William Davidson School Alumni News
The Office of Alumni Affairs expresses it appreciation to our alumni who have led William Davidson School sessions and supported our recruitment efforts, including these events:
- Alumni Voices sessions in Fall 2020: Rina Goldberg, teacher at Beit Rabban Day School, NYC; Dr. Melissa Ser, Director of Education, Adat Shalom Synagogue, Farmington Hills, MI; Jamie Diamond, Director of Young Family Education, Park Avenue Synagogue; Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal, Director of Youth and Family Education, Central Synagogue; Rabbi Morey Schwartz, EdD, International Director, Florence Melton School of Jewish Learning; Amy Ripps, NewCAJE Program Committee Chair; Rachel Figurasmith, Executive Director, Repair the World; Orlea Miller, Community Engagement and Education Associate, the Leffell School.
- WDS alumni participated in two Changemakers series events featuring alumni who are thought leaders in their respective fields. At the December 2020 WDS Advisory Board meeting: Shana Zionts, Assistant Director, Columbia/Barnard Hillel; Joshua Rabin, Senior Director of Teen Engagement, USCJ; Jonathan Mitzmacher, Head of School, Ottawa Jewish Community School; and Melissa Ser, Director of Education, Adat Shalom Synagogue. At a May 2020 panel in dialogue with Dean Shira D. Epstein on reimagined learning and engagement in synagogue religious schools: Alex Weinberg, Director of Congregational Learning, Temple Beth Sholom, Cherry Hill, NJ; Danielle Alexander, Founding Director, Kehillah High, Houston, TX; Samantha Isenstein, Director of Adolescent Education, Anshe Emet Synagogue, Chicago, IL; and Miles Roger, Director of Education, Temple B’nai Shalom, Fairfax Station, VA. Click here to watch the program.
- Special thanks to Elana Goldberg, middle school Judaic Studies teacher at the Leffell School, for addressing graduates at our WDS commencement gathering.
Mazal tov to our alumni on the following professional achievements:
Maxine Berman recently accepted a teaching position at the Abraham Joshua Heschel High School, NY.
Sara Beth Berman recently became the senior education consultant for Innovation and Inclusion at The Jewish Education Project.
Wilhelmina Roepke Gottschalk is now serving as the Interim Education Director at Ohr Kodesh Congregation in Chevy Chase, MD. Prior to this, Wilhelmina spent four years as the pedagogical coordinator of the Ohr Kodesh Early Childhood Center.
Ben Greenberg recently became the director of communities of Limmud North America.
Marshall Lesack will be the next head of school at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy.
Daniel Novick will become the next executive director of the George Mason University Hillel.
Miles Roger recently became the director of education at Temple B’nai Shalom, Fairfax Station, VA.
Mirit Sands recently became the camp life director at Ramah in the Rockies.
Anna Serviansky recently became the camp director and head of education at Ramah Darom.
Terri Soifer recently returned to JTS as a major gifts director.
Stay in touch and share your professional news (promotions, new positions, publications) with Melissa Friedman at mefriedman@jtsa.edu.
