Staff

Reyzl Geselowitz, Director of Youth and Family Learning

Reyzl leads all our educational efforts within Rimonim: A Family Learning Community at FTJC. These include Shabbat mornings, holidays, and the Rimonim Torah School. Reyzl comes to Rimonim from the world of Jewish day school education, having taught Jewish studies for 10 years at the Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan. She holds two Master’s degrees in Jewish Studies and Jewish Education from New York University, and was a Wexner Fellow and Davidson Scholar. She also studied in the Beit Midrash program at the Drisha Institute of Jewish Education. Her BA is in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University. Reyzl’s diverse teaching experience includes serving on staff at Ramah Day Camp in Nyack, NY, as well as Beth El Temple Center in Belmont, MA, and the Drisha Summer High School Program. Reyzl and her family have been active members of FTJC since 2011. She lives in Washington Heights with her husband Michael and three children.  She can be reached by e-mail at reyzl@ftjc.org

Shai Levy, Rimonim Torah School Shorashim Educator
 

 Shai Levy (he/they) is from Silver Spring, Maryland and is currently a fourth year in the dual degree program between Tel Aviv University and Columbia University. He is studying philosophy, but is passionate about talmud torah, and tries to fit in as much as possible. As a lifelong participant in alternative forms of Jewish education, Shai is excited to get involved with Rimonim and to develop connections with the families of the FTJC community. In their free time, Shai loves reading and spotting urban wildlife. 

Naomi Abergel, Rimonim Torah School Nitzanim Educator
 

 Naomi Abergel (she/hers) is from Los Angeles California and is currently a Junior studying Psychology at Columbia University with the hopes of continuing with Law School. She has worked in Hebrew schools, Torah schools, and Jewish summer camps for many years as well as been a tutor for both Torah and secular subjects. In her free time, Naomi enjoys volunteering, reading, writing, baking, and spending time with friends and family. Naomi lives in Washington Heights and is excited to get to know the FTJC community!

Dani Apple, Hebrew Partners Online Tutor and Movement Educator
 

Dani Apple (she/her) is our primary tutor for the Hebrew component of our Rimonim Torah School. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, has made a home in the Big Apple! In addition to the FTJC family, she has been a religious school teacher with Town & Village Synagogue, West End Synagogue, Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, and B'nai Jeshurun here in NYC. Dani holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, so lots of music, comedy games, and movement activities are always a go when Dani is teaching!

Liora Finkel, Shabbat Morning Shorashim (3rd-5th Gr) Educator

Liora (she/her) is an experienced educator who specializes in Jewish studies and experiential learning. She has a Bachelor's in Religion Studies from Muhlenberg College and a Certificate in Jewish Studies from the Pardes Institute. She is currently pursuing a
Master's in Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Previously, Liora was a Religious School Teacher at Kadima@BJ (NYC) and Temple Beth El (Allentown, PA) and served in various roles at Ramah Nyack, including as a teacher and Curriculum
Development Intern.

Noa Rubin, Shabbat Morning Nitzanim (K - 2nd grade) Educator

Noa (she/her) is originally from LA and moved to NYC in 2016 to attend Barnard and List College, where she studied Sociology and Talmud. Noa has worked at Ramah Ojai and Israel, numerous Hebrew schools across the city, as a B'nai Mitzvah tutor, FTJC Shabbat mornings, and lots more. She is currently in Rabbinical school at JTS and interning at NYU Hillel. Noa is entering her fifth year of living in the Heights and when she's not working or at school, she can be found working on her goal of petting every dog in the neighborhood.