Phyllis Spool-Temple Emanuel-Sinai, Site Coordinator
I was born in Boston a long long time ago…at least that’s how it seems some days. And on other days I still feel like a kid! I’m married to my first husband, Richard, for 37 years now. Hard to believe it’s been so long. We have one brilliant daughter, Sarah, who lives in Manhattan and is married to a very talented and special man whom we adore. I feel as though I was born to work with and educate children. I’ve always felt this in my heart. It became real to me when I lived in Israel in the 1960’s and
70’s and was given the opportunity to work with young children and take courses in education at Beit
Beryl... I finally got my degree in ECE at Lesley College in 1976 after returning home. Over the years,
I've worked in the religious schools of Temple Sinai, Beth Israel and Temple Emanuel teaching third and fourth grades. I’ve been working with young children at The Temple Emanuel Early Childhood
Center from 9/1991 thru 6/2012. When the Center closed, I came to work at Pardes last year as Site
Co-coordinator at Temple Emanuel. Starting in the fall, I will work as Site Coordinator once again at
Temple Emanuel Sinai. I am very excited about being a part of Pardes’s second year!
Audrey Kennen- Congregation Beth Israel grades K-2(Shabbat only)
Shalom! My name is Audrey Kennen and I will be the Kindergarten/First Grade teacher at
Congregation Beth Israel for the 2013-14 school year. I have been teaching Hebrew School at BI since 2001 in grades K-2.
I am also a Paraprofessional at the Oxford Middle School, teach a small group Literacy class, and coordinate an Afterschool program for 5th and 6th graders as the Supervisor for that program.
I am a graduate of Mass Bay Community College, Suffolk University, and Emerson College with a
Master's in Mass Communication majoring in Children's Television.
I recently attended the NewCAJE Conference at Nichols College in Dudley, MA. It was one of the most inspiring, spiritual, and educational events I have ever attended. I took many workshops in the
Early Childhood area and can't wait to share what I have learned with my new class this year. It was such a wonderful experience to be surrounded by other Jewish Educators from across the country.
I reside in Oxford with my husband Steven, and our sons Josh, and Jared. Josh is currently attending
Worcester State University and Jared is beginning his sophomore year at The New England Institute of Art in Brookline.
I am so excited about teaching in the Pardes Hebrew School and look forward to a great year.
Julia Zinn- Temple Emanuel- Sinai grade K-1(Shabbat only)
Julia Zinn was born and raised in Worcester, attended Solomon Schechter Day School , became Bat
Mitzvah at Temple Emanuel, and attended Hebrew High School. She has visited Israel three times, first as a teenager on a family mission sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Central Mass, later in college on Birthright, and most recently last year to visit her brother. Recently graduated from the
University of Delaware, Julia earned a B.A in Psychology with minors in Judaic Studies and Theater.
She has been teaching Religious School at Temple Beth Am in Framingham, last year teaching 6 th grade, while this year instructing 4 th and 8 th graders. Excited to be joining the staff of Pardes, Julia will share her love of Judaism and the Hebrew language.

Ellen Levitt- Grade 2
Ellen Levitt will be returning as a member of the Pardes staff to teach Hebrew and Judaic Studies for
2nd grade. Previously, Ellen was the 3rd grade teacher at Pardes and at Temple Emanuel Religious
School. She has taught Judaic Studies and Hebrew to both 2 nd and 3 rd graders. In addition to teaching in Worcester, she worked with the 7th grade class at Temple Beth Am in Framingham, last year, as an instructor for the B’nai TELEM program. The program is “a major initiative to promote social justice among Jewish youth in Boston”.
Along with Ellen’s religious school experience, she has been an active substitute teacher for
Worcester Public Schools for the past 8 years and for Bancroft School the past 4 years. Ellen has also worked at Bancroft’s summer camp as their Arts & Crafts Specialist. Her skills in cartooning and graphic design led her to study art at University of Hartford and University of Massachusetts in
Amherst, where she received a BFA in Art Education. Her post-graduate career began in the field of advertising and graphic design. Later, as Ellen became more involved at school with her daughter, she decided to begin her teaching career. The enjoyment that she receives from working with children, along with her creativity and sense of humor, produces a terrific recipe for an amazing learning environment. She is looking forward to a very successful year with her new 2 nd graders.
