Welcome To Temple Beth El!
Hi! I am Aliyah Fox! I am a 19-year-old artist and art teacher who is passionate about creativity, self-expression, and helping others discover their own artistic voices. Growing up in a big family with six siblings, I learned early on how to listen, connect, and support different personalities—all of which I bring into the classroom. My goal is to create a welcoming, encouraging environment where students can feel inspired to take creative risks, try new things, and grow through the process.
My name is Jaymie (Morton) Eden. You may know me from my time teaching at the JCC Wolk Children’s Center or advising your teens with NFTY NEL. I moved to Rochester for the first time in 2012, moved away in 2019 & returned in 2023. Rochester has become my home and is special to me because it’s where I met my husband.
I currently work in Children’s Services in the Early Intervention Program. In my free time I play roller derby. In addition to playing with a local team I am also a proud member of Jewish Roller Derby which is comprised of Jewish skaters from all over the world sharing the love for our sport & Kehilah.
My name is Lisa Fox. I have been teaching in religious school for twenty-eight plus years. I began my wonderful journey at the JCC as a babysitter, enrichment teacher, preschool teacher and a summer camp counselor when my first child was four years old. Fast forward to the present, my six kids are now young adults. I have been a permanent substitute teacher for many years for all of the Fairport Schools, where I currently live. I teach Kindergarten through High School and I also substitute at a daycare in Brighton for newborns through four years old. Two days a week I will be a nanny for two young boys. This past summer I was hired as a home health care aid, and I was taking care of a young adult with special needs. The picture of me was taken this summer, when I went to Austin, Texas for the first time to visit my oldest daughter Ashley, who is now thirty-two years young.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and my animals. I enjoy being a volunteer for Honor Flight, Penfield Volunteer Emergency Ambulance, Ganondagan and Lollypop Farm, in addition to babysitting and pet sitting.
I am looking forward to another new year teaching at BE.WISE while I continue my journey learning new things from my students and co-workers!
My name is Marvin Kleinberg and for the past 25 years, I have made teaching a second career. My first career was that of a civil engineer and Urban Planner. For the last three years I have been teaching 4th grade at Temple Beth Bel which has allowed me to get to know the children at BE.WISE. My favorite subjects to teach are Torah, holidays and things Jewish.
I am looking forward to meeting the students, learning about our common history, and doing it all in a fun way.
James Sheinbaum (he/him/his) is a research assistant at Mt. Hope Family Center, where he works on child development, health, and trauma recovery. He graduated from University of Rochester with a BA in Psychology and a Take5 Scholarship in Abrahamic Religions. He has worked in Jewish education across many ages, as late as college age through the Jewish Learning Fellowship at RIT, and as young as 3rd grade, right here at Temple Beth El. He is dedicated to using project-based learning as a pathway to interdisciplinary and hands-on experience in Jewish ritual, culture, and values, where students can craft their intentional Jewish identities. This will be James’ second year with Beth El.
Gene Spiro has been a Jewish educator since her college days. She has taught a range of ages from preschoolers to adults. She continues teaching in religious school at Temple B’rith Kodesh where she is also on the Kollel faculty. Gene sings with the Rochester Jewish Chorale and with the TBK choir where she also serves as a substitute soloist. Gene is delighted to be returning to BE.WISE.
My name is Noa Tsouri and it is my second year teaching Hebrew here at Temple Beth El’s BE.WISE school. I am originally from Israel, and I love helping students connect with the Hebrew language in a fun, active, and meaningful way. It is so rewarding to see them grow more confident and excited about learning each week. I’m so grateful to be part of the wonderful Temple Beth El community, and for the opportunity I’m given here to share my passion for Hebrew and Jewish culture with the next generation.
My students call me Morah Tzippy. I consider myself very fortunate to have worked at Temple Beth El for many years with students ranging in grades from preschool all the way through high school. I’ve taught everything about Judaic as well as Hebrew. Teaching has been my career, my love and my passion. I’ve also worked at every other synagogue school, the JCC, Hillel School, Thornell Elementary in Pittsford, and led Junior Congregation for many years. Today, I tutor students who need some extra help as well as more advanced students. My husband and I have been members at TBE for many decades. We raised our children at TBE and today they, along with their families, are members at Temple Beth El.
Melinda Yanoff has been teaching in the Rochester area since 1989. Before coming to BE.WISE and Keshet Preschool at TBE, she taught in Elementary Schools in the Rochester area. Melinda also spent 8 years teaching Preschool at the JCC. She has worked at TBE teaching a combination of grades K-2 for the past 23 years and at Keshet for the last 14 years. Melinda created TBE’s Halutzim (Grades 2-5) Youth Group and was its leader for five years. She also led Tot Shabbat, first as a volunteer for years, and then as a TBE Tot Shabbat Leader.
Melinda has a B.A. in Political Science and Law and Society from SUNY Binghamton. She holds an M.S. in Elementary Education with Permanent Certification for Preschool through sixth grade from Nazareth University of Rochester. Melinda has spent her summers working at the RMSC Camps, Camp Sisol and Camp Keshet. “My goal is to share my love and knowledge of Judaism with our students so that the traditions and knowledge of the history of Judaism will continue to flourish for generations to come.”
My name is Gil Stern! Having grown up in a household where both of my parents were Jewish Educators, Jewish Education is really part of my DNA. That said, it became part of my formal work history in 1993 when I decided to go back to school to obtain my Master’s Degree in Communication, and moved to Brockport, NY. While in school, I began teaching 7th grade at Temple Sinai. After that, I taught at Temple B’rith Kodesh for 15 years. Now, I am thrilled to be teaching at Temple Beth El.
I’ve taught courses in Jewish Ethics, Holocaust, Introduction to Aleph-Bet and Prayer. I have also tutored students and spent years teaching a technology enrichment course where I worked with grade level teachers in finding websites and finding/creating computer games that reinforced material they were covering. Judaism remains a passion of mine and I enjoy passing that passion to future generations!
When I am not teaching Judaism, I am teaching communication courses to college students at various institutions. I teach online classes (both synchronous and asynchronous) and classes in person.
Events 
Account 
Visit 
Give 
Stream 