Rabbi Ari Zucker, Middle School Assistant Principal
Rabbi Ari Zucker is coming back home to the halls of JKHA as the middle school assistant principal. A proud JKHA/RKYHS graduate, Rabbi Zucker studied at Yeshiva University, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and semicha from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. Rabbi Zucker has spent the past six years working at the Fasman Yeshiva High School in Chicago, where he served as the director of Academic Services in addition to teaching several courses.
Rabbi Zucker has extensive experience creating meaningful instruction and programming working in NCSY, camp rabbi at Camp Moshava Wildrose, as well as his work with Yachad. These experiences have been instrumental in shaping his belief as an educator in the power of experiential learning. Currently, he’s pursuing his doctorate at Azrieli Graduate School of Education. He is excited to bring his passion for education and love of Torah learning to JKHA, continuing to elevate and energize JKHA middle school.
Leora Orenshein,
Judaic Studies Faculty
RKYHS is excited to add Leora Orenshein to their Judaic Studies faculty. Orenshein is a proud graduate of Stern College and holds a master’s degree in Gemara and Halacha from Stern’s Graduation Program in Advanced Torah Study (GPATS). She taught in Israel at Midreshet Torah v’Avodah (MTVA) this past year and participated in YU’s Tagel Learning Program. Leora also served as the GPATS intern at Kemp Mill Synagogue in Silver Spring. Additionally, she was the director of Chinuch at Camp Moshava Ba’ir and is currently part of the camp’s administrative team. She is passionate about making learning both engaging and relevant while ensuring students develop strong in-depth textual skills. Outside the classroom, she enjoys running, playing tennis and learning Daf Yomi.
Alon Peres, Physical Education
Alon Peres will be joining the physical education staff for all JKHA lower and middle school students. He was born in Israel and has always enjoyed being part a Jewish community. He completed his undergraduate degree at Northland College in Wisconsin where he played basketball. After college he spent a year teaching English in Israel before spending the last few years teaching PE and middle school social studies at a small Jewish day school in Seattle. He is completing a master’s degree in health/PE from Central Washington University. Peres hopes to bring his energy and enthusiasm to all the kindergarten through eighth grade physical education classes at JKHA.
