(Courtesy of RKYHS) RKYHS is thrilled to kick off an exciting 2023-23 school year. At its helm will be Rabbi Maccabee Avishur who assumed his new role as principal of RKYHS in July. Prior to RKYHS, Rabbi Avishur served in field-wide leadership roles at the YU School Partnership and Prizmah, and most recently as the academic dean and general studies principal at Heichal HaTorah. As a Torah personality and educational leader, Rabbi Avishur believes that “all learning is an act of kedusha,” and he aspires to help students learn and live by that hashkafa. Rabbi Avishur’s positivity, passion for supporting each student’s learning trajectory and amiability will cultivate and empower meaningful learning experiences for the students at RKYHS.
In addition to receiving semicha from the esteemed Rabbi Ephraim Greenblatt, zt”l, Rabbi Avishur earned an undergraduate degree from Brandeis University as well as a graduate degree from Cambridge University in England where his research focused on the Cairo Geniza. He did post-graduate work at UCLA with a concentration in Midrashic literature, and is currently completing his doctoral dissertation in educational leadership at Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School.
Rabbi Avishur has already hit the ground running this summer at RKYHS and is looking forward to advancing the RKYHS mission to inspire excellence and empower students.
Also joining RKYHS this year are new additions to the Judaic studies and guidance departments. Rabbi Yehoshua Szafranski takes on a dual role of Judaic studies faculty member as well as guidance counselor. Rabbi Szfranski received semicha from RIETS and earned his master’s in social work from Wurzweiler. After studying in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh, Rabbi Szafranski was accepted to the YU/RIETS BA Semicha Fellowship, where he was selected to participate in the Memphis Torah Fellowship. Rabbi Szafranski was a rebbe and advisor at Yeshivat Noam, JSU director and staff director for NJ NCSY, and taught at the Aish HaTorah World Center in Jerusalem. Rabbi Szafranski is a member of the rabbinic staff at Congregation Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck and along with his wife, serves as co-youth director.
Yael Perl will also be joining the RKYHS Judaic studies faculty. Perl received her bachelor’s degree from Stern College for Women and is completing a master’s degree from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies with a concentration in Jewish philosophy. Perl comes to RKYHS from SAR High School, where she has worked as a Tanach and Gemara teacher, and had previously held the role of beit midrash fellow. Perl strives to make Torah come alive in the classroom and to engage her students in discussions about the texts at hand.
Nava Eisenberg brings her extensive experience teaching Judaic studies to the RKYHS team. After earning her Judaic studies degree from Touro University, Eisenberg received her master’s from Azrieli Graduate School for Jewish Education. Eisenberg has taught Chumash, Navi, Jewish history and Ivrit at various yeshivot and day schools including HANC, Shulamith Long Island, Yavneh Academy, Bais Yaakov Machon Ora and Naaleh High School as well as serving as beis midrash staff at Camp HASC for post-Israel counselors. Eisenberg’s goal is to make Torah learning in the classroom relevant to everyday life. She cares deeply about her students and is looking forward to years of growth alongside them.
The RKYHS guidance department will be adding additional guidance counselors to its student services team. Stefanie Welling is dedicated to the student community and its well-being. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s from Teachers College Columbia University and two additional certifications in school counseling and gifted and talented education from Montclair State University. She believes in forming personal connections with students and families and striving for inclusivity in schools. Welling began her career in education as a social studies teacher and later, opened a private college counseling business.
Kelly Zygler brings her training as a certified school counselor in the State of New Jersey to RKYHS. Zygler holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University, and a master’s degree in School Counseling from Seton Hall University. Zygler’s experience educating and counseling adolescents over the years has provided her with a compassionate and inclusive style of counseling. Zygler takes a proactive and strength-focused counseling approach to support the academic, social and emotional success of students inside and outside of the classroom.
