Rachel Brown
Director of Education and Youth and Family Programming
(513) 793-1800 ext 104
Email: rachel@adath-israel.org
Rachel leads our Youth Department, which includes the Jarson Education Center Religious School and all of our Youth & Family programming. You can find her in the school building, leading programs in the youth lounge, or participating in many of our other programs throughout the synagogue or off-site. She received her Bachelor's degree in Classical Vocal Performance with minors in German and Judaic Studies and her Master's degree in Musical Theatre Performance. Rachel lives in Cincinnati with her husband.
Kim Ambrosius
Administrative Assistant
(513) 793-1800 ext 164
Email: kim@adath-israel.org
Kim was born and raised in Cincinnati and went to school for Computer Business Management. Kim may be the first person you see when coming into the school building. She helps in many areas of school administration. In her spare time, she loves to volunteer and help any animal shelter or organization to find homes and dwindle the homeless.
Avi Dave
Youth and Programming Coordinator
(513)793-1800 ext. 118
avi@adath-israel.org
Avi supports the Jarson Education Center Religious School and its madrichim (teachers’ student assistants), supervises Youth & Family age-based groups from Mazel Tots (pre-K) through AIUSY (high school), and curates a well-rounded array of intentional experiences for Nefesh Young Professionals.
Avi knows from personal experience that Adath Israel is a Jewish Cincinnati cornerstone that offers exceptional opportunities for active community, learning, and growth, and is excited for this new chapter.
In his free time, Avi likes to cook (and eat) good food, play (and sometimes even win) table tennis, pickleball, and Nintendo Switch games, and travel (to Israel).
Samantha Rose
Youth Department Consultant
samantha@adath-israel.org
Samantha has recently earned her Bachelors at University of Cincinnati where she studied Criminal Justice and Hebrew. Throughout her time there, she was active with Challah for Hunger, Bearcats for Israel, and spent her free time teaching at CHDS and Valley Temple.
Maggie Libbert
Behavior Intervention Specialist
Maggie was Cincinnati born and raised. She graduated from Mount St. Joesph University in 2019 with her Bachelor’s in Sociology and Criminology and is currently a specialist at day treatment program for middle schoolers and high schoolers. When Maggie isn’t working with youth in some capacity, she can be found enjoying time with her 2 cats, her family, and reading a good book.
Barbara Bresler
Librarian
Barbara Morrison-Bresler grew up in Dallas, Texas and holds a Fine Arts Degree from the University of Texas and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. She was a librarian at the University of Nebraska, the Archivist/Director for the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, and a consultant archivist with the Jewish Women’s Archive in Boston. Since moving to Cincinnati, Barbara has served as the Librarian at Adath Israel. Barbara is married to Scott Bresler and is mom of Lenny, Elka and Micah.
Sherry Cohen
Pre-Gan (Preschool)
Sherry Cohen grew up in Amberley Village Ohio. She earned her Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education at U.C. She taught preschool, daycare, and finally Kindergarten where she received the Martha Holden Jennings teaching award for excellence. Sherry left teaching to raise her own 3 kids, but also runs an internet company with her husband Mitch Cohen. Now that Sherry’s kids are grown, she returned to teaching at Adath Israel. Sherry received the Walter Hattenbach teacher of the year award her first year back in the classroom. Her interests are walking, watching HGTV, playing Candy Crush, visiting Disney World and her Corgi.
Debbie Lempert
Gan (Kindergarten)
Debbie Lempert grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. She earned her B.A. in Elementary Education and Masters in Literacy from the University of Cincinnati. Debbie taught first and second grade over 8 years at the Wyoming City Schools in Wyoming, Ohio. She left Wyoming to teach two very special students, Zachary and Hannah Lempert. Currently Debbie teaches Kindergarten at Adath Israel Religious School. Among her many interests, Debbie spends a lot of time volunteering at Adath Israel and is currently serving as the synagogue president. She also is learning to play the guitar. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and enjoys cooking, making scrapbooks and playing games.
