Heichal HaTorah is gearing up for what promises to be an amazing year ahead. We have been so lucky to have an incredible, dedicated staff who work with our boys each and every day and feel so privileged to welcome these new additions to our faculty.
Rav Avi Oberlander will assume the role of Principal of Judaic Studies. Rav Oberlander studied in Yeshivas Toras Moshe and the Mir in Israel, and has worked for decades as a mechanech in middle school, high school, and bais medrash programs. Most recently, Rav Oberlander served as Sgan Menahel of the Waterbury Mesivta and Rosh Chaburah in the Waterbury Bais Medrash program.
Rav Chaim Marcus will assume the roles of rebbe and mashpia. Rav Marcus studied under Rav Aharon Lichtenstein zt”l, at Har Etzion, and earned his semicha at RIETS, Yeshiva University. In addition to serving as the morah d’asrah of Congregation Israel of Springfield (CIS), Rav Marcus was the Senior Halacha Rabbi of Bruriah High School for Girls for nearly two decades, and leads the Semichat Chaver program at CIS.
Mrs. Deneira Goldenberg will assume the Chair of the Heichal Science Department and serve as the Biology instructor for the 9th grade and Medical Ethics for the 12th grade. Mrs. Goldenberg joins Heichal after 17 of teaching Biology at the Torah Academy of Bergen County, and most recently as Chair of its Science Department.
Mr. Chris Cortavarria (you can call him “Mr. C”) will be teaching Algebra 2 this year at Heichal. Mr. Cortavarria earned his first undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering at Inca Garcilazo de La Vega University in Lima. He originally worked in the textile and transport industries while pursuing a second BA with a concentration in business, an MBA, and finally, when he switched careers, a MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) with a certification in teaching mathematics, all from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Ms. Christina DeLeon will be teaching Algebra this year. Ms. DeLeon attended Rutgers University for both her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and her graduate degree in Mathematics Education. In addition to her more-traditional teaching roles, including her current position at Teaneck High School, Ms. DeLeon spent 16 months teaching Math in Mozambique as a Peace Corps Education Volunteer, which she taught in Porteguese, the official language of that country, which is in Southeastern Africa and a former Porteguese colony.
Mr. Kevin Hannon will be teaching Finance and Investing this academic year. Mr. Hannon studied business and earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Seton Hall University and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from Montclair State University. Mr. Hannon also completed a certificate program in Sports Management at New York University and an Educational Supervision program at Montclair State University. In addition to teaching at Heichal, Mr. Hannon teaches honors-level and college credit courses full-time in the Business Department at Teaneck High School and teaches Sports Marketing and Branding courses as an Adjunct Professor at Bergen Community College. Mr. Hannon also serves on the Board of Directors of the Teaneck Federal Credit Union.
Rabbi Avi Heller will be teaching 9th grade Tikvah English. Rabbi Heller attended Shaalvim and Yeshivat Har Etzion and then earned his BA from Boston University in Political Theory and International Relations followed by an MA in Tanach from Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel Graduate School and Semicha from RIETS. In addition to teaching, his professional experience includes time at Hillel International, the Boca Raton Community Kollel, Boston University Hillel, Manhattan Jewish Experience, and the Orthodox Union. Eli Katz—History Teacher and College Counseling
Mr. Eli Katz will be teaching History as well as serving as our College Counselor. Mr. Katz learned at Yeshivat HaKotel for 2 years and then studied History at Yeshiva University with a minor in Judaic Studies. Mr. Katz began his teaching career in Philadelphia where he served as a member of the history faculty, religious guidance advisor, varsity boys’ basketball coach, and assistant athletic director at Kohelet Yeshiva High School. A few years ago, he moved to the New York area where he served as the upper school athletic director and boys’ baseball and basketball coach at Ramaz and taught at TABC. For the past five years, Mr. Katz has served as the assistant basketball coach for the YU men’s team.
Dr. Carol Master will be teaching 9th and 10th grade English this year. Dr. Master is an honors graduate of New York University, where she majored in English, and received an M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University, both in English, with a focus on Dramatic Literature and Criticism. Her extensive teaching career has included roles in Israel, the New School, Ramaz, and her twenty-nine year tenure at TABC, where she developed curricula, taught every grade level and served as department chair.
