Ross Helford, Education Director, Principal, Vov & Hey lerer (teacher)
Ross Helford is a writer and teacher. He holds an MFA in creative writing, a Black Belt in Kenpo Karate, and is an ordained vegvayzer from Hershl Hartman’s second and final Secular Yeshiva cohort. As an educator, in any given week, Ross works with students of all ages, from four to adult. Ross has been Sholem’s principal since 2013, and took over as Education Director in 2022. In addition to having taught Sholem’s Vov class (9th & 10th grades) since 2006 and Hey (7th & 8th grades) since 2020, Ross is an in-demand multi-subject tutor and college essay/application specialist for Rhodes Educational Consulting. He also runs a karate program for kids in Culver City, writes books, and sometimes movies. His favorite part of Sholem is the sacred privilege of educating the next generation of kids to be conscientious leaders and scholars who will head out into adulthood, confident in their identity and history, doing their part to fulfill the age-old yearning of our people to make this a besere, sheynere velt (a better, more beautiful world).
Rebekka Helford, Vice-Principal, Alef/Beys Lerer, Bagels ’n Blox Coordinator, Klezmer Band Leader
When Rebekka isn’t busy running Alef/Beys, Sholem’s klezmer ensemble, or performing her duties as vice principal at Sholem, she is conducting psychotherapy in her Santa Monica private practice as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, leading parent/toddler groups for Cassidy Preschool, or serving as a freelance consultant for therapists in training. Rebekka is a graduate of Sholem’s secular yeshiva and certified vegvayzer, enabling her to serve as a b’mitsve mentor and officiant for life cycle events. A member of the Sholem faculty for over 20 years, Rebekka was drawn to Sholem because of her love for Yiddishkayt and passion for preserving Jewish cultural heritage in a personally meaningful and relevant way. She loves welcoming newcomers to the Sholem family. Check out her musings on parenting and humanity and learn more about her psychotherapy work at https://www.rhelfordmft.com
Hershl served as Sholem’s education director from 1967 until his death in December 2023, just after his 94th birthday. Between 1967 and 1985, he was also the school’s principal. He was a certified Secular Jewish vegvayzer who trained two generations of secular Jewish leaders. Hershl held degrees in Secular Jewish education and in Yiddish journalism, which he practiced as the first native-born Yiddish newspaper reporter.
A professional Yiddish/English translator and interpreter, he also served on the Executive Board of the Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations (Sholem is an affiliate) and the District Committee of the SoCal Arbeter Ring/Workmen’s Circle, with which Sholem actively collaborates. In addition, Hershl directed the Secular Yeshiva, intensive classes in higher Jewish learning for those willing to make the commitment, as well as for those interested in certification as vegvayzer/madrikhot(im)/leaders.
The Sholem Sunday school, our secular bmitsve program, and our secular holiday observances are just some of the legacies Hershl left behind. It is a legacy we must all carry on.
Giml – Uma Kolesnikow
Uma Kolesnikow will be working as the Giml lerer this year, continuing her ongoing commitment to the Sholem community. Graduating Sholem in 2018, she completed her Bat Mitzvah program by examining different types of Judaism through Passover traditions and learning about social justice through speakers and activism supporting the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program. Uma is attending Santa Monica College with plans to transfer with a major of early childhood education. Sholem has always been such an important place for her both in education and community, and she is very excited to get the chance to instill similar values and a sense of belonging in the Giml students!
Daled – Tanya Gibb
Tanya is a returning Sholem lerer with a deep abiding interest in Jewish culture and identity. She has taught multiple subjects in local schools, from 3rd grade through middle school, since 2008. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge of pedagogy and a love of social justice and learning. She earned her MSW at UCLA and holds a teaching credential from Antioch University Los Angeles.
Operations Manager – Mavi Kolsenikow
Mavi has been a part of Sholem for over 15 years as a student, belfer, and now staff. His barmitsve project explored Jews and other discriminated groups during WWII, which paired well with the class’s social action project focused on the Black Lives Matter movement. In previous years, Mavi mostly ran the cafe. This year, Mavi is going to be your contact person for all things Sholem during school hours, helping to keep the school running, overseeing our belfer, and much more. He’s always here to help and hopes you love Sholem as much as he does!
Hershl served as Sholem’s education director from 1967 until his death in December 2023, just after his 94th birthday. Between 1967 and 1985, he was also the school’s principal. He was a certified Secular Jewish vegvayzer who trained two generations of secular Jewish leaders. Hershl held degrees in Secular Jewish education and in Yiddish journalism, which he practiced as the first native-born Yiddish newspaper reporter.
