Home > Spirituality > Lifecycle Events > B-Mitzvah > B-Mitzvah Tutors
Adjunct Rabbi David L. Abramson works as a chaplain for the Jewish Social Service Agency and as a freelance teacher. He is a board-certified clinical chaplain. He received his rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS) and served in pulpits in Arizona, Ohio, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Maryland for twenty-eight years. Rabbi Abramson has taught extensively in adult Jewish education programs as well as in Hebrew high schools and in Beth El’s Scolnic Adult Institute.
Judy Bisman is a veteran Jewish educator who has been teaching at Beth El since 2014. She has taught b-mitzvah students for over 25 years utilizing a variety of methods to meet different learning styles. The relationship between the b-mitzvah student, the family and tutor is essential to a good experience and Judy incorporates a personal touch with all her students.
Marilyn Fine has been a Jewish educator for many years, and has taught hundreds of youngsters and adults at Beth El. No two B-Mitzvah candidates are alike, but Marilyn enlists her vast years of experience addressing the unique styles of hundreds of students, both typical learners and those with ADHD, IEPs, ASD, twice-exceptional, and/or auditory and visual processing challenges. Marilyn steadfastly supports her students, and her pride is palpable as she watches them stand proudly on the Bimah on their big day. She especially savors the success of those for whom the preparation did not come easily. Students and parents alike praise Marilyn for her “care, support, and love,” as well as her “gentle guidance” throughout the process.
Matthew Jacobson is in his fifth year teaching Middle School Social Studies at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. Having grown up in Montgomery County (and at Beth El!), he knows how special the Jewish community is here, and loves being able to give back to it not only through teaching at the Day School, but also through leading davening regularly at Beth El, as well as having the opportunity to lead B-Mitzvah students through this amazing life cycle event!
Leo Janssen is a student at Jackson-Reed High School. He enjoys playing the violin, singing, drawing, researching interesting topics, and reading Torah. Leo is an engaged member of the Beth El community through singing in the Gesher Chorale, playing in the band at the Shir Yachad Friday night service, frequently reading Torah, and occasionally leading the repetition of Musaf.
Tali Moscowitz worked at Beth El for 17 years before becoming the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director at Moving Traditions. She has a BA in Elementary Education and a MS in Non Profit Management with a certificate in Jewish Communal Service. She has a passion for working with kids with disabilities and creating meaningful Jewish experiences for them. In her spare time, Tali can be found teaching, taking yoga classes, or seeing the latest Broadway musical.
Sheldon Novek has been teaching Religious School and tutoring b-mitzvah students for over 30 years. He tremendously enjoys preparing the students for their b-mitzvah as it an exciting time in their and their family’s lives. Originally from Philadelphia, he is married with two grown sons, and enjoys film, theater, television, ice hockey, photography, traveling and always, always, good and unusual food!
Richard Sloane loves teaching – and especially appreciates the opportunity to work with students and their families in their B-Mitzvah preparation. Mr. Sloane has been teaching at Beth El since 2018, and has taught in other settings (both religious and secular, for students of all ages) for several additional years. In addition to teaching Beth El students ranging from fifth through tenth grade, he also advises the Beth El Religious School’s Tzedakah Council, and routinely helps students craft and execute their B-Mitzvah Projects. He is a graduate of Brandeis University (BA), The Ohio State University (MBA), and the Georgetown University Law Center (JD). Earlier in his career, he served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer, advising entrepreneurs and businesses.
Sarah Roark loves middle schoolers and has been teaching them forever. Her favorite part of tutoring is being able to connect with students one on one and figure out how to best match their individual learning styles. She was born in Bethesda and grew up at Beth El, as did her own children. She is also the Lower School librarian at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School.
Rabbi Alfredo Winter has over 40 years on the pulpit, having led congregations spanning the eastern United States including Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico. He is fluent in English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Hebrew and has extensive tutorial experience in b-mitzvah preparation. Preparing students for their b-mitzvah has always been a truly rewarding endeavor for him and he works with each student to provide an enriching as well as meaningful experience.
