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Westport synagogue adds three staff

WESTPORT — Temple Israel has announced the appointment of three new members of its staff. The Reform Westport congregation this summer will welcome a new director of education, director of early childhood education, as well as the shul’s first-ever cantorial intern.

Orly Mendelson, Temple Israel’s new director of education, grew up in Israel and moved to the United States more than 30 years ago. She received a BSW from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, a Masters in Jewish History from Baltimore Hebrew University and her RJE (Reform Jewish Educator) from the Association for Reform Jewish Educators.

Mendelson says she was inspired to teach when she was a counselor at a summer camp in Boston. “I was so inspired teaching Jewish youth that I later decided to change vocations from social work to teaching. I began teaching both youth and adults at synagogue, day schools and at university. Jewish education became my passion,” she says.

Nancy Isaacs, Temple Israel’s new director of early childhood education, graduated from Syracuse University with a BA in psychology and from College of New Rochelle with an MS in early childhood and elementary education.

“The curiosity, wonder, and enthusiasm young children bring to each day inspires me to bring my best to them and to their teachers,” says Isaacs, who lives in White Plains and has been a director of an early childhood program for the past 20 years. “I am confident that this is an environment where we will all work together to continue to provide and enhance best practices in early education, as well as offer a joyous and experiential gateway to Jewish engagement.”

Meara Lebovitz, Temple Israel’s new cantorial intern, grew up in Cherry Hill, N.J. She received her BA from University of Hartford and her Masters from Gratz College. Before entering the cantorial program at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Jerusalem, where she is currently completing her first year of study, Lebovitz served as Judaic director at the Katz JCC in Cherry Hill, and as program manager at Kesher Israel Congregation in West Chester, Penn.

“Psalm 96 tells us to ‘Sing unto God all the earth, sing unto God a new song.’  Music has the ability to move us, to inspire us, to heal us, and to bring us together as a community,” says Lebovitz, who will continue her studies at HUC’s New York campus this fall. As Temple Israel’s inaugural student cantor, she will join the shul’s clergy one Shabbat each month.

CAP: Orly Mendelson, Nancy Isaacs, Meara Lebovitz

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