Education Director & Executive Director

Rabbi Erin Hirsh, DD

Rabbi Erin is a warm, insightful and talented Jewish educator. Rabbi Erin believes all Jewish education should and can be engaging, relevant and meaningful for everyone involved and she is never satisfied with anything less. She brings a wide-range of talents and experiences to her work and loves to bring them all to bear on everything she does as both our Education Director and our Executive Director.

Or Hadash’s SMILE School is actually the third Reconstructionist congregational school Rabbi Erin has directed. In addition to directing individual schools, Rabbi Erin served as the Director of Congregational Education for the Reconstructionist Movement for six years. In that role, she was the primary educational consultant to 100 Reconstructionist congregations, designed TEL, an experiential teen program for Reconstructionist teens from ten congregations (including Or Hadash), supervised the curriculum for Camp JRF (now Camp Havaya), and mentored rabbis and educators across North America.

Rabbi Erin then worked at Gratz College, where was a member of the Executive Leadership Team. she created a national professional learning program for supplementary school teachers, a mentorship program for supplementary school teachers in Greater Philadelphia, and directed the Jewish Community High School. Rabbi Erin secured funding for many of her projects through grant-writing and donor cultivation.​ Her time at Gratz culminated with her service as Interim President from 2017 – 2018. ​Rabbi Erin has secured funding for many of her projects through grant-writing and donor cultivation.​

In 2021, Rabbi Erin decided she wanted to work directly with the students, parents and faculty in one community and was amazed to discover that Or Hadash was looking for an new Education Director. Rabbi Alanna has been a friend and colleague of Rabbi Erin’s for over 25 years. They worked together in many different capacities before Or Hadash. Rabbi Erin and Rabbi Alanna have a wonderful partnership and their skills and passions complement each other beautifully.

Although Rabbi Erin came to Or Hadash to be our Education Director, we quickly realized that the executive administrative skills she cultivated working for the Reconstructionist movement and at Gratz College could address many of our organizational needs. In 2024, we created the position of Executive Director.

Hey (5th Grade)

Oliver Abrams

(he, him)

My name is Oliver, and I’m a first year student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. I’m so excited to guide every student in their growth as learners, thinkers, and questioners. I’ve taught 4th grade Hebrew and Jewish studies at a Reform congregation back in my hometown in New Jersey, and I’ve taught music in a JCC summer camp and a Chabad preschool. I’m currently interning at Congregation Ahavat Olam in NJ as their student rabbi. I aim to bring a passion for Jewish music from around the world into the classroom. In my free time, I like to play soccer and basketball, run, make music and art, and be with friends and family. I’m always open to new music recommendations!

Prosdor (7th, 8th & 9th Grades)

Adam Kupersmith

(he, him)

Adam Kupersmith has been a community member, Klezmaniac drummer, Makaylah singer, and teacher of the Prosdor SMILE School class since 2016.  Outside of OH, he is a pun-loving middle school English teacher, Technical Theater Director, and Shakespeare enthusiast at The Woodlynde School in Wayne.  Moreh Adam values a classroom where students and teacher can learn from and debate with each other.  All three of his children are enrolled in the SMILE school, two of whom he has already taught in his class. 

Gan Katan & Gan (PreK & Kindergarten)

Mackenzie Learn

(she, her)

This will be my family’s eighteenth year as members of Or Hadash, and my sixth year as teacher for the Gan class. For the 5 years prior to that I ran the Or Hadash Preschool Playgroup program and I am excited to be leading the new Little Lights program.  Or Hadash has been a return to teaching for me, having taught at Or Shalom from 2000-2003, and continuing to run their Children’s High Holiday Services through 2007. I gave up teaching to concentrate on my children and my full-time job. Now that my children are older, I am thrilled to be teaching again!  Teaching allows me to share my love of Jewish practice and culture, which I developed as an active member of Kadima and USY, holding the office of Regional President for EPa in my senior year of high school.   

During the week, I am a Product Manager contributing to the development of software used to conduct Clinical Trials.

If you spend any amount of time at Or Hadash you are likely to run into a member of my family. My son Howie, is a Junior teacher. My husband, John, has been a regular attendee at three part harmony since we joined the congregation.  My father, Warren Young, and my mother, Shelley Sanders, are long-time members and were both on the board. My daughter, Sherri, is a student at Temple University. She was confirmed at Or Hadash and worked in the school throughout high school.

In my spare time I like to read and run and have a second degree Black Belt in Karate.  I am looking forward to another wonderful year as part of the Or Hadash SMILE School.

Alef Teacher (1st Grade)

Melanie Pearlman

(she/her)

I am very excited to be back at Or Hadash this year. I love sharing my love for Judaism with the SMILE school students!

Since graduating from Temple University with my degree in early childhood education, I have taught a variety of age groups in various settings. I have tutored elementary through high school students, been a camp counselor at a local synagogue, worked in a daycare, and taught students with special needs in summer school. All of these experiences have been great and have helped me grow as a teacher! I am also working towards my master’s degree in special education at Wilkes University.

My Jewish education began when I attended Solomon Schechter Jewish Day School (now Perelman) in Elkins Park for kindergarten and first grade. After my family moved to Upper Dublin when I was in second grade, I went to Hebrew school at Beth Sholom and then Temple Sinai where I was Bat Mitzhaved. Since then, I have enjoyed observing the Jewish holidays and attending Shabbat services with my family.

When I’m not at work, I enjoy cooking, baking, relaxing outdoors, catching up on my favorite shows, and spending time with my friends and family. My husband Rob and I live in Doylestown with our two daughters, Valerie and Hannah, and our two lovable dogs, Piper and Chase.

Maya Rosenthal

(she/her)

Hello, I’m Maya Rosenthal. I’m a recent Ithaca College grad majoring in Cinema and Photography. Before coming to Or Hadash, I spent several summers working at Ramah Day Camp, where I found my love of teaching and learning from students. I spend most of my time on large creative projects like making comics and short films, so I plan on incorporating my love of art, film, and music into our Jewish learning journey.

Vav Teacher (6th Grade)

Carolyn Savitzky

(she/her)

I am excited to continue teaching in the SMILE school this year! I began teaching at Or Hadash in 1997 and over the years have taught Pre-K, Gan, 5th, 6th and 7th grades as well as tutoring B’nai Mitzvah students. I live nearby in Maple Glen with my husband, Martin. Our daughter Robyn became a Bat Mitzvah at Or Hadash and was a madricha in the school for three years. She now works and lives in Miami. As a long-time member of Or Hadash, I have served on number of different committees, participated in several long-range planning committees, chaired In-reach, Chesed &  Spiritua Life committees and am presently an at large member of the board. I represent OH at the Bux-Mont Kehillah and am a life member of Hadassah. One of the reasons that I love to teach is that I love to learn new things! Some of my favorite things are reading, cooking, and world travel. I look forward to getting to know this year’s class and hope that the students will enjoy expanding their Judaic knowledge as we create an engaged learning community and explore together.