Mission Statment

The Luria Academy is a nurturing, child-centered, value-oriented environment dedicated to academic excellence and Jewish heritage. We offer our students the warmth and love of a traditional Jewish day school coupled with modern teaching techniques and technology. Students receive an excellent Torah and secular education by being exposed to a uniquely integrated Judaic-secular curriculum. Above all, Luria is a school that fosters Jewish pride - Ahavat Yisrael - and a deep sense of compassion and commitment for all of mankind - Ahavat Olam.

The atmosphere of the school is one in which students can achieve their spiritual, intellectual, and social potential as well as recognize the relevance of Jewish values in their lives. Our teacher's' focus is to provide each child with clear moral direction that stresses the values cherished in our tradition.

Our educational philosophy is rooted in a profound respect for each child as a unique individual with a unique form of intelligence. By incorporating the progressive teaching methodology of Montessori and Dewey methods along with the traditional modes of respected Jewish day schools, we aim to create a new model for Jewish education. In the words of King Solomon in Proverbs 22.6: we strive to "guide each child on his (or her) own path." At Luria, your child will learn to think, observe, and reflect. Instead of teaching right answers, we teach our children to ask the right questions, and lead them to discover the answers for themselves. Learning becomes its own reward, with each success fueling new discoveries. Most importantly, through the learning process students begin to build a framework for leading a meaningful life.

Educational Philosophy:
Authentic learning grows out of a child's innate drive to make sense of the world.

Children acquire knowledge and skills both through interaction with their environment as well as through their own experiences, purposes and values.

Each child is born with a unique set of gifts and talents, which, if properly nourished, will lead to a deeply rewarding, productive life.

Education is a developmental, interactive process of growth, encompassing all aspects of the child's nature - emotional, psychological, physical, moral and creative, as well as cognitive and academic.

The classroom is a social setting in which children should learn to work together and to help one another.

The child, not the lesson, is the center of the teacher's attention; each student has individual strengths that should be cultivated and grown.

Teaching good manners and compassionate behavior is integral to developing strong, independent personalities.

Education is the way we as parents can transmit to our children the best of our traditions and knowledge. Education should never be purely utilitarian, but should always be evolving, facilitating curiosity.

In the innocence and sincerity of children there is the immeasurable potential for goodness, leadership, and an appreciation of the sanctity of life.

Torah studies and a secular education are compatible and complementary to each other. We strive to teach each with dedication to its ideals and principles and enrich our students in the process.

Parental Involvement:
We will schedule parent observation times, publish weekly newsletters, conduct parent-teacher conferences, and have informal conversations throughout the year. We encourage parents to participate in special events, share talents, hobbies, etc.

Educating the Whole Person:
The Luria experience nurtures Jewish consciousness, ethical awareness and moral responsibility. It combines respect for the individual with academic challenges, broadening experiences in the arts, athletics, community service and a wide range of stimulating opportunities for personal growth.

Our Staff:
Our teachers are carefully chosen not only for their experience and credentials, but most of all for their warmth and delight in children. Each class is lead by a credentialed teacher and an assistant, who are versed in Torah and secular studies and trained in progressive teaching methodology.

Our teachers and administrators will be engaged in research throughout the year, bringing innovations, new insights and the best practices to the classroom.

Admissions Policy:
Luria Academy of Brooklyn admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.

Aspiration:
We offer our vision of a new type of school to those who will embrace it. We offer parents our understanding that education should be a celebration of life and that the responsibility for developing our childrens' minds is a sacred trust that we will approach with all the sincerity and dedication that it merits.

Board of Advisors

Rabbi Yakov Haber is the founder and driving force behind TorahLab, an online Jewish educational resource and a powerful new approach to Jewish learning. As the former National Director of Jewish Education for the Orthodox Union, he created the highly successful "Pardes Project." Rabbi Haber is the founder of the Australian Institute of Torah and the Torah Center of Buffalo, NY. He is also one of the founding members of AJOP, the Association of Jewish Outreach Professionals. Rabbi Haber is an expert in adult Jewish education and the onetime spiritual leader of Congregation Bais Torah in Monsey, NY. Rabbi Haber has published numerous articles and books and is a sought after international lecturer. Through TorahLab, Rabbi Haber is bringing together educational and media specialists to create dynamic learning experiences for adults of all backgrounds and levels.

