Religious Studies. While
this is my first year teaching Hebrew School, I have several years of
experience working with children and have a strong passion for
learning about and teaching Jewish culture and values. Along with
working at CRS during the year I work as a lead counselor at the JCC’s
afterschool program, and during the summer I work at Camp Centerland.
I’m very excited to be teaching your children this fall!

Caleb Senick

Hi, I'm Caleb! I graduated from Kadimah Academy back in 2018. I work with the Special Education program here at CRS, along with anyone else who could use my help. I'm currently at UB pursuing a career as a high school math teacher. I've always enjoyed working with kids and young adults and loved helping teach others how to flourish. I group up with most of my coworkers here, both as classmates and as teachers, and they've always felt like family to me. It's an absolute pleasure to work with them now! I love hanging with friends, playing games and talking people's ears off about movies!

Zack Steinberg

Zack grew up in Buffalo and spent wonderful summers at Camp Lakeland where he found a love and connection to Judaism through music. After graduating from the University at Buffalo he moved to New York City where he learned how to be a songleader, putting together Jewish experiences at numerous parks, community centers, and temples. Zack wants to bring all that he’s learned in these places to help Jewish Buffalo continue to grow and thrive. In his free time, he loves singing, playing and watching hockey, and relaxing with his cats.

Elianna Mikulik

Shalom! My name is Elianna Mikulik and I look forward to teaching 4th grade this upcoming year. I have been involved in formal and informal Jewish education since high school. I spent two summers in Israel with NCSY and decided to start my college education there. After a year and a half, I returned to the United States and completed my undergraduate work at Touro University in Manhattan. Currently I am working on my masters degree in Exceptional Education at Buffalo State University.

In addition, I have worked at Jewish summer camps for a total of eight years so far. I spent two years at Camp HASC, a Jewish camp for individuals with intellectual disabilities followed by six years at Camp Centerland.

In my free time I enjoy being outdoors, playing with my cats, and going on adventures with my friends.

This will be my third year with CRS and I cannot wait to see everyone!

Zoe Pezovanis

Hi, I’m Miss Zoe! Outside of CRS, I am a senior at the University at Buffalo. I am currently studying speech and hearing sciences and aspire to become a speech-language pathologist in the future. I have been working as a classroom and personal aide for two years with Erie 1 Boces’ summer program, where I have developed a great passion for working in special education. Outside of all that, I enjoy gardening and playing the guitar.

Ariel Marcus

Hello! My name is Ariel Marcus and I have taught religious school in Buffalo for about 4 years working with students in 4th-7th grade as well as the Family Education Program leader. I am excited to take on a new role as a Hebrew tutor for this upcoming year. During college, I enjoyed my time with Hillel and going on Birthright. I have taught at different religious schools throughout my undergraduate and graduate career. I have a Master's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and currently work as a speech language pathologist with Early Intervention and Preschool students. Let's have a great school year!

Matthew Henechowicz

Hi, my name is Matthew Henechowicz and I am excited to join the staff at CRS Buffalo as a Hebrew tutor. I grew up in Toronto where I attended United Synagogue Day School. In university, I went to Israel through Birthright. I received a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from the University of Rhode Island and currently work as a personal trainer. I look forward to working with new students and having a great school year.