Lauren Figa
Lauren is originally from Louisville, KY. She moved to Cincinnati in 2017 to attend UC where she studied Marketing and Pre-Medicine. Throughout her time there, she was actively involved at Hillel and taught violin lessons in her free time. Currently, she is working in business analytics. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and likes to travel.
Sarah Manning
2nd and 3rd Grade Hebrew
Sarah grew up in West Chester. She is currently raising her 4 children (Maya, Asher, Ryder, and Brewer) in Liberty Township with her husband. She taught for several years at the Conservative Hebrew High School Mercaz. She was a member of Beth Israel Congregation in Hamilton, Ohio prior to coming to Adath. She is also a Realtor, and in her spare time, she likes to crochet, cross stitch and read.
Emily Glazer
2nd and 3rd Grade Judaics
Emily has had an active role in Cincinnati's Jewish community since growing up in Cincinnati and belonging to Adath Israel. Emily shows enthusiasm for being Jewish and is excited to share her excitement with the third and fourth grade class, while also combining her interests and Judaism in the electives. Emily has her masters degree in clinical mental health counseling and when she isn't busy teaching Hebrew School, she works as a behavioral health therapist for Best Point
Carly Stewart
4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Judaics
Carly is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from Vanderbilt University with degrees in biology and science communication, and she was an active Hillel leader throughout college. She is currently an MD/PhD student at the University of Cincinnati, with interests in pediatrics and genetics. In her spare time, Carly enjoys climbing, baking, and going to trivia with friends!
Baily Doctrow
7th and 8th Grades
Baily grew up in Louisville, KY and moved to Cincinnati for college at UC. Baily was involved in Hillel and Challah for Hunger at UC. She studied Secondary Education and stayed in Cincinnati after graduation to teach Language Arts to middle schoolers in Fairfield City School District. Baily loves spending time with family and friends, reading, and has recently ventured into crafts (sun catchers, knitting, etc.).
Sarah Lohse
7th and 8th Grades
Born and raised in the metro Detroit area, I attended Jewish Day Schools from 1-12th grades. I moved to Cincinnati in 2007 where I proceeded to get a bachelors degree in Judaic Studies, a Masters in Judaic Studies and a Masters in education. I now live with my husband, our two year old, our dog and a baby on the way down in Kentucky where I teach a public school.
Mitch Cohen
Music, Trope, and Tefillah
(513) 793-1800 ext 107
mitch@adath-israel.org
Mitch Cohen grew up at Adath Israel. He is our High Holiday Cantor and choir director. He is Adath Israel's Bar and Bat Mitzvah teacher. He is married to Sherry and has three children, Jeff & Emily, and Ben all Jarson Education Center graduates.
Toby Samet
Hebrew Resource Teacher
Toby Samet, a Cincinnatian by birth, graduated from Hughes High School and the University of Cincinnati College of Education (with high honors). She has taught at Adath Israel since 1966, while also teaching kindergarten at Yavneh Day School (Rockwern), preschool at the Jewish Community Center, and was Director-Teacher at Adath Israel Preschool. Her family includes son Mike, grandson Danny and daughter Michelle & husband Sam, ( both of blessed memory). Hobbies are gardening, animal conservation (volunteered at the Zoo for 25 years), classical music, and mah jongg. The Resource Room is where you can find her, supporting the needs of Religious School children.
Gail Jacobs
Hebrew Resource Teacher
Gail Jacobs has been a life long member of Adath Israel Congregation. She became a bat mitzvah here and attended Adath Israel Religious School. She was also a teaching assistant when she was in high school. She was active in Kadima and USY and attended Camp Livingston and Camp Ramah. She also traveled to Israel. She studied Elementary Education/Early Childhood Development at the University of Cincinnati. Gail is returning for her 13th year teaching at Adath Israel. She is the mother of five, all Adath Israel and Mercaz graduates. She lives in Wyoming with her pit bull Moses and her chihuahua Skitch. Gail will be lending her expertise in the classrooms this year.