Ellen Kapiloff- Grade 3
Ellen Kapiloff is excited to return to teaching religious school after a 2 yr hiatus. With 11 yrs. of prior experience, Ellen is returning to teaching 3rd grade and can't be happier about it...Aside from teaching, she is the WESTY advisor and is in the process of forming a Jr. WESTY program for 6-8 grade. She has owned her own uniform business since 1986. She has two college age children,
Leah, 22 is enrolled in the UMass accelerated Masters program for elementary education and
Joshua, 19 is studying sports management at Umass Amherst. Ellen lives in West Boylston with her husband and her 2 canine babies, Abbie & Tessie...
Cindy Kalish –Grade 4
Cindy Kalish is so excited for the start of the second year of Pardes. This will be her seventh year teaching religious school. Cindy was raised in the Conservative Movement at Temple Beth Shalom in
Hull, MA where she became a Bat Mitzvah. She and her family joined Temple Emanuel in 2000 and have been active members ever since. Cindy's daughter, Hannah, became a Bat mitzvah at TE in
2010. Cindy loves teaching students of all ages and equally loves when her students become her teacher!
Dina Krotin- Grade 5
I received a Masters degree in Elementary Education and started my teaching career in Belarus in
1985. In 1990 I moved to Israel and lived there for 10 years. I also received a teaching degree in
Israel and continued teaching there. In August 2000, I moved to the United States. My family and I first moved to Saint Louis, Missouri and I worked at a Hebrew Academy and preschool. I recently moved to Worcester, Massachusetts and look forward to continuing my passion in teaching. Aside from teaching, I love spending time with my two daughters and treating them with retail therapy. I also love expending my creativity when I cook and bake.

Ziva Rosenhand- Grade 6
I was born in Israel to parents who immigrated to Israel from Iran soon after the establishment of the state of Israel. I got married and moved to the U.S in 1987 with my family. I am married to a wonderful man, Lenny, and have three great children, who left the nest. I am an Occupational Therapist and have been enjoying teaching our children (and adults) at the B.I and Pardes for the past twenty five years.
Sarah Noble-Young-Grade 6
Shalom, my name is Sarah Noble-Young and I am VERY excited to be entering into my 5th year of teaching religious school. I look forward to meeting all of the 6th grade families and beginning our introductions to the prophets. I am eager to continue our work on prayer and its relation to our daily living. My son Noah is entering into the 3rd grade and my daughter Lyla will be attending Tot
Shabbot. We look forward to sharing in the ruach of our Worcester Jewish Community as a family and as a staff member. See you all soon.
Keren Azulay-Grade 7
Keren has deep roots in Worcester's Community. She attended Temple Sinai where she had her Bat
Mitzvah and was confirmed. She later became very active at Temple Emanuel in WESTY, the local reform youth group. She has been a religious school teacher for over 13 years and is also a B'nai
Mitzvah tutor at Temple Emanuel-Sinai. She currently holds a B.S. in Mental Health Counseling and a
Masters in Education. She has been a teacher in the Worcester Public Schools for over 10 years.
Keren is extremely excited to start another fantastic year with the 7th graders at Pardes. We will be studying many topics including service liturgy, mitzvot, community service, Jewish identity, and
Holocaust, among others. Get ready for a terrific year at Pardes!!!
Renee Malowitz- Art
Renee Malowitz is the Art Specialist at Pardes, she is passionate about using art as tool to teach children about Jewish culture and history. Renee is a teaching artist educated at the School of the
Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, she also teaches art in private schools and after school programs in
Central MA as well as being the recipient of many Mass Cultural Council grants. Renee lives at the end of a country road in Hubbardston MA where she gardens with her husband and teenage daughters.