Hershl Hartman		Hershl Hartman, Education Director/Vegvayzer Hershl Hartman is a Certified Secular Jewish vegvayzer who officiates at weddings and other life-cycle events, Hershl's  Yiddish education resulted in degrees in Jewish Education and in Yiddish Journalism, which he practiced as the first native-born Yiddish newspaper reporter. He served as principal of the Center Island (NY) Jewish School and, for some 20 years, at Sholem. His wide-ranging activity in the Secular Jewish movement includes the Executive Board of the Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations (Sholem is an affiliate), the SoCal and Natl. Exec. Boards of the Arbeter Ring/Workmen's Circle (with which Sholem collaborates). In addition, he conducts intensive classes in higher Jewish learning for those willing to make the commitment, as well as for those interested in becoming Recognized vegvayzer/madrikhot(im)/Leaders.
Julie Gamberg		Julie Gamberg, School Director/ Principal Before coming to Sholem, Julie Gamberg directed an award-winning after-school program in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. She also has fifteen years of K-12 and college teaching experience in both very traditional (she was first a K-12 substitute, and much later a first grade special education teacher in the Oakland public schools) and very non-traditional environments (she has taught for California Poets in the Schools, taught in juvenile hall, and at alternative, after-school, and non-profit settings). She has been involved in The New Teachers Project, has developed curricula professionally, and has conducted teacher trainings and workshops in both K-12, after-school, and college. She has also done paid and volunteer social justice and community organizing work. Outside of Sholem, she teaches English literature and composition and is a published poet. Her first book, The Museum of Natural History won the Blue Lynx Poetry Prize. At Sholem, she loves to hear about what is and isn't working, to celebrate, to problem-solve, to direct you to resources, and to help build this strong community which she is so happy to be a part of. She is expecting her first child this November.
		Lester Silverman, Sholem Co-Chair I am very proud to be a co-chair of Sholem. I hope you share with me the importance of this organization for ourselves, for our children, and a better world.   Our children are our hope for the future and the better education we can give them the more our own dreams can be fulfilled.  Looking forward to some great experiences in the coming year
Tiffany Miller		Tiffany Sydelle Miller - Tsvey Lerer In addition to teaching the Tsvey Class at Sholem, Tiffany Miller works for  "Children Youth and Family Collaborative," a non-profit dedicated to level the educational playing field for foster and at-risk youth by providing educational intervention programs at schools in East Los Angeles and Compton. Her day-to-day duties include creating, organizing and implementing after-school enrichment programs for elementary and middle school aged children at all school sites as well as manage the academics and tutoring day and after-school program at Audubon Middle School. In the past year of working in the inner city area, she has participated and completed her hours of national service in the Americorps "State" program. Along with working, she is pursuing her Masters in Liberal Studies at the University of Southern California.
		Lila Steinberg, Eyns Lerer Lila Steinberg comes from a long line of artistic and progressive Jews.. Her father, David, is a folk singer who cavorted with the likes of Pete Seeger and Allen Ginsberg. She began performing on stage at the age of six, and has been involved with music, theatre, film and the visual arts ever since. More recently Lila spent three years tutoring children in language arts and mathematics, and also teaches English as a Second/Subsequent Language at Los Angeles Valley College and Glendale Community College. One thing she loves about teaching is the daily opportunity for moments of discovery that students and educators inspire in one another. Growing up in the south, Lila became sensitized to the need for positive action to combat racism, homophobia, economic disparity, and anti-Semitism. In her teaching work with immigrant and underprepared students, she has sought to facilitate intercultural communication and critical thinking, and, most importantly, a sense of personal agency and community power for social change. She is a great supporter of the spirit of independent media and has been an ongoing volunteer in local independent radio. During her Master’s program in Linguistics, Lila became especially interested in discourses of activism and the growing importance of new media. She is delighted to be a part of the Sholem community, and welcomes an open dialog with parents and other community members.
