top of page
Our Teachers
 
Inbar Bloch headshot.jpg

Inbar Bloch        

Shinshinit 

Inbar Bloch is Temple Emanuel’s Shinshinit for the 2022-2023 year. A Shinshin/Shinshinit is an 18-year-old Israeli emissary who defers their army service for one year to volunteer in Jewish communities abroad with the goal of educating people of all ages about Israel and Israeli culture. They teach about Israel through creative programs and challenging discussions, bringing an authentic Israel experience to the community they serve. The Shinshinim program here in St. Louis is a partnership between the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, and local organizations like Temple Emanuel.

 

Inbar comes to us from Tel Mond. She works with our Religious School students, speaks from our bima approximately once a month, and shares with us for holidays. Inbar’s passion is music and she has a beautiful singing voice. In Israel, high school students can specialize in music by taking extra classes and doing a year-long project. Inbar is proud to have received the highest level of music certification possible. She also loves Israeli Shakshuka!

Suzanne Burack headshot.jpg

Suzanne Burack        

Art Specialist 

Suzanne teaches art to students from our Tot program through the eighth grade. She encourages students to embrace their imagination and learn to think outside of the box to solve problems. The students explore different artists, experiment with different art mediums, and learn how to understand and appreciate art through a Jewish lens. Suzanne has taught art at Temple Emanuel for fifteen years. She received her MAT in Communication Arts from Webster University and graduated with a BFA in Graphic Arts and a BSBA in Marketing from Washington University. During the week, she is the art teacher at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. Her goal is to provide all students with an educationally challenging, yet fun, experience in the art room.

Sarah Burk Headshot.jpg

Sarah Burk

PreK - 1st Grade Teacher

This is Sarah's third year teaching at Temple Emanuel. She currently teaches K-5 Elementary Music at Gateway Science Academy. Previously she taught at Indiana State University and Martin University (Indianapolis). Sarah has degrees in clarinet performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (BM), University of Michigan (MM), and University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (DMA). As a clarinetist, Sarah plays with the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, the St. Louis Wind Symphony, and the woodwind quintet Xylem. Sarah is also a founding member of the Cincinnati Klezmer Project and enjoys playing klezmer any chance she gets! She’s the proud mother of a miniature pinscher named Pavel Bonaparte, who is a very good and clever boy. 

Jordan Chazen Headshot.jpg

Jordan Chazen 

2nd - 4th Grade Teacher

My name is Jordan Chazen. I am currently a senior at Fontbonne University in the undergraduate deaf education program. I have been teaching at Temple Emanuel for 3 years and before that I was a teacher’s assistant for many years, as well as the babysitter for High Holy Days. My caring nature has led me to love kids and love teaching so I am so excited to teach at Temple Emanuel again! Judaism has and will always have a special spot in my heart. I had a great religious school experience growing up and I want to create that same amazing experience for my kiddos. When I am not teaching you can find me volunteering, listening to music, or going to St. Louis sporting events.

Zoey Fleisher Headshot.png

Zoey Fleisher

Hebrew Teacher 

Zoey Fleisher (they/them) is a recent graduate of Webster University where they completed a bachelor’s degree in Choral/General Music Education with a minor in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and a Webster LEADS Leadership Certificate. Zoey’s work spans across disciplines that emphasize education, non-profit development, and social justice facilitation. In addition to working at Temple Emanuel as an online Hebrew tutor, they are a part-time program designer and strategist with Tiny Windows Consulting, assistant director of Camp Indigo Point, director of the day school chavurah at SLBC, songleader and religious school teacher at Temple Beth Shalom in Columbia, MO, & and a facilitator with Cultural Leadership. Although Zoey can no longer be at Temple Emanuel in person during this school year, they are thrilled to get to be a part of the Temple Emanuel community via online instruction.

Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh 

9th & 10th Grade Confirmation Class Teacher 

See Rabbi Hersh' bio here.

Kevin Lee.jpg

Kevin Lee 

5th - 8th Grade Teacher 

My name is Kevin Lee and I have been working in the Jewish community for about 8 or 9 years now. I got my start working at Camp Emeth and officially converted to Judaism in October of 2021. I am the co-founder of, and serve as the Assistant Director of, a volunteer-run organization called Stomp the World, whose mission is to create educational and life experiences outside of the classroom. I am excited for my fifth year at Temple Emanuel.

Liv Michaels headshot cropped.jpg

Liv Michaels

TE Tots Teache

Hi! I am Liv Michaels and I have taught Sunday school for around 4 years! I love spending my free time with family, animals, and being outside! I currently am a pre-school teacher at Lucky Lane Early Childhood and love it! I am so happy to be at TE and help out with the TOTS! 

bottom of page