Matthew R. Pincus MD PhD is Chairman of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the New York Harbor VA Medical Center and is Professor of Pathology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. He is also the Editor, with Dr. Richard McPherson, of the classic textbook in Clinical Pathology, Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods.

Sara Reguer, PhD Chair, Department of Judaic Studies, Brooklyn College, CUNY.Dr. Reguer received her PhD in Middle Eastern Studies from Columbia University. Her areas of expertise include modern Israel, Jewish women, Middle Eastern Jewish history, diplomatic history of the Middle East, and Italian Jewry. She has published widely in all of these areas, and her latest book is "The Jews of the Middle East and North Africa in Modern Times" Columbia University Press, 2003. She is a mother of two daughters and a long-time resident of Brooklyn.

Anita Septimus, LCSW, PhD was raised and educated in France and England. After graduating from the Gateshead Seminary in England she taught Judaic studies and French extensively to high school and adults in France, Israel, and New York. As a mother of four she furthered her education in psychology and clinical social work, receiving an MSW from Wurtzweiler School of Social Work and a PhD from Columbia Pacific University. She is currently the Director of Einstein-Montefiore Department of Pediatrics, a program she initiated and has managed for the past 22 years. Her passion for education grew out of raising her children and being a big part of her grandchildren's lives.

Board of Trustees

Alisa Boymelgreen is a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice in Prospect Heights. She worked at the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services for 5 years as a clinician prior to setting up her practice in 2005. Her interest and experience with child psychology and development as well as the impact of family dynamics and education on children has helped inform the creation of this school. She is also a photographer by hobby and a mother of a 3-year-old girl at heart. Her dream to help start this school can be summed up in these words: "I think children are magical and often misunderstood. Their schooling should be filled with magic and understanding."

Miriam Boymelgreen has an extensive background in education, having taught pre-school for Chabad Lubavitch of the Upper West Side and worked at the Hebrew Academy for Special Children. She studied at the New School University and Hunter College. Miriam strongly stands behind Luria Academy and its focus on high academic standards for both Hebrew and English studies utilizing a Montessori-type approach. Miriam is the mother of two young children, both of which are anxiously looking forward to attending Luria Academy starting in the fall.

Sam Boymelgreen is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Boymelgreen Developers, one of the leading and most active development companies in New York City, Miami, and Texas. He is responsible for overseeing all phases of development and construction. Sam first dreamed of starting a school when he married his wife Alisa and they made plans for their future kids. With Mila now attending Luria Academy, Sam is ever grateful that he was able to help create this unique learning experience.

Rabbi Ari Kirschenbaum is Executive Director of Chabad Prospect Heights - Jewish Community Center. Rabbi Ari holds a B.A. in Jewish Law from West Coast Talmudic Seminary 2001 and received Rabbinate Ordination from Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch 2002. He was the Judaic Studies Program Director at the Mayanot institute of Jerusalem in 2003 and currently serves as Rabbi and counselor to the brownstone Brooklyn Jewish community. He is the editor of Jewish Brooklyn Weekly. He has recently spearheaded the rehabilitation efforts of one of Brooklyn's oldest and most venerable synagogues, Congregation Kol Israel of Prospect Heights, where he also serves as scholar in residence. Rabbi Ari lectures widely on a variety of topics on Jewish thought and values.

Dina Lipkind MS, RD, CDN has been a registered dietitian for over 13 years. Her specialty is pediatric nutrition and nutritional support. She received her masters degree from New York University's School of Education in 1993, and completed her dietetic internship at St. Vincent's Medical Center in 1992. She is an active member of the Greater New York Dietetic Association and is certified by the NY State Board of Education as a dietitian/ nutritionist. She has been a nutrition consultant for Yeled V'Yalda's Early Childhood Center since 1994, working to provide early intervention to high-risk children and their families. As a single mother, Dina brings compassion and dedication to the school and its mission.

Jacob Septimus is a graduate of Columbia University School of Law and is an attorney in good standing, admitted to the New York Bar. After a short stint practicing intellectual property law, he left to found MIC Media, an entertainment company with music, television, film and Internet properties. Since leaving MIC in 2004 he has worked as a film and television director and producer. He currently works as a Creative Director at Berlin Cameron United/WPP in NY and is heading up a new media division under WPP. He is the proud father of Ella, a 3 year-old girl who is excited about attending her first year at Luria this Fall.