Kalil Cohen		Kalil Cohen - Hey Lerer Kalil Cohen is thrilled to be joining the Sholem community this year as the Hey Lerer.  His previous teaching experience includes student teaching in middle school and elementary school settings in Los Angeles, as well as over 10 years experience as a tutor.  He received his teaching credential from UCLA in 2009 and is currently working towards a master's in education which will be completed in June 2010.  Apart from his work as a teacher, Kalil is a filmmaker who has screened short films at over 30 film festivals worldwide including the London Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the Netherlands Transgender Film Festival, and Outfest here in Los Angeles.  In 2009 he founded the Trans/Giving Film Festival, LA's first transgender film festival, and looks forward to expanding the festival programming in August 2010.  Kalil also performs hip hop under the name Metahuman at events in and around Southern California.     As an activist, Kalil's organizing has focused on healthcare access for transgender people, marriage equality, and educating college students on becoming better allies to the transgender community. He also contributes to the creation of secular Jewish cultural events in Los Angeles through his involvement with JQ International, the Moishe House, and as the founder of the Jewish Mentor Program at Pomona College where he studied as an undergraduate. This program filled a gap at Pomona by creating a secular space for Jewish students to form community on campus.  He looks forward to getting to know the Sholem community better this year, so please introduce yourself when you see him!
Rebekka Helford		Rebekka Helford, Bagels & Blox and Music Lerer When Rebekka Helford isn't busy co-leading Sholem's toddler program, Bagels & Blox, or running the Sholem School Klezmer Ensemble, Sholem's youth Klezmer band, or performing her duties as lead teacher at Sholem, she is doing psychotherapy with middle-school children as a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern. She also teaches Music Together (developmentally appropriate parent and toddler music and rhythm) classes, does Kundalini yoga, and edits psychology dissertations. She also enjoys reading books and watching movies.
Ross Helford		Ross Helford, Vov Lerer & Music Lerer I grew up in Eugene, Oregon, where there was only one Synagogue, which was affiliated with the Reform movement. Even though neither of my parents are religious Jews, they made me go to Hebrew school so that I could ³connect with my Jewish roots.² I never liked Hebrew school, quit on multiple occasions, and was only convinced to go through with my Bar Mitzvah when my dad sat me down and showed me how much money I would rake in by going through with it. Being a part of Sholem satisfies the connection with my Jewish roots that was important to my parents and remains important to me. I have never found much meaning in worship and so Sholem¹s notion that belief in the supernatural is a personal decision resonates strongly with me. I have been working in the entertainment industry since I moved to LA in 1998, and have been a working writer in movies and television since 2001. I find this profession to be incredibly fulfilling (to say nothing of challenging, frustrating, harrowing and confusing), but I also have a great passion for teaching. This will be my fourth year as Vov teacher (high school freshmen). I am humbled by the loyal following the Vov class has earned, and also by the incredibly high retention rate of my former students ­ after the Vov class they graduate the Sholem school and go on to be belfer (helpers in the classroom and for the community). I also teach a monthly belfer class and help my wife Rebekka run the all-student klezmer band. I am also a second-degree brown belt in Ed Parker¹s Kenpo Karate, and I teach karate to students ranging from four years-old to adult.
Linda Fisher		Linda Fisher - Music Coordinator Linda is a classically trained singer, music educator and performer in a variety of genres, including musical theatre, light opera and folk, and has worked in the field of children's music for over 23 years. In addition to performing in children's musical venues, she has run classes and story times at a local bookstore, taught teacher training music workshops, and was the former music director of Peace Camp, a project of Women's International League of Peace and Freedom (WILPF).   Both she and her children are graduates of Sholem (yes, it existed way back then!)  She has been Sholem's Music Coordinator for over 11 years, and looks forward to continuing to help create an enriching and satisfying musical experience for the entire community.
Ruthy Seid		Ruthy Seid, Music Lerer Ruthy Seid is a third generation secularist and a Valley Kindershul and Mitlshul graduate. She has taught music at Sholem for 14 years (three years two decades ago, and now for the last 11 years). Her day job is as a librarian with the Los Angeles Public Library.