Orna Sonnenschein, M.A.
Welcome to Temple Beth Am

As the Director of Education, I have the opportunity to implement the type of program that I feel will truly encourage and inspire the students here to become enlightened and proud Jews.

I, of course, cannot do this alone and I am fortunate to have a talented teaching staff who truly makes this school the success it is. We also have a terrific crew of Madrichim (high school students who assist the teachers in their classrooms).

It is with the strengths of these individuals and the entire Temple Beth Am community that I hope to continue to build what will be the strongest Hebrew and Judaic program in the region.

As an Israeli American, I have always had a special place for Judaism in my heart and in my life, but it was not until after I graduated from college that I began thinking of Jewish communal service as a potential future.

Following my graduation, I spent a year in Israel on a program similar to the Peace Corps. Upon my return I began teaching in a Hebrew School and I have never looked back. After several years of teaching in almost every temple in the area, I decided I wanted to further my education. I continued teaching during my studies and I found that I was becoming increasingly interested in taking on more of a leadership role in the field of Jewish education. In 1997 I received my master’s degree from Brandeis University in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. The following year I became the assistant principal at Congregation Eitz Chayim in Cambridge. It was during my years as a Hebrew teacher that I came to see how Hebrew and Judaic education play a key role in helping children discover and explore their Jewish identities.

I am very proud to have been a member of this warm and caring community for the last 8 years and look forward to many years to come.

Please feel free to stop by the school office at any time. If you would like a tour of the school or some more information, please do not hesitate to call me at 508-872-8312 or email me. I look forward to meeting you!