Staff Bios

Sara Malasky        Lead Teacher, 5-9 Class
Sara's most recent position was at the Preschool of the Arts in Chelsea. For four years prior, she taught Kindergarten at Yeshiva Ketana of Manhattan's early childhood center. Earlier, she worked in the special education department in the NYC public school system for two years and taught and developed curriculum for the Early Childhood Department as well as the fifth and sixth grades at Hebrew Academy in Austin, TX. Additionally, she taught literacy privately in many one-on-one and small group settings. Sara graduated from Touro College with a Bachelor's degree in education and is currently enrolled in a Literacy Education graduate program at Hunter College. She also has two years of training in the AUSSIE method, a balanced literacy approach. She spent the recent summer weeks training at the Taryag Torah Montessori teacher training seminar with Rabbi Jonathan Rietti.

Devora Lea Kirschenbaum        Teacher, 5-9 Class
Devora Lea is returning for her second year at Luria Academy. She is a graduate of Machon Shoshanat Yerushalayim. Previously, she taught Pre-K in Boca Raton, Florida. Devora Lea has also directed camps across the globe, including in Finland, Ireland, Florida, Alabama, and California. Devora Lea is pursuing her Bachelor's degree.

Tzippy Lob        Lead Teacher, 3-5 Class
Tzippy received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Brooklyn College, graduating on the Deans list. She continued her education at Touro College Graduate School of Psychology and Education. She graduated with a 3.8 GPA and received a M.S. in both General and Special Education. She is a New York State certified teacher in general and special education. Last year, Tzippy was the lead preschool teacher at HIDEC, in Brooklyn. She was responsible for twenty-two children ranging from 2.5 to 5 years old. Tzippy also worked as a direct care worker in Ohel's foster care residence and taught at OTSAR's Sunday program and Bnos Bais Yaakov's after school program. Tzippy is currently enrolled in Montessori teacher training with the North American Montessori Center.

Symie Lipkind        Teacher, 3-5 Class
Symie has been part of the staff of Luria Academy since its inception. She is working toward a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Intervention and is completing her 3-5 Montessori certification at West Side Montessori Teacher Education Program, which is affiliated with NYU. Her earlier experience involved working with children with special needs. She was a para-professional (supervisor of a child with special needs, usually in a regular education classroom) for a young boy, and a home care supervisor at the Jewish Board and Women's League. She also worked at HASC, where she did ResHab (relieved parents of children with special needs), worked one-on-one with autistic children, and provided ABA and massage therapies.

CONSULTANTS

RABBI YSOSCHER KATZ
Rabbi Ysoscher Katz is the Director of the Beit Midrash Program (preparatory year) at Yeshivah Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School. He received ordination in 1986 from Rabbi Roth, dayan of UTA Satmer. Rabbi Katz studied in Brisk and in Yeshivat Beis Yosef, Navaradok for over ten years. A graduate of the HaSha'ar Program for Jewish Educators, Rabbi Katz has taught at the Ma'ayanot High School for Girls and SAR High School. He was a leading teacher of a daf yomi class in Boro Park for over eight years.

STEPHANIE WHALEN
Stephanie was the long-time Director of the Staten Island Montessori School. After her retirement, she continued to work as an instructor at West Side Montessori Teacher Education Program. She has mentored student teachers for over thirty years.

RABBI JONATHAN RIETTI
Rabbi Rietti received his rabbinical diploma from Gateshead Talmudical College in England, after which he helped establish a Kollel in Gibraltar. He received a master's in education, and then worked as a consultant for parents of gifted and ADD children. He was also a teacher and principal at Sha'arei Simcha in Passaic, New Jersey. He became certified in elementary education at the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in New Rochelle and then developed a Judaic curriculum based on the Montessori methodology. Rabbi Rietti currently lectures on topics including inner growth, health, parenting, and Jewish identity, across the U.S. for the Gateways Seminar Program.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR STAFF

Chana Rosenberger        Physical Education Teacher
Chana is a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer. She has taught in a variety of gyms and schools since 1998. She is completing a B.S. in Physical Education at Brooklyn College.

Jacqueline Fritz        Yoga/Dance Instructor
Jacqueline earned a B.F.A. in dance from North Carolina School of the Arts. She trained at the Jeffrey Ballet School, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and School of American Ballet. She received her yoga training at the Iyengar Yoga Institute. She has been teaching dance since 1999, and currently teaches yoga in a number of gyms and studios.

Music Fundamentals, Assorted Instructors
A few specialists will alternate to teach music theory and appreciation, and a few instruments.