Head Staff

Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Zaks was born in Jerusalem and raised partially in the U.S. and in Israel. He currently  serves as the Headmaster of the Silver Spring Learning Center and Leo Bernstein Jewish Academy  (LBJA or JAFA). He received his rabbinic ordination from Beit Hora’ah of Modi’in Illit in 2018. He holds a B.S. in Judaic Studies from Michigan Institute. He received Smicha from Hebron Yeshiva. He has taught in numerous Yeshivas for over 15 years and led children’s programs for 20 years in Modiin, where he also led a summer camp and nightly program for boys.  In Israel, he created an After-School Judaics and Torah-study program for children, supervised a class of 50 teens  in Yeshiva, and taught at a Kollel. Rabbi Zaks is also currently the Director of an all boys Summer Program called Shteig. He also directs the Adult Jewish Education program at the Kollel that offers a program for homeschool children in the mornings at the synagogue. Currently, he teaches at our elementary school, LBJA. He serves as the Head of a Kollel--Chofetz Chaim (with whom he is directly related) and he now serves as one of the rabbis at the Silver Spring Jewish Center. He is the grandson of the beloved Rabbi Herzl Kranz (obm).

Natali  Gavrieli  is the director of the Silver Spring Learning Center and Leo Bernstein Jewish Academy (LBJA or JAFA). She has over 20 years of experience in education with a BA in psychology and a MA in bi-lingual education. She taught at LBJA prior to her promotion as Director. She hails from Columbia, S.A., and Haifa, Israel,  Her multilingual educational experience spans from pre-school to adults.  Natali says that  the Learning Center’s preschoolers are exposed to Hebrew language in a warm, inclusive, and stimulating environment where every child feels valued and supported.  All the children in both upper and lower grades are encouraged to learn at their own pace and follow their natural curiosities  Natali believes all the teachers are committed to fostering a nurturing and dynamic environment where every student can thrive. She brings warmth, respect, knowledge, passion, and compassion to the two schools SSLC and LBJA (JAFA).

Chaya Kranz received her Associate of Arts from the Community College of Baltimore. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Long Island University. She has been involved in children's education for 40 years. She directed an English Immersion preschool for 2-6 year-olds in Jerusalem, Israel. She was a lead teacher for 2  years at the Torah Kids class (4-5 years olds) at SSLC and directed Camp Ahava for 10 years. Chaya worked with the Jewish Academy of Fine Arts (LBJA)for 10 years and was responsible for coordinating the Hot Lunch program and Aftercare program. Since 1996, Chaya has been the manager of the Hebrew Sheltering Home for  the Washington area. Currently, she is the Executive Director at the Silver Spring Jewish Center. She is blessed with four children and currently has 7 grandchildren. She is the daughter of Rabbi Herzl Kranz (obm)  (founder of the Silver Spring Jewish Center) and is vital to his continuing legacy. She is the heart of the synagogue and school.

Tehila Edem holds a degree in Economics from Shimon Peres College in Israel, where she was a manager for a local manufacturer for seven years.  She is certified to teach toddler age children. She has taught many years, but has been teaching Hebrew Immersion to two year olds for six years at the SSLC. She loves working with the young children and the staff at SSLC and LBJA, and is greatly loved by her students.

Hagit Levy has a degree in Communication from Israel. While in Israel she worked on designing websites and graphic design for ten years. Locally, she attended Montgomery College where she majored in Early Childhood  Education. She worked 2 years at Chabad  where she designed Hebrew books for preschool. She  has been at the Silver Spring Learning Center for 7 years where she teaches Hebrew Immersion  to preschool children. 

Genia Miranski is a native of Minsk Belarus. In 1972 She moved to Haifa, Israel where she studied philosophy. She studied in Beit V’gan, Beit Aakerem, Mihalalah Le Morot and Nahalal, where she focused on Judaic studies, Early childhood and Hebrew. When she moved to the US she worked in an adoption agency coordinating children arriving from Belarus. She has worked at the SSLC  for 15 years teaching preschool and pre-K, both secular and Hebrew Immersion. She has two children.

