Our Team

We bring together nurturing educators with vast experience in education, curriculum development, Jewish education and Hebrew language.

Our teachers have advanced degrees and experience working with children who have a diversity of learning skills.

Orna Eldor Gerling, Executive Director

Orna Eldor Gerling, our founding executive director, brings a distinguished career of innovation in informal Jewish education on three continents. A native Israeli, she worked for twenty years in afterschool programs, language immersion camps, and arts camps. Her administrative experience includes directing multiple education and social service agencies in Israel, and leading a network of 180 Jewish community centers in the former Soviet Union. Orna holds a bachelor’s degree from Tel-Aviv University, a teaching certificate from the Beit Berl Arts Academy in Kfar Sava, Israel, and a certificate of nonprofit management from Georgetown University. Her two children attend Moed, and she lives with her family in Chevy Chase.

Orna can be reached at orna@moedcommunity.org.

Michal Krupnik-Gottlieb, Director of Academics

Dr. Michal Krupnik-Gottlieb, the director of academics, is on leave from her position as the head of the School for the Gifted and Talented at Oranim. Michal has also been a lecturer and researcher at Oranim Academic College of Education since 1998. She has been teaching graduate courses related to Gifted and Talented Education, and Science Education and conducting research in these fields. Michal is a Neurobiologist with a Ph.D. from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in Brain research, focusing on learning and memory. In addition, she holds a Master's degree in Science Education from The Ohio State University. She lived in Columbus OH for four years and at that time she also taught Hebrew for young children in a Sunday school.

Michal can be reached at michal@moedcommunity.org

SITE DIRECTORS

Jonathan Tessler, Chevy Chase Director

Jonathan was born in the United States and grew up in Israel. In 2016 he got a bachelor's degree in applied linguistics from Georgia State University. As a bilingual native, his main area of interest is the process of second language acquisition. He lived in Atlanta, GA before moving to Portland, OR, and then relocating to Maryland.

Jonathan can be reached at Jonathan@moedcommunity.org

Ilisa St. Pierre, Fairfax Director

Ilisa holds a degree in Elementary Education and has over 30 years of experience working with children of all ages. Most recently, she was the Director/President of Keshet Child Development Center, a private Jewish Preschool in Arlington, VA. Ilisa is a longtime member of Congregation Olam Tikvah, and together with her husband Steve and two daughters Sarah and Rachel, has been an active member of the NOVA Jewish Community. She has a deep love of Israel and Judaism and is excited to be learning Hebrew along with the children in the MoEd program.

Ilisa can be reached at ilisa@moedcommunity.org

Danit Levitan Vardi, North Bethesda Director

Danit graduated from Bar Ilan University with a degree in psychology and early childhood education, concentrating on special education and implementing methods and tools in movement and sports. During the past 5 years, she directed several preschools and various educational programs under the auspices of the Israel Ministry of Education. Danit is a marathon runner, a Pilates coach, and a mother to three wonderful boys.

TEACHING TEAM

Ori Edvi

Bio coming soon

Ori can be reached at ori@moedcommunity.org

Yotam Ofek

Hello, my name is Yotam Ofek, and I’m from a small community in Misgav municipality in the northern Galilee.

I come from a Reform Jewish family of six, with me being the eldest of four brothers.

I majored in theater and Chemistry, and I’m a swimmer. I’ve also been a youth counselor for three years.

I’m really excited for this amazing program to start.

Omer Avigdori

Hi, my name is Omer Avigdori. I’m 18 years old and live with my parents and 13-year-old sister in Hod HaSharon.

In high school, I majored in cinema and biology, and in my spare time, I like to watch movies and soccer, and hang out with friends.

I’m excited to start my Shinshin year and look forward to meeting you all.

Shiran Sapir

Shiran Sapir is our administrative director. She was born and raised in Kibbutz Dovrat in Northern Israel. She holds a degree in Interior design from the Holon Institute of Technology and has leveraged her creative background to excel in various administrative capacities. Shiran lived in Jerusalem until she moved to Rockville in 2019 with her family.

Shiran can be reached at admin@moedcommunity.org