Hi, I’m Barbara Weisman. I’m DELIGHTED to bring over 36 years in Jewish education to Beth Am! I love being Jewish and helping others to find the beauty in our tradition is my passion. I look forward to sharing that passion with my new Beth Am community.

I have had two careers – my under graduate degree is in Business administration and marketing and then Jewish education. In the late eighties, I met my husband, Daniel and settled down with him. Soon came a first of many dogs and then we expanded our human family to include Max and Ross. With time, that number grew to include daughter in law Talia, son in law, Ryan and two beautiful grandchildren – Sadye and Ezra. And of course, numerous dogs.

I acquired a Masters Degree in Education and began to lead congregational religious schools doing this work that I love so very much.

I often hear people speak of their dislike of their Hebrew school days when that meant sitting in a chair, reading from a book, listening to a teacher speak endlessly from the front of the room. But that’s not our Hebrew school today. At least not my vision. In this school, we will explore concepts, traditions and learn. But not often in our seats.

We will do projects, we will go outside the synagogue walls to do mitzvot in community, we will sing, we will dance, we will “do Jewish” with members of the larger synagogue community. We will explore our Jewish roots. We will learn with our families. We will gather in community. We will question and seek answers. We will share the answers to those questions. We will form positive Jewish identities together. WE WILL HAVE FUN!

I LOVE that our school is called the Mensch Lab. That’s what Beth Am is all about. I’d easily categorize everyone that I have met at Beth Am as a MENSCH! Learning what it means to be Jewish Beth Am style. Becoming mensches. That’s what really counts. That’s what we will do at Beth Am in our school. We will cultivate mensches in our lab together.

Bruce Sham is the co-founder of the Amanda Sham Resource Center for Children with Special Needs. Bruce has taught in the Resource Center for 33 years helping students with different learning styles enjoy their religious school experience.

I am currently the pre-K teacher in Beth Am’s School of Early Learning and the Kindergarten teacher in the Mensch Lab. I have been teaching for twenty years now, ever since I graduated from the University of Delaware with my bachelor’s degree in education. I first came to Temple Beth Torah as a teaching assistant with the four-year-old class, and the very next year I began teaching pre-K/K in my own classroom. I absolutely love teaching, because the children can always put a great big smile on my face. On a personal note, I am lucky enough to be the mommy to a fabulous twelve-year-old who just started seventh grade and a nin-year-old who just started fourth grade in the Upper Moreland School District.

Hi, my name is Michelle Cheifetz, and I’m going to be the first grade teacher for the Mensch Lab this year! I am also part of the SOEL community, so I spend plenty of time at Beth Am! I graduated from Goucher College in 2020 with a BA in psychology, and I am currently pursuing my master’s in Social Work at UPenn, where I’m planning to work with children in a therapeutic sense. Outside of Beth Am, I love gardening and spending time with my cat, Hugo.

I really enjoy being a part of the Jewish community that raised me and love being able to be on the other side of things, helping foster children’s growth and imagination. I hope to make every day count and can’t wait for a great year!

Jennifer Klein loves teaching in the Mensch Lab.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Lehigh University.  She taught Kindergarten for seven years at an independent school in Center City.  Now she is a mom to her three awesome boys.  Mensch Lab is a fun and meaningful return to the classroom.  Getting to know the students is the very best part.  As a certified art teacher and accomplished painter, bringing art into the classroom is a close second.

My bio is coming soon!

This is my fifteenth year working for the Mensch Lab at Temple Beth Am. I started out as a volunteer. I especially enjoy working with the third-grade students. When I’m not at Mensch Lab, I love playing the guitar and spending time with my family.  I love dogs and going to Vermont every year.

Hello!  My name is Alison Walters and I teach fourth grade here at the Mensch Lab.  I have been so lucky to be a part of this amazing faculty since 2007.  I hold a degree in Elementary Education from Temple University, as well as certificates in Reading and Special Education.  In my secular life, I serve as the Literacy Coach for an amazing school in the Feltonville neighborhood of Philadelphia.  I am excited to share my love of Judaism and Hebrew with our students this year!

My bio is coming soon!

My bio is coming soon!

Shalom! My name is Aviva Leib and I am so excited to be teaching the 7th grade and Beit Noar students at our synagogue this year. I grew up in Huntingdon Valley and graduated from Temple University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Special Education K-12.

As Rabbi Leib’s daughter, my connection to Judaism has always been a central part of my life, and I am eager to share this passion with our students. With my experience in education and special education, I am eager to create an inclusive and engaging environment where every student feels valued and inspired to explore their Jewish identity. I look forward to a meaningful year of learning, growth, and connection with our incredible students.

My bio is coming soon.

Aimee Wright
Aimee has worked in the Mensch Lab since 2021, however she’s been working in education administration since 2019. Aimee grew up going to the Mensch Lab and holds those experiences near and dear to her heart. She learned how to teach and tutor from the I.M. Wise program at Gratz.

My bio is coming soon