Helen Goldberg was born in NY and  raised in El Paso, Texas. Attended the University of Colorado and nursing school, graduated with a Bachelor of Science with education as her major from University of Texas at El Paso. Completed a Masters  degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix. Taught children of all ages from 2 years old through high school and all subjects including English as a Second Language. She was elected by her colleagues at her school as Teacher of the Year in 2004, followed by being selected as Teacher of the Year in 2005 for the District, followed by being chosen Teacher of the Year for the entire West Texas Region, making her one of the top 20 teachers in Texas. She served on an advisory committee to the Superintendent  and as her school representative for the National Teachers Association union. Upon retirement from the public school system, Helen worked at a charter school as the state testing coordinator, where she was credited with helping the school receive the highest state recognized award for excellence. Helen served the Jewish community as well. She and her husband Stuart, were selected as the Family of the Year in El Paso. Helen also was the organizer of the community Purim carnival for 7 years. She also served on the Chevra Kadisha for Chabad, and was president of Women’s American ORT. Once moving here, Helen became  the director of Camp Ahava before moving up to the Director of Leo Bernstein Jewish Academy (LBJA) for 8 years. She has 3 children and 12 grandchildren, all who attend or attended Jewish day schools

Shulamit Bar Haim has been at the Silver Spring Learning Center for 20 years. Shulamit is an Israeli where she worked in banks for 15 years. She holds Level 4 licenses for teaching preschool. She works with 3-4 year olds teaching Hebrew Immersion. Prior to the SSLC, she worked for Chabad for 3 years in Miami Beach. She says she loves working at the Silver Spring Learning Center, it feels like home. She organizes many holiday performances and is an integral part of the preschool.

Medi Rafaelov has a BA in sociology and communication from Israel. Her  

 experience for the last 10-15 years has been in payroll. She is currently the Office  

 Manager for both the lower and upper schools. She handles all crises with reassuring 

 confidence. She really enjoys working here with the students and staff. She has two 

 children, one of which attended SSLC. She is the link for all information emanating  out  

 of the office and is vital to the smooth running of the schools.

Rachael Rose graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2015 with an MA in Jewish Studies and scholarships in Hebrew Language and Pedagogy. She is currently working on and M.ED in Elementary Montessori Education from Loyola University, Maryland. Rachael has over ten years of experience working in education in various capacities; as a teacher,  assistant, and tutor for students of all ages from preschool to adults. Rachael grew up in Silver Spring,where she still lives with her husband, Daniel, and two daughters, who also attend SSLC. She teaches Hebrew for LBJA

 Penina Greenspan attended Sara Schenirer Seminary--Torah Umesorah where she received a teaching license. She graduated from Brooklyn College with a  BFA. She has had many years of experience at Prospect Park Yeshiva, Yeshiva of Flatbush, Politz Hebrew Academy in Philadelphia, Torah School of Greater Washington, Ashreinu Montessori, Montessori training in New Jersey, Netivot and online Institute of Ohio, International Montessori Training, and Leo Bernstein Jewish Academy.

Sharon Turpie has a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Maryland. She has 30 years of teaching experience, 20 years here at LBJA . She formerly taught at Berman Hebrew Academy and the Hebrew Day Institute. Sharon’s specialty is science and math. Her Science Fairs are legendary, where many former students return to tell her they had learned more from her “Hands on” classes than they have in high school.

Jennifer Rothstein holds a BA in Political Science and MA in Education and is certified to teach all subjects, K-8th grade,  as well as Social Studies through high school. She has had over 20 years experience in all grades and all subjects from individual instruction to whole class instruction.  She has been at LBJA for a total of 6 years. She loves teaching children and watching them learn to read and suddenly light up when they catch on. She finds that very gratifying.