Meet Our School Faculty

2nd Grade-Susan Goldstein

Susan Goldstein has been teaching at Or Hadash since 2002. She grew up in State College, PA, and was a camper at Camp Harlam for nine summers in the 70s and 80s. Susan attended Penn State University and participated in the study abroad program at Tel Aviv University in Israel. She moved to the Philadelphia area in 1992 to work for the U.S. Committee Sports for Israel (Maccabi USA) during the 1993 Maccabiah Games. Susan lives in North Wales with her husband, Marty, and their two children. 

3rd Grade and 7th Grade-Lita Weinstein

Lita Weinstein’s family has been members of Or Hadash since 2001 and she has been teaching 2nd grade for seven years and 7th grade for two.  Having served on the Board, she is also committed to her work on synagogues committees. In addition to working at Or Hadash, Lita teaches at a local private school, coordinates fundraising events for non-profit organizations, and coordinates an art program at a summer camp.  She is also involved with the Upper Dublin School District.  

3rd Grade Hebrew-Vivian Lichtman

Vivian Lichtman was born in New York, where she taught Sunday school before moving   to Pennsylvania.   She received an M.Ed. degree in education and school counseling.   She earned 24 years of experience teaching and counseling children from Kindergarten through 8th grade before she retired in June, 2008.   She wrote grants and received money for some valuable projects and facilitated community service learning activities at her schools.   Vivian has taught Sunday school and 3rd grade Hebrew school at Or Hadash.

David Simon has been teaching Sunday School Judaica for over twenty years, and has been teaching grades 5 though 9 at Or Hadash since 2005.   David lives in Upper Dublin with his wife, Marla, and their three daughters. 

5th Grade Hebrew-Tsipi Razon

Tsipi Razon was born in Israel, served in the Israeli air force as an education and training officer. While studying engineering at the Technion, she worked as a substitute math teacher, and later as a Hebrew teacher for Jewish immigrants. As an engineer, she used her teaching skills training users of project management software. After moving to the United States with her husband and three children, Tsipi studied at Gratz College, where she taught Hebrew at the Ulpan and at the Jewish Community High School. She worked at Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education for seven years, and has been teaching Hebrew at Or Hadash since 2001. 

5th Grade and 8th Grade-Jared Mitchell

Jared Mitchell is the third grade teacher at Or Hadash on Sundays. He currently works in the Chester Upland school district as a fifth grade teacher. In the summers Jared also works at Camp America Day Camp. Jared graduated from West Chester University with a bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Mathematics. He hopes to eventually earn his masters and doctorate degrees. 

4th and 6th Grade-Elisabeth Horry

Elisabeth Horry has taught 4th, 6th, and 8th grades for many years at Or Hadash. She and her husband are members of Or Hadash and have three children who attend the synagogue school. She holds a teaching degree in physical education and is earning graduate level certification in elementary education and reading. Elizabeth also works part time as a third grade teaching assistant at Germantown Friends School.  

Pre-K/K/1st and 7th Grade-Carolyn Savitzky

Carolyn Savitzky began teaching religious school in 1988 while earning her teaching certification from the South Jersey Bureau of Jewish Education. Over the years, she has taught at a number of synagogue schools in the region. In 1995, Carolyn and her family joined Or Hadash and she began teaching in the religious school the following year. Carolyn has taught students of all ages, from pre-school through adult. In addition to her work in the classroom, Carolyn tutors B'nai Mitzvah students and occasionally serves as a service lay-leader for classes from Pre-K thru 1. An active Or Hadash congregant, she has served on numerous committees and the Board of Directors, including chairing the In-reach Committee. She also enjoys participating in Hadassah and a local book club. 

10th Grade-Ruth and Jules Mermelstein

Jules and Ruth Mermelstein have been members of Or Hadash since 1984, and teachers since 1994. Their children, Hannah and Ben, were educated, became Bat and Bar Mitzvah, and were confirmed at Or Hadash. Ruth is a computer programmer and Jules is a social studies teacher at Upper Dublin High School. Ruth chants Torah, Haftarah, Megillat Esther, and Eichah.  She also lay leads services and shiva minyans. Both Jules and Ruth have served on the Or Hadash Board and ad hoc committees.  Jules has a master's degree in education and has been an Upper Dublin Commissioner since 1992.

Resource Room-Bonnie Ritterman

Bonnie Ritterman has been teaching at Or Hadash since 1999. In the Resource Room, she helps children with learning differences. Bonnie teaches all levels of public elementary school. She is part of the Or Hadash community and lives in Dresher with her husband.