School Faculty (2010–11)
Gila Toso: Kindergarten and First Grade
Gila grew up in Baltimore where she attended a Jewish day school. After graduation, she spent a marvelous, adventure-filled year studying in Jerusalem. Upon her return to Baltimore, Gila earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology and is currently working on her master’s in occupational therapy at Towson University. This is her fourth year teaching Hebrew school and her third year with the awesome kids, family and staff at Beth Am.
Becca Friedman: 2nd and 3rd Grade
Becca is part of the Beth Am faculty for her fourth year. She recently earner her Masters Degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University and is currently a fifth grade teacher at Yeshivat Rambam in Baltimore. She is currently earning a pre-doctoral degree in School Administration and Supervision fom Hopkins.
Shira Saperstein: 4th and 5th Grade
Shira has been working at Beth Am for six years. She has an M.S. in Early Childhood-Special Education from Johns Hopkins University and has worked with children of all ages and abilities. Shira is also a private resource teacher who works with students between the ages of three to adult individually and in small groups. This year, her students will take a deeper look into certain episodes from the TaNaCh. They’ll use the actual text and various secondary commentaries on the Torah in order to understand the 13 attributes. The will also study a number of prayers found in the Shabbat morning service.
Elise Henry: 6th Grade
Elise moved to Baltimore in May, 2010, from Miami, Florida, where she grew up. Before completing her Bachelor of Arts in Judaic Studies at the University of Miami, she spent four years volunteering, working, and studying in Israel. She is interested in history, archaeology, art, literature, music, and cognitive science. She loves to travel and recently spent a month and a half backpacking in Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. She can’t wait to begin teaching sixth grade at Beth Am!
Elianna Ference: 7th Grade on Sunday
Elianna Ference has taught and substituted at other Religious schools and day schools in Baltimore. Last year she was a substitute at Beth Am, and this year she is very much looking forward to having her own class to teach. Elianna was also a camp counselor for a number of years at different camps in Baltimore and Frederick, Maryland. She is currently attending Towson University pursuing a masters degree in occupational therapy. Elianna is recently married and lives in the Pikesville area with her husband. She is very excited about the upcoming year and looking forward to getting to know her students and the Beth Am family.
Rabbi Daniel Cotzin Burg: 7th Grade on Wednesday
Rabbi Burg comes to Beth Am from Chicago, where he served as a rabbi of Anshe Emet Synagogue. He was ordained by the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the University of Judaism (now the American Jewish University) in Los Angeles, California. He holds Master of Arts degrees in Rabbinic Studies and Jewish Education from the U.J. and a B.A. in Hebrew Studies and Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He is a recipient of the STAR PEER rabbinic fellowship and is a contributing author to Celebrating the Jewish Year: The Spring and Summer Holidays (from JPS).
Rav Daniel is blessed to share his life with the talented Rabbi Miriam Burg, their daughter, Eliyah, and their son, Shamir.
Rabbi Yehudah Oratz: Avodah Coordinator
Rabbi Oratz has coordinated the service and learning program for the 8th graders for over four years. It is entitled Living Jewish Values through Avodah (service). He involves the students in hands-on community volunteer work and leads the students’ exploration of the work through the lens of Jewish tradition. He is a full time Director of Judaic Studies at Beth T’filoh Dahan Community High School.
Cantor Ira Greenstein: Music Specialist
Through the years, Cantor Greenstein has taught in the Hebrew School program focusing primarily on liturgy, trope, and the structure and meaning of the synagogue service and its terminology. Among other things, he has run junior congregation and adult services, served on Camp Ramah staff, and taught classes and seminars since a teenager, encompassing every age group from kindergarten through adult. His youth related work has centered on the period from pre-b’nai mitzvah through confirmation. For now, Cantor Greenstein will work with all classes to further enhance the music program and Jewish holiday celebrations.