MEET THE HEBREW WIZARDS STAFF
Brand new faces and fresh new style!
| Deborah Tarasow Salomon Founder/Director and Spiritual Leader |
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Deborah Tarasow Salomon is the Founder/ Director and Spiritual Leader of the Hebrew Wizards School and the Wizards Congregation. Her focus for the program is to teach children how to love Judaism by intertwingling a relaxed and creative school environment with the spirit and fun of summer camp. Deborah has hired an enthusiastic and talented staff, created an excellent innovative and fresh curriculum to form the Hebrew Wizards School.
Deborah is the daughter of a Rabbi, and her parents were both leaders in Jewish education in various schools throughout the United States. She was raised with a strong conservative Jewish background attending Saturday morning services weekly, and participating in various Jewish and Hebrew speaking summer camps. Her education culminated with a pilgrimage to Israel with USY in 1980. She began her teaching career tutoring B Mitzvah students when she was 14.
As an adult, she taught students at Temple Sinai in Roslyn, conducted adult Hebrew courses at JCC in Harrison and she was the lead teacher of 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades at Temple Sholom Religious school from 1995-2005. She graduated from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1985 with a degree in Economics and a Minor in Hebrew. She received her M.B.A from Pace University in 1990. |
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| Cantor Kenneth Cohen Cantor in residence |
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Cantor Kenneth Cohen comes to the Hebrew Wizards with a breadth of experience as clergy. He graduated from Harpur College, where he received degrees in History (B.A.) and Ethnomusicology (M.A.), then was ordained from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America as a Cantor of the Jewish faith. At New York University, he pursued his Ph.D. studies in Ethnomusicology, studying the Sephardic Jewish communities in Brooklyn, NY.
Cantor Cohen recently served congregation Beth Shir Shalom, Home of the Song of Peace, in Santa Monica, CA. There, he built a career center for those seeking employment, created interfaith bridges with the Baptist and Moslem communities, directed a religious school, and composed and arranged original settings for the synagogue's 8-piece musical ensemble.
Before moving out west, Cantor Ken served as Cantor at Temple Sholom in Greenwich, Ct. for nearly 20 years. Additionally, he founded the Cantorial School at the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York City where he developed a new vision of the cantorate, focusing on "the cantor as facilitator and educator," while emphasizing the collaborative leadership roles of cantors and rabbis.
Cantor Cohen's sweet tenor can be heard on various Sabbath and Holiday recordings, co-authored with Jewish Jewish literary notables such as Rabbi Michael Strassfeld and Rabbi Chayim Stern (of Jewish Catalogue and Gates of Prayer fame); Cantor Ken has contributed songs on the Spirit CD series, published by the Conservative movement, reaching over 100,000 homes across America.
Ken is very excited about being part of the Hebrew Wizards community, and is looking forward to nurturing close ties with all of the Wizards families.
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| Jon Cobert "Music Man" Composer/Pianist/Vocalist |
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A composer/pianist and vocalist who has played live with John Lennon, John Denver, Bruce Springstein amongst others. He works currently with Tom Chapin and earned 5 Grammy nominations for his work as producer on Tom's recordings. Jon is a songwriter and has released a solo album "Here's Your Canoe". He received his music Theory and Composition degree from N.Y.U. Jon has a Conservative Jewish background and has a love of being Jewish. He currently lives in Chappaqua with his wife and they have 2 adult children. Jon has worked with Hebrew Wizards on many of our special occasions and has been our pianist during High Holiday services. Jon's biggest gift is that he is musical genius and that he loves working with children as he fuels their passions through music. Learn more about Jon at: joncobert.com |
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| Lizzie Peress-Swan Vocalist and Guitarist |
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Lizzie teaches elementary and pre-school music and movement classes in Stamford and New Canaan CT. It was while working as a musician and creative arts therapist at the Jewish Home for the Elderly in Fairfield, CT, that she began to learn first hand the amazing power of music to teach, heal, and connect people of all ages and abilities while creating a shared consciousness at the same time. After becoming a mother, Lizzie carried these lessons with her when she formed the family rock band the Swingset Mamas with pianist Marlowe Bechmann. The award winning Swingset Mamas perform all over the country at schools, festivals and family events spreading their message of "connecting families through music". A graduate of the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Lizzie is passing on her love of a Jewish identity to her two children at Hebrew Wizards who also write songs, sing and perform whenever they can. Find out more about Lizzie at www.swingsetmamas.com. |
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| Josh Nelson Resident Artist/Performer/Producer |
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Josh Nelson is one of the most popular performers and producers in modern Jewish music. A multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Josh's music is celebrated and integrated into the repertoire of congregations, camps and communities around the world. Delivering high-octane Jewish rock, the Josh Nelson Project is made up of the some of the most talented, young performers in the United States. 2009 marked the long-awaited release of "Lift," the debut CD from the Josh Nelson Project. Built upon songs of Jewish identity and continuity, "Lift" breaks new ground with razor-sharp lyricism and a progressive, radio-ready sound. Josh has performed over one thousand shows in a variety of venues. Currently, Josh is part of the music/lyrics team penning the score for the Broadway production of "Sleepless in Seattle." Josh has played live with Craig Taubman and has led Hebrew Wizards Multi-Denominational Concert in the Fall of 2010.
Josh is a great friend and a brilliant musician and spiritual leader. Read more on Josh at: joshnelsonproject.com |
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Gianna Bergman brings years of Hebrew Day School and Yeshiva learning to Hebrew Wizards. Having grown up in a conservative and traditional Jewish household, Gianna continues the Jewish tradition with her own family (she has twins in Wizards 2!). In addition to her Judaic knowledge, Gianna has been a Marketing Professional for 20 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Ithaca College, her Masters degree at Cornell University, and was a Teacher's Assistant in several classes throughout her six years of studies. Gianna brings knowledge, experience and a passion for helping children to the Wizards program. |
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Karen Marks is the adult teacher on staff for the Mini-Wizards class. She is a marketing professional with 20+ years of experience. Her strong connection and appreciation of Jewish heritage and tradition is a result of being the daughter of Holocaust survivors. Karen attended Jewish summer camp for over 10 years, both as a camper and counselor, which left a strong impression that it should be fun to learn about Judaism! Karen loves being around children and is excited to be a part of the Hebrew Wizards program. |
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| Robert S. SalomonJr. Chief Administrator |
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Robert S. SalomonJr., "Buster"is the chief administrator for Hebrew Wizards. He has been a professional investment manager for more than 40 years. His passion is working with children, and he takes great pride in helping to raise 3 daughters. He is also an avid photographer and will be on-staff taking pictures of all the children and activities at Wizards. Buster is currently on the Board of the Stamford Mill River Collaborative and serves as Treasurer of Rye Country Day School where he is also a Board member. He received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College. |
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| Shira Zucker Chief Administrator |
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Shira Zucker brings 17 years