Hebrew School Teachers

Gan - Laura Lee Blechner

Laura Lee Blechner has been a member of Beth Israel for over 20 years, while serving in many roles of leadership, including co-chair of the Religious Practices Committee for many years. As an avid Jewish learner, Laura Lee attends adult education classes, in addition to reading many Jewish books and blogs each year.  She has been teaching the Gan family education class with Reisa Mukamal for over 10 years and is very excited to see members of our earliest classes becoming B'nai MItzvah!  She teaches Biblical Hebrew to adults and tutors B’nai Mitzvah students. Her two daughters attended Hebrew School and celebrated becoming B'not Mitzvah at Beth Israel.

Gan - Reisa Mukamal

Reisa Mukamal holds a master’s degree in education, has served as co-chair of the Education Committee, and her teaching career at Beth Israel grew out of her experience on that committee. She began with a stint teaching Hebrew to the Hay (5th) class, capitalizing on her semester abroad at Tel Aviv University. Together with her friend and colleague, Laura Lee, they both enjoy helping young families celebrate the Jewish holidays together with their kindergarten-age children. Meanwhile, Reisa's four sons attended Hebrew school and celebrated becoming B'nai Mitzvah at Beth Israel and, along the way, she began tutoring B'nai Mitzvah students, both an honor and a joy. Sometimes she even gets to teach their parents! She also teaches kindergarten at a private nursery school in Swarthmore and is a docent at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Orah Cohen

Orah is from Atlanta, GA, where she attended Torah Day School and Atlanta Jewish Academy. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in English and Education at Swarthmore College.

Orah has previously worked in Jewish Kids Groups, an Atlanta Hebrew School, as a rotating teacher. She has also worked at In The City Camp (a non-denominational Jewish camp) for two summers as a head counselor. Since moving to Swarthmore, PA, she has continued working with children by tutoring and working as a Home Health Aide for Open Hearts Home Care. Orah is passionate about creating a welcoming, inclusive environment where students will build lifelong Jewish connections.

Daniel Chattler 

Daniel is originally from the Baltimore area.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Towson University (TU).  During his studies at TU, Daniel developed a strong Jewish identity as he worked for several years in the Baltimore JCC and traveled to Israel on numerous occasions.  Shortly after graduating from University he made Aliyah to Israel in order to serve in the Israel Defense Force (IDF).

During Daniel’s IDF service, he served as a Mefaked Kitah (squad commander) in the Iron-Dome, the short-range missile defense system.  After living in Israel, particularly Be’er Sheva, for several years after his IDF service, he decided to return to the U.S. with his wife and dog where they settled in the Philadelphia area for work and to be involved in a strong Jewish community.  Daniel is very proud to share his experiences, knowledge, and strong Jewish identity with the Beth Israel community, especially its Hebrew school students!