Education Director

"Religious School provides an opportunity for students to gain a Jewish literacy that will travel with them throughout their life. Though it won’t provide a Jewish answer to everything, it will give the skills to ask the important questions from a Jewish perspective. The inclusion of Hebrew skills gives our students a passport to the Jewish community world-wide as the common language of our people. "

Hebrew Coordinator

Dina David-Smith is our Hebrew Coordinator and teaches Hebrew Lab.

Gan (Kindergarten) teacher

Amy Friedman teaches Hebrew in our Early Childhood Center and will also teach Judaics in our Religious School.

Kitah Alef (First Grade) Judaics Teacher

Dianne is involved in synagogue life in many areas: teacher, musician, storyteller.

Kitah Bet (Second Grade) Judaics Teacher

Bob is a singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He has been playing music professionally since he was 16. He has taught music and first grade in our Religious School and is excited to be teaching second grade this year.

Hebrew Teacher for Mechinah (K-2)

Ellie has taught Kindergarten at Beth-El Zedeck's Religious School for several years and currently teaches Hebrew for kindergarten, first, and second grades.

Kitah Gimmel (Third Grade) Judaics Teacher

Stephanie Vale is our Kitah Gimmel (Third Grade) Judaics Teacher this year in Religious School.

Kitah Gimmel (Third Grade) Hebrew Teacher

Clara teaches Hebrew both in Religious School and also the Early Childhood Center.

Kitah Dalet (Fourth Grade) Judaics Teacher

Genna has been teaching since 2000, and teaching in our Religious School since 2008.

Kitah Dalet (Fourth Grade) Hebrew Teacher and Hebrew Lab Teacher

Rebekah Maccaby has taught in Religious School, the Early Childhood Center, and as an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter.

Kitah Hey (Fifth Grade) Judaics Teacher

Zev has taught in our Religious School for several years, teaching kindergarten, first, fourth, fifth, and ninth grades.

Kitah Hey (Fifth Grade) Hebrew and Hebrew Lab Teacher

Rabbi Bruce is a board-certified chaplain and works at IU Health and ARN Hospice. He has taught in our Religious School for 14 years.

Kitah Vav (Sixth Grade) Judaics Teacher

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Ruth became a bat mitzvah at Beth-El Zedeck, before becoming confirmed and a madricha for Religious School. After graduating high school, she attended college at The University of Florida where she studied History and Economics. Post-college, Ruth completed a year of service with AmeriCorps in San Antonio, Texas, working as student support in underserved schools. Back in Indianapolis, Ruth is a high school math teacher.

Kitah Vav (Sixth Grade) Hebrew Teacher and Bar/Bat Mitzvah Instructor

Jeff will teach sixth grade Hebrew this year. He also tutors students as they prepare for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

Kitah Zayin (Seventh Grade) Judaics and Hebrew Teacher

Hershel Segal is our Kitah Zayin (Seventh Grade) teacher this year. He will teach both Judaics and Hebrew.

Tefillah Lab

Cantor Melissa Cohen grew up in Lakewood, New Jersey and earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Master of Music from DePaul University.

Uplan 8 (Eighth Grade) Judaics Teacher

Robbie Alder is our Ulpan 8 Judaics Teacher this year in Religious School. She is also the Programming Facilitator for the synagogue.

Ulpan 9 Teacher and Youth Director

Martin has lots of experience with Jewish youth and is excited to work with the 9th grade class!

Ulpan 8 and 9 Hebrew Teacher

Tamar was born and raised in Israel and moved to the U.S. in 1991. She has a passion for helping people learn Hebrew in a positive, fun environment.

Ivrit (Hebrew) Instructor

Tracy has taught adult education classes, Religious School, and tutored students in preparation for their B'nei Mitzvah.

Rabbi Hal Schevitz was ordained at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Newton, Massachusetts in 2013. He served as the Assistant Rabbi at Beth-El Zedeck from 2013-2016 and Rabbi at Congregation or Atid in Virginia from 2016-2022. Rabbi Hal is married to Jena, and they are the proud parents of Naomi and Arielle.