B'nai Mitzvah Guide -Tutors

APPROVED TUTORS

Erin began tutoring Bar/Bat Mitzvah students in Metairie, Louisiana many moons ago but returned to this role at Congregation Shearith Israel in preparation for her oldest son's Bar Mitzvah in 2013.  Over the past 12 years, she has created and facilitated a variety of experiential multi-generational Jewish education initiatives. Erin customizes the learning experiences to fit the child's individual strengths and preferences to make the journey impactful, enjoyable, and meaningful for the family. 

REBECCA CHESKES

Rebecca has been tutoring students for B'nai Mitzvah at Congregation Shearith Israel for over 22 years. She has expertise with a wide variety of learners and enjoys getting to know thttps://www.shearithisrael.com/bnaimitzvah-tutors#he family as the student prepares for his/her bat mitzvah. Her philosophy is to meet each student where he/she is at, and bring them to a place of comfort with the service and traditions that surround the celebration of the bar/bat mitzvah.

SHIM GARTNER 

As a tutor, I’ve had the privilege of guiding over thirty students and their families through the B’nai Mitzvah process. To me, the B’nai Mitzvah is more than just the chanting of a Torah portion (although that is very important!), it is also an opportunity for the student to connect with Jewish tradition and in the process foster confidence in their own abilities. Having worked in diverse roles within the Jewish youth education sphere, such as a Hebrew school teacher for all age groups and a Temple song leader for Shabbat services, my experience allows me to tailor my approach to the individual. Beyond my teaching roles, my passion for music shines through my background in jazz guitar and choral performance, and I strive to weave this into my teaching approach, making learning engaging and enjoyable for my students. Witnessing the growth of my students as they confidently step into their roles as B’nai Mitzvah is a source of great fulfillment for me, and hopefully will be for them as well! 

I offer teaching both in-home and virtually, so please feel free to reach out and we can discuss what works best for your family.

NANCY GOROD 

SHAI ROBKIN

Shai (pronounced “shy”) is a native Atlantan who lived in Israel for many years. Shai strongly believes that the most important outcome of the preparation for Bar/Bat Mitzvah should be skills that the child will be able to use and want to use throughout their life. For some, that may mean competence in Hebrew and for others, the ability to regularly chant Torah and Haftorah and lead the congregation in prayer. Shai is a semi-retired businessman who can oftentimes adjust his schedule to meet the needs of the family. Shai is comfortable tutoring via ZOOM or in person.

RACHEL SCHWARTZ

Rachel Schwartz is a native East Cobb-er who recently returned to Atlanta after spending 5 years living, learning, and working in Jerusalem. She has been involved in informal Jewish education for over 10 years, having taught at several Hebrew Schools, tutored students in Hebrew and Bnai Mitzvah prep, and worked at Ramah Darom. She is passionate about imparting ‘Jewish joy’ to her students, and doing what she can to make the process enjoyable and suitable to the needs and skills of each student. Given her strong background in Hebrew and extensive learning in Jerusalem, she aims to provide students with an understanding of the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ of their services and Torah portions, not just the ‘how.’ Currently based out of East Cobb, Rachel offers a hybrid tutoring structure - combining Zoom sessions and in-person sessions to be determined by the location and needs of each family.  Be in touch if Rachel sounds like a good fit for your family!