Dr. Stein has been the principal of Modern Orthodox Jewish day schools for more than forty years, most notably Maimonides School, a K-12 school in Brookline, MA, for nineteen years, and the Frisch Yeshiva HS in Paramus, NJ for seventeen years. He earned his BA at CCNY and his MA and Ph.D in European History at Columbia University.
Mrs. Debbie Hamburg has been involved in Jewish Day School education as a teacher, a specialist in curriculum, instruction and staff development, an Assistant Principal and now is proud to be the Principal at the Hebrew Academy of Miami Beach (RASG). Mrs. Hamburg has done her graduate work at Hofstra, Bar Ilan and Harvard University. Debbie and her husband Steve are the proud parents of 3 children (HANC graduates) and 6 outstanding grandchildren. They have relocated to the Surfside area and are members of the Young Israel Congregation of Bal Harbour.
Coach Chad Bishop has been at Hebrew Academy for seven years as a coach and has been our Athletic Director for the last four years. Coach Bishop is the all-time leading basketball scorer at East Ridge High School in Clermont, Florida with over 1,400 points and is also the school’s all-time leading rebounder with over 1,000 career rebounds. He went on to get a full scholarship to Barry University in Miami. He was nominated for the McDonald's All American Team in 2005 and was also the Florida Gatorade Player of the year that same year. His passion is working with students and he feels lucky enough to have found a home here at Hebrew Academy after working with the Miami Heat for a year after college.
Mrs. Raquel Felici attended Beth Jacob Teachers College of Montreal to obtain a Teaching Diploma in Judaic Studies and also attended College Marie Victorin to complete degrees in Languages and Literature and Early Childhood Education. She is certified in the Montessori Method, received certification in Special Education from York University, has a BS in Education and Special Education, and a MS in Early Childhood and Students with Disabilities from Touro College. Raquel has attained classroom experience as a preschool teacher, a public school special education teacher, and as a teacher of Judaic studies. She was the Campus Director of Netivot HaTorah South Campus in Toronto. Additionally Raquel is licensed in Judaic Studies and Early Childhood Education from CAJE, has Advanced Level Director’s Credentials from the Florida Department of Children and Families, and has a National Child Development Associate degree. She is the proud mom of four wonderful boys: Yaacov, Gabriel, Yonatan and Ezra.
Mrs. Kaltman has more than 14 years of experience in a broad range of educational leadership positions, including those of assistant principal, principal, and business administrator. Most recently, Mrs. Kaltman has served as the School Business Administrator and Assistant Principal at North Atlanta High School in the Atlanta, Georgia public school system. Mrs. Kaltman has a Master of Arts degree in Educational Studies from Emory University, a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Florida, and completed the Educational Leadership Endorsement Program at Kennesaw State University. In addition, she is completing an additional certification in Educational Leadership by the State of Florida.
Rabbi Litton previously served as the Director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Ann and Nate Levine Academy in Dallas, Texas. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Brooklyn College, a Masters in Education from Aspen University, and Smicha from Yeshiva B’nai Torah in Far Rockaway, New York.
While at Levine Academy, Rabbi Litton managed the Judaic studies program for infants through 8th Grade. He also implemented educational philosophies for the program with a focus on socio-emotional development and mindfulness. Rabbi Litton inspired a new school vision for inclusivity and fostered a sense of Jewish community within the school and the community at-large.
Prior to that, Rabbi Litton spent five years as Director of Youth Services at the West Side Institutional Synagogue in New York, where he managed a team of 15 youth group leaders. Additionally, Rabbi Litton is the founder of Ta Shma Orchestra which has served as a “house” band for organizations such as Camp HASC, NCSY, and Bais Ezra. Rabbi Litton has also spent time as Dean of Discipline for Magen David Yeshivah in Brooklyn, Director of Student Activities for Manhattan Day School, and Assistant Director of Student Activities for both Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaway High School, and Rambam Mesivta High School in Lawrence.
Rabbi Jack Cohen will collaborate closely with the Judaic faculty of the High School, and will be a source of outreach to the community at large.
Previosuly, Rabbi Cohen served as the Director of Education for Olami in North America, training new teachers, coaching and consulting for veteran educators, writing curriculums and overseeing the development and deployment of innovative educational technologies. Prior to this, he was the Director of Education and Senior Educator for Meor Manhattan, teaching large and small groups, and overseeing an ecosystem of transformative educational programs for young people living in the city. Rabbi Cohen is also the co-author of Nurture their Nature: The Torah’s Essential Guidance for Parents and Teachers published in 2021 by Mosaic Press.
Rabbi Cohen’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was honored with the graduation address in front of 13,000 in attendance. Rabbi Cohen then spent six years learning in Israel in Machon Yaakov, Nesivos Aharon, Mir Yeshiva, and Yad Saadia Kollel. He became a close student of Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld, founder and director of Meor, and prolific author and speaker, Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein. He received his Semicha from Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg zt”l. Rabbi Cohen also completed a Master's Degree in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Mrs. Andrea Lucero has been in the field of education for sixteen years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies for grades 6-12 at Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York. She began her teaching career as a fifth grade teacher at a private school and then later moved on to teaching tenth grade U.S. History at a public high school in New Jersey. In 2002, she moved to Miami and began teaching part time at the Hebrew Academy. She taught social studies, English, and math in the middle school during her first year. The following year she began teaching the Middle School Social Studies classes along with an English course. Over the years, Mrs. Lucero has been the student council advisor, Ruach team coach, Community Service Coordinator, and assistant to the principal. In 2008, Mrs. Lucero graduated from Nova Southeastern University with her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. In 2011 she began her role in administration as the Middle School Principal.
Merav Tal Codron was born in Israel and grew up in Miami. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Florida and her MSM in Marketing from Polytechnic University. Prior to working at Hebrew Academy, Merav spent 12 years at Hochberg Lower School - Posnack East where she ran the Business Office for 4 years and the Admissions Department for 8 years. Merav attended Hebrew Academy as a child and is deeply passionate about Jewish education. She is grateful for the strong foundation she received and wants all students to benefit from an educational environment that is warm, engaging, and rich in Jewish values. Merav resides in Aventura with her husband Emmanuel, their children, and dog Snowy. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, reading and spending time outdoors.
Michael Cohen, The Tech Rabbi, is a designer, educator and creativity instigator. His mission is to help educators around the world reveal their own creative abilities so they can empower students to solve interesting problems and become positive contributors to our global society. He is the author of the book Educated By Design, which outlines his principles for revealing and nurturing our innate creative courage and capacity. He is a national keynote speaker, advisor, and trainer. He held previous positions at YULA and Harkham Hillel Academy, both in Los Angeles.
