Meet the Staff

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Meet the Staff

School-wide Administration

Rabbi Elchanan Jay Weinbach, Head of School
Rabbi Elchanan Weinbach, Shalhevet's Head of School, is a second-generation Yeshiva Principal, the son of the esteemed Rabbi David Weinbach of MTA and Central in New York. A musmach of Yeshiva University, also holds a Masters degree in Secondary Jewish Education from Azrielli Graduate Institute and has done Doctoral studies at Rutgers University and career education work at Columbia University. Along with his experience in Jewish Education as Principal of the JEC in Elizabeth, New Jersey and Principal of Hillel Yeshiva High School in Deal, New Jersey, Rabbi Weinbach has served the Jewish Community in the Rabbinate as well for over a decade, in White Plains, New York, Newport News, Virginia, Miami, Florida, and the J.E.C.’s Adath Israel Congregation in Hillside, New Jersey. Rabbi Weinbach has also been actively involved in youth work for over twenty-five years.

Rabbi Weinbach is committed to life-long learning and professional development. In recent years he has attended three seminars offered by the Harvard University Principal’s center, worked towards his Doctoral degree at Rutgers University, participated in conferences offered by the Association of Modern Orthodox Day Schools and Columbia University, and taken up yoga. Rabbi Weinbach takes pride in the close and personal relationships he maintains with students long after high school or Shabbaton are over. He is also a proud parent of four children, the oldest of whom is in Shana Aleph at Yeshivat Hakotel, and the proud husband of Yocheved.

Rabbi Rodney Feinerman, Educational Director K-12
Rabbi Rodney Feinerman most recently served as the High School Principal at the Hebrew Academy of Montreal, where he supervised both General and Judaic Studies. In his time there, Rabbi Feinerman evaluated the entire curriculum and launched the implementation of a three-year vision in English, French, History, Tanach and Geography to include WebQuests, relevancy and inter-disciplinary units. In that time he also deepened services for special-needs students and redefined the Student Council from being adult oriented to student driven.

He has previously served at the Samuel Scheck Hillel Secondary School in North Miami Beach, Florida for seventeen years. During his tenure at Hillel, he filled administrative positions for ten years, rising from a Department Chair to Secondary School Principal. His successes include the design, development and implementation of a top-notch curriculum, management and evaluation of faculty, and creation of a cooperative Mentor Program for new faculty.

Lori Fogel - Chief Financial Officer
Lori Fogel is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in New York and California. She began her career in New York in public accounting and gained experience in auditing procedures, internal control systems and financial reporting. Lori then moved on to private industry, working at JCPenney corporate headquarters where she prepared the Annual Financial Reports. She also lectured and was an instructor in colleges and universities. Leaving the NY bagels and snow behind, Lori moved to Los Angeles and took on the position of Chief Financial Officer at Yavneh Hebrew Academy. After six years, she returned to corporate America, working in the broadcasting industry. As controller, she managed the finance team and directed all financial matters, including SEC filings and annual audits. Lori’s vast experience in budgeting and financial reporting and analysis is a great asset to Shalhevet since she enjoys combining her professional skills with her passion for personal interactions with the Shalhevet family.

Cecelie Wizenfeld, Director of Admissions
Cecelie Wizenfeld has a Master of Arts Degree in Education. She joined Shalhevet School with over thirty years of teaching, directing, and administrative experience. She began her career just out of high school, as a music and Talmud Torah teacher in Baltimore, MD. Since earning her undergraduate degree in Communications, her Early Childhood teaching credential from the University of California, Los Angeles and her Master’s Degree in Education from Pepperdine University, she has been actively involved in the Jewish school system in Los Angeles. Additionally, Ms. Wizenfeld was instrumental in developing and directing many programs for the Bureau of Jewish Education of Los Angeles, including the Midrasha Program for middle school age children in Reform and Conservative Congregations around L.A. Prior to her current position at Shalhevet, Ms. Wizenfeld was the Early Childhood Director at Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy for thirteen years. Cecelie has lectured all over the country on Early Childhood Curricular topics for the NAEYC, CAEYC, BJE, and other professional organizations. She was also co-director and owner of B.H. Banot and Banim Day Camp in Los Angeles for many years.

Matthew Weintraub - Director of Marketing and Development

Muriel Ohana - Reception

High School Administration

Phu Tranchi, Principal of General Studies
Phu Tranchi is in his third year as the Principal of General Studies. After receiving his Master of Science Degree in Physiological Science at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1997, Mr. Tranchi joined the US Peace Corps and served in Kenya, East Africa, as a teacher and community development planner from 1997-2000. After returning from the Peace Corps, he joined the Shalhevet faculty nine years ago as a Chemistry teacher. He is currently the Science Department Chair and continues to teach Advanced Placement Chemistry and Physiology and serves as an advisor for the 12th grade. Mr. Tranchi is committed to putting the students first and is devoted to a more progressive model of education. Mr. Tranchi believes in ongoing professional development for teachers and himself, taking the summer to learn at the Principals Institute at Harvard University. He is married to Melanie Berkey, Chair of the English Department, and they live in Los Angeles with their dog They eagerly anticipate the birth of their first child in April.

