BPY welcomes Rav Aviram Biton to its limudei kodesh faculty. Rav Biton is the rabbi of the Sephardic Community of Paramus and, being both Sephardic and Israeli, he received his semicha from the Yeshivat HaMidrash HaSepharadi in Yerushalayim. Rav Biton will be teaching limudei kodesh classes in various grades at BPY, with a special focus on kriah, te’amim and pizmonim, and will also serve as a chazzan at various programs and functions at the school. He is passionate about bringing the joy and beauty of Yahadut to every student (and parent!) and he does this by creative and experiential teaching, with a heartfelt emphasis on Sephardic and Israeli heritage. One of Rav Biton’s focal points is to create bonding experiences between students and their parents as, together, we all explore the richness and depth of Torah learning.

BPY’s Shlichim Program is expanding with the arrival of Rav Nirel and Morah Iska Friedemann. Rav Nirel grew up in Neve Dekalim, and served as a tzanchan in Tzahal. He is an experienced moreh in Israeli schools, where he also worked in children’s therapeutic horseback riding and theater drama. Rav Nirel loves to blend the beautiful lessons of Torah with the love and pride of tzionut datit. Morah Iska was born in Panama, when her Israeli parents were on educational shlichut, so the dream and values of shlichut run in her family. After doing her Sherut Le’umi with Ethiopian immigrants, Morah Iska received her degrees in education, guidance and literature. She has extensive experience as a teacher of Tanach and Hebrew literature. She loves working with children and sees her mission as nurturing confident, curious and caring students.

BPY also welcomes a new programming director, Shoshana Kattan. Kattan grew up in Teaneck, and was a student at Frisch when it was in the BPY building. She has served as the student activities coordinator at SAR for a number of years, as well as a Bnei Akiva director in New York and New Jersey for a few years. Her summers have been just as exciting, as she has been on staff at Camp Moshava in various leadership and programming positions. Kattan is incredibly passionate about informal education, with a focus on what it provides to the overall joyous experience and Jewish identity of her students. She is known for educating from a place of mutual respect and positive role modeling. The exciting and creative programming she has planned will ensure an amazing year for BPY students!