Youth Institute Madrichimot
Madrichimot is the gender-neutral plural Hebrew word for "educational guide." At Malkhut, we see our teachers as guides and fonts of knowledge to aid in your child's exploration of their Jewish identity. Each teacher chooses the appropriate form that feels true for them - madrich (male), madricha (female), madricheh (gender-neutral). To learn more about our use of gender-neutral Hebrew, visit the Nonbinary Hebrew Project.
Yael Copeland (Malkhut & Me and Music Madricha)
Yael (she/her) and Tkiya create participatory music experiences that meet participants where they are – physically, psychologically, and spiritually – to find their unique connection to Jewish culture and community. Yael is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. "I’m just thinking about all the people that are fighting for their freedom, for democracy, for equality, and I think we have got to continue these things for them. It sounds like a cliché, but I think we need to put out to the world what you want to see in it."
Rachel Prince (Shtilim Madricha)
Rachel Prince (she/her) is a passionate educator living in Washington Heights! With a Masters in Teaching and NY certifications in Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities (1-6), she comes to Malkhut equipped with perspective, curiosity, and excitement. She has taught elementary education in the Washington Heights/Inwood neighborhood for the past 4 years. She is thrilled to join the vibrancy of Malkhut and engage more with the Queens Jewish community. Focused on social emotional learning and educating the whole child, Rachel is excited to infuse mindfulness and Jewish practice within the classroom. Here is to the pursuit of tikkun olam - it starts in the classroom!
Glory Mayreis (Anafim Madricheh)
Glory Mayreis (they/them) is a 2023 graduate of the College of Charleston, where they studied Political Science and Jewish Studies with a focus in Public Policy and Women’s and Gender Studies. They’ve been passionate about the intersection of justice efforts and Judaism since childhood, but began studying and advocating for women’s and LGBTQ+ justice in high school. They started the GSA (Genders and Sexualities Alliance) at Glen Cove High School and went on to create CofC Hillel’s very first Jewish LGBTQ+ community group called K’far Keshet, or Rainbow Village in Hebrew. Recently, Glory has been exploring spirituality in the context of organizing and educational work, which led them to join Malkhut as a Madricheh. Glory lives in Washington Heights with their partner and can be found strolling through the park or needle felting in their downtime.
Amalia Schiff (Mekhinim Madricha)
Amalia (she/her) is extremely excited to step into the role of
madricha at Malkhut Queens. Previously, she was a classroom teacher for eight years in East Harlem and the South Bronx in both traditional public and charter schools, where she was an Arthur Miller Theater Education Fellow and a semi-finalist for the FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence. Amalia is deeply passionate about fostering a love of Judaism in young people. She believes that cultivating a strong, meaningful connection to Jewish traditions, values, and community is essential for the next generation. Amalia is a graduate of NYU, Teachers College Columbia University, and Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Sharone David (Mekhinim Hebrew Decoding & Olim Prayerbook Hebrew Morah)
Sharone David (she/her) really enjoys teaching Hebrew! She has taught Hebrew and Jewish studies at reform synagogues, Jewish Day Schools, and home settings (groups and individuals) all over NYC for the past 20 years. She enjoys working with children of all ages and is flexible in matching her teaching to each student’s individual learning pace, strengths, and challenges. Keeping learning fun and engaging is key! Sharone is a fluent Hebrew and English speaker, having grown up in Israel, as well as in the United States. She was a soldier in the Israeli Air Force and has a BA in Psychology from CUNY. Having lived in both countries has given her a unique perspective on both American and Israeli culture. Sharone currently resides in Jackson Heights with her 12-year-old son, Aviv, who is in the Olim Program. She enjoys reading, coming up with healthy and tasty meals, swing dancing, and playing Settlers of Catan with her son.
C. Meranda Flachs-Surmanek (Olim Social Justice Madricheh)
C Meranda Flachs-Surmanek (they/them) is a civically engaged artist and popular educator who makes living history projects and new works of theater. Meranda works with people to explore our relationships with the places we live in and each other. Meranda holds two graduate degrees: one in “theatre for public dialogue” and one in urban planning. Being trained as an urban planner means paying extra attention to the role of space and place in our lives, and to the patterns in our neighborhoods that signal what we can do to take care of each other. As a facilitator, Meranda works with organizers to democratize historical narratives and develop creative projects that serve as places for belonging, learning, and healing. At Malkhut, Meranda will facilitate their favorite work: making inaccessible civic processes more transparent; and supporting groups in building connections between our lived experience, the lived experience of others, and the impact policies have on our shared world. Meranda’s hobbies include playing the fiddle in the old time music tradition, hiking, swimming, and traveling. www.merandissime.com.
Emily Herzlin (Olim Madricha)
Emily (she/her/hers) is a rabbinical student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and is the Student Rabbi at Malkhut. She is interested in Jewish spirituality, particularly the intersections of mindfulness, meditation, and Judaism. Emily hopes to help spiritual seekers connect to the powerful practices of mindfulness, compassion, and ethical action within Judaism. Emily cares deeply about social justice and supporting interfaith families. She is also the founder of Mindful Astoria, a local meditation community,and earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from Columbia University in 2012. Emily lives in Queens, NY with her spouse, Kris, and their son, Lev.
Sophie Bushwick (Olim Madricha)
Sophie Bushwick (she/her) loved learning Hebrew in school and began helping other students with the language as a teenager. She has been tutoring students in Jewish studies, prayer and Hebrew ever since. Sophie lives in Jackson Heights and works in Manhattan as a science writer.
Jim Talbott (Olim Madrich)
Jim Talbott (he/him) has been teaching Olim at Malkhut since the beginning. Previously he taught 5th grade Hebrew school in Chester, CT. He is also active in Jews for Racial and Economic Justice's Freedom to Thrive campaign.
.png)
Cantor Miriam Eskenasy (Olim Madricha)
Cantor Miriam Eskenasy is Cantor Emerita of KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation on Chicago's South side. Since her retirement, she continues to serve and impart her knowledge gained over the years tutoring b'nei mitzvah students and teaching Hebrew and Adult Education classes in person and on zoom. What she loves most about tutoring is seeing the transformation from child to responsible, young Jewish adult and how a positive first Jewish experience influences who they become later in life!
Born in Bucharest, Romania to a Zionist family, Miriam immigrated to Israel when she was 10 years old and to the US at the age of 16. She married and raised her family in Jackson Heights, New York. After 20+ years in the business world, she returned to school, attending the Hebrew Union College, JIR, DFSSM. Earning a Master of Sacred Music degree, Miriam was ordained as a Cantor in 2002 and has served congregations in New York, New Jersey and the Midwest until 2016.
Five years ago, Miriam moved to Portland to be closer to her daughter, Carin (principal bassoon of Oregon Symphony) and grandson Elias. She is now back with us in Jackson Heights, and busy supporting our Olim students. When she is not at the symphony, Miriam has taken up the hobby of weaving!