Roy Danovitch, Dean of Students
Roy Danovitch is in his first year serving as the Dean of Students in the high school. He is responsible for developing the Advisory program with Ma’agal Hakshava and works on student discipline. Roy completed his undergraduate degree at University of California, Santa Barbara with a major in Communications and a minor in English. He has been teaching for 8 years, one of which was spent teaching English in Northern Thailand. Roy completed his Master's Degree in Literature at the University of California, Irvine; his finishing thesis focused on the patterns of romance in The Winter's Tale and King Lear. He loves reading literary criticism (nerd alert) and editorializing about world events; He also likes to question established paradigms. Roy’s true love, however, lies in Creative Writing. He hopes to be seen on an International Best Seller list in the near future!

Dr. Steven Mercer - College Counselor
Dr. Steven Mercer is an experienced educator with an extensive background in selective college admission, counseling, teaching, and academic as well as non-profit leadership. Steven holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a Master of Arts Degree in Human Development and a teaching credential from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California. He also has a Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles. He lives in the San Fernando Valley with his wife, son, and dog.

Yossi Kastan, Director of School Life
Yossi Kastan grew up in South Florida where he became an administrator at the Hillel Community Day School where he actually graduated from High School as a student. Yossi holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Yeshiva University and a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Currently, Yossi is working on his dissertation to complete his Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Nova Southeastern University. Yossi currently teaches an Entrepreneurship class for 11th and 12th graders and is the advisor for the Finance Club and Hiking Club.

Natalie Williams, Student Activities Director, Israel Guidance Counselor, Judaic Studies Teacher
Natalie Williams is in her second year at Shalhevet as a Judaic Studies teacher, the Student Activities Director and the Israel Guidance Counselor. Natalie originally came from Miami, Florida where Rabbi Weinbach was her principal. She graduated from Stern College and earned her Masters Degree from the Fingerhut School of Education at the American Jewish University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in K-12 Educational Leadership at Touro University. Before coming to Shalhevet, Natalie taught for three years at Hillel Hebrew Academy.

Elementary and Middle School Administration

Rabbi Yehoshua Gabbai - Principal of Judaic Studies
Rabbi Gabbai brought his 25 years of experience in Judaic education to Shalhevet over a decade ago. Rabbi Gabbai began his rabbinical studies at Yeshivat Kiryat Arbah in conjunction with completing his four years of Army service in the Israel Defense forces. After receiving his S’micha, he went on to receive his certificate of Masters in Teaching, Moreh Bachir, majoring in Talmud and Bible. In addition, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in psychology and received certification in Administrative Educational Leadership from Bar Ilan University in Ramat Gan. A two year course in development of child center individualized instruction at the Institute of Education technology (Matach) at Tel Aviv University rounded off Rabbi Gabbai’s extensive training in the Education Field.

Rabbi Gabbai’s varied accomplishments include everything from establishing a curriculum for Yeshivot to actual instruction of Hebrew programs. Having served in various Shlichuyot from Israel in many Yeshivot throughout the United States and Israel, Rabbi Gabbai brought his many skills and knowledge from all his accomplishments and has successfully integrated them into Shalhevet Elementary and Middle School.

Dr. Debora Parks - Principal of General Studies
Dr. Parks brings over 20 years of experience in education and 15 years in Jewish education. She is widely recognized as a leader in education. Prior to joining Shalhevet, Dr. Parks was the Director of General Studies for 10 years at Maimonides Academy, a K-8 Jewish Day School in Los Angeles. Previously, Dr. Parks was a Field Coordinator and Instructor at the Teacher Education Laboratory at the Graduate School of Education at UCLA, a Supervisor of Student Teachers, and an Instructor of Curriculum and Student Teaching Seminars.

Dr. Parks received her Ph.D. in Elementary Education, Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in 1991. She also received an MA in Elementary Education, an M.A. in Special Education/Gifted and Talented, and a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Alabama in 1987, 1984 and 1983, respectively.

Sara Khoury Gichtin - Assistant Principal of Judaic Studies
Sara Khoury Gichtin, or as everyone refers to her, Morah Sara had one solid goal as she grew up in Natanya, Israel. Her dream was to become a teacher! She attended Beit Berl College for teachers where she received her Teacher’s Credential. Soon after, she moved to Los Angeles where she enjoyed a vibrant career as a master teacher in Judaic and Hebrew studies.

For the past 19 years, Morah Sara touched students in almost every grade at Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy. Most recently, Sara completed a Masters Degree in Education. This year she joined the Shalhevet Staff as an Assistant Principal of Judaic Studies and third grade teacher. Along with her daughter Yael, now a Shalhevet Middle School Student, Morah Sara is looking forward to many happy years with her new Shalhevet family.

Jonathan Gilbert - Assistant Principal of General Studies
Shalhevet School welcomes Jonathan Gilbert as the new Assistant Principal for General Studies in our elementary and middle school. Mr. Gilbert teaches middle school math and has taught at Shalhevet for the past eight years. He has been teaching since 1996. Mr. Gilbert taught special education for two years, high school for two years, and middle school for eight years. He holds a B.S. degree in math with a minor in education and an M.A. in Psychology. He was born in Long Island, NY and lived in Florida for twelve years before moving to Los Angeles in 1998. His passions include music and sports, as well as working with kids.