Meet Our Teachers
Lynne Harlacher |
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I have been involved with Beth El Temple , Chisuk Emuna and Gesher since I moved to Harrisburg in 2001, and I have held the positions of teacher, tutor, Co-Education Director and Education Director in one or all of them. I have also been teaching at Temple Beth El in Lancaster for the past two years.
As a child, I attended The Solomon Schecter Day School of Greater Boston and it was there that I developed a love for the Hebrew language and Jewish history and traditions. I have been teaching and/or tutoring students in Hebrew, Judaics and helping prepare them to become a Bar/Bat mitzvah since I was 13 years old. One of my favorite things about teaching, (besides the students), is watching their faces when they "get it". Once they grasp the concept of what it is I am teaching, their expressions are priceless.
I am a full-time employee at Commonwealth Packaging Company in Harrisburg Pa, and also spend time working part-time at The Plum Bottom Shoe store in the Shoppes of Susquehanna.
I live in Mount Joy, Pa with my husband Scot and my two step daughters Joanna and Megan.
As a child, I attended The Solomon Schecter Day School of Greater Boston and it was there that I developed a love for the Hebrew language and Jewish history and traditions. I have been teaching and/or tutoring students in Hebrew, Judaics and helping prepare them to become a Bar/Bat mitzvah since I was 13 years old. One of my favorite things about teaching, (besides the students), is watching their faces when they "get it". Once they grasp the concept of what it is I am teaching, their expressions are priceless.
I am a full-time employee at Commonwealth Packaging Company in Harrisburg Pa, and also spend time working part-time at The Plum Bottom Shoe store in the Shoppes of Susquehanna.
I live in Mount Joy, Pa with my husband Scot and my two step daughters Joanna and Megan.
Carolyn Goode
Carolyn Goode was born and raised in Philadelphia and has a twin brother. She is a huge Philadelphia sports fan and particularly loves the Eagles and Phillies. She belongs to Congregation Rodeph Shalom in the heart of the city and was in the choir for seven years. She attended Dickinson College and graduated in May with a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies. She now works at Dickinson in the Asbell Center for Jewish as the Engagement Associate Graduate Intern. Jewish Life played a significant role in Carolyn’s college career, as she served on the Hillel Board as the Tikkun Olam Chair and worked as a student worker for the Asbell Center her senior year. She is excited to work with the sixth and seventh graders this year!
Mandy Cheskis
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I have been teaching Judaism since childhood. I grew up as one of the only Jewish children in my school and always loved teaching others about my religious practices. I love being Jewish!
I was a teacher and the Educational Director at Chisuk Emuna for 13 years. I also tutor adults and children across the community in Hebrew reading, prayer and how to chant Torah and haftarah. I enjoy helping families prepare for bar and bat mitzvah. My “real job” is as a speech-language pathologist where I specialize in working with adults living with communication, memory and swallowing impairments. I have a special certification in working with people living with dementia. I love to sing and play games and keep moving and bring that into all I do. I feel that all learning should be relevant, fun and memorable. I have a wonderful husband, Joel and we have three amazing children: Hallel, Devorah and Rena. |
Jodi Raffensperger
Jodie Raffensperger is a native of Harrisburg, named in Chisuk Emuna Synogogue almost 6 decades ago. She has been married to her husband Bob for 38 years and on their small, organic farm raised two children Rebecca,36 and Seth, 33.
Within the Jewish community, she has taught art at our Hebrew High School while her children attended there. She has spent almost 20 years teaching at the Brenner Family ELC, 17 years as a 4 year old teacher and the last three as the Art and Garden Specialist. This will be her twelfth year teaching Hebrew School at Chisuk Emuna and the second teaching Gesher. She has been running the Pray n' Play program for our younger children on Shabbat mornings for as many years. She also runs a small art studio at her home, where she has taught many of our Jewish children for the last 16 years. When she is not teaching, Jodie lives to read, garden, create art, travel, hike and climb mountains.
Within the Jewish community, she has taught art at our Hebrew High School while her children attended there. She has spent almost 20 years teaching at the Brenner Family ELC, 17 years as a 4 year old teacher and the last three as the Art and Garden Specialist. This will be her twelfth year teaching Hebrew School at Chisuk Emuna and the second teaching Gesher. She has been running the Pray n' Play program for our younger children on Shabbat mornings for as many years. She also runs a small art studio at her home, where she has taught many of our Jewish children for the last 16 years. When she is not teaching, Jodie lives to read, garden, create art, travel, hike and climb mountains.
Yasminah Huberman
I'm a native of Southern New Jersey. I have been involved in Jewish education since I helped my mother teach kindergarten when I was 13 years old.
I come from a line of educators; my dad also taught in a Hebrew school for many years and my grandfather was a Rabbi who purposely reached out to Jews of color. My family was featured in Laurence Salzmann's book "Face to Face: Encounters between Jews & Blacks."
I lived in Israel for a few years before moving back to North America in order for my husband to attend a program of study. I enjoy dancing, yoga, swimming, and blogging.
I come from a line of educators; my dad also taught in a Hebrew school for many years and my grandfather was a Rabbi who purposely reached out to Jews of color. My family was featured in Laurence Salzmann's book "Face to Face: Encounters between Jews & Blacks."
I lived in Israel for a few years before moving back to North America in order for my husband to attend a program of study. I enjoy dancing, yoga, swimming, and blogging.
Solomon Zisser
Hi! My name is Solomon and I am so excited to be joining the Gesher Faculty. I am from White Plains, NY and am currently a Junior at Dickinson College where I am studying Theater and Judaic Studies. In the past, I have worked at my Shul's hebrew school, and have spent more than a decade as a camper and counselor at Ramah Berkshires. I can't wait to join your community and to start working!
Solomon Zisser
Solomon Zisser
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Rachel Prince
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Rachel Prince
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Nomi Small
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I'm originally from the Boston area and I am a senior at Dickinson College majoring in Sociology. This will be my fourth year on Gesher faculty and I couldn't be more excited. I had many years as a Ramah camp counselor in Colorado and I am currently a Hebrew Teaching Assistant at Dickinson.
I have been focusing my studies on poverty and homelessness and I am still deciding what I'm going to do once I graduate. I just got back from a semester abroad in New Zealand where I had the opportunity to lead services at the southernmost synagogue in the world. Outside of school and work, I like baking cookies and spending time outdoors. I'm originally from the Boston area and I am a senior at Dickinson College majoring in Sociology. This will be my fourth year on Gesher faculty and I couldn't be more excited. I had many years as a Ramah camp counselor in Colorado and I am currently a Hebrew Teaching Assistant at Dickinson. I have been focusing my studies on poverty and homelessness and I am still deciding what I'm going to do once I graduate. I just got back from a semester abroad in New Zealand where I had the opportunity to lead services at the southernmost synagogue in the world. Outside of school and work, I like baking cookies and spending time outdoors. |