Staff | byachad

Our Staff

"I have learned much from my teachers, more from my colleagues, and the most from my students."

(Babylonian Talmud, Ta'anit 7A-1)

Rabbi Suzanne Brody

Director of Education and Youth Programming at Temple Beth-El

Rabbi Suzanne Brody loves being part of the B'Yachad and Temple Beth-El communities. An alumna of Wellesley College with a PhD in neuroscience from The University of California at San Diego, and rabbinic ordination from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies of the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, CA, Rabbi Brody brings a mixture of the serious and the silly to her teaching.

Rabbi Brody’s passion for innovating new ways to share a love of learning about and doing Judaism is evident. She has worked in both formal and informal educational settings, creating dynamic programming for children and teens through her positions as the Middle School Judaics Coordinator at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School in St. Louis, MO, the Jewish Educator for the children’s program at the Shtibl Minyan in Los Angeles, the Rabbinic Intern for Camp Alonim, and as the interim Principal at the Pressman Religious School of Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles. She has also designed and taught numerous adult education courses.

Rabbi Brody fuses tradition and innovation as she shares a variety of ways in which to engage with Hebrew, holidays, and values.

Gayle Alderman

Head Teacher and Program Director

Gayle Alderman is originally from Pennsylvania and her education includes a BA in behavioral sciences and a minor/concentration in early childhood education. She has worked in Pennsylvania and New York State, most recently in Tompkins County Head Start program, before joining the B'Yachad family in fall, 2015.

From Gayle:

Working with children is a privilege and the children need to work (play) in a positive safe environment where respect and kindness are shown to all individuals. I want children to question and seek to find answers with the freedom to have successes and failures. My desire is that each child will build on their skills to make wise decisions and to become problem solvers. Most importantly, I want to have fun as we learn and grow.

I appreciate parents in the classroom supporting your child/children by sharing your gifts and abilities with the class. I am open to your suggestions and ideas for topics of study as we work together to create a positive environment for the children.

Kristin Whittaker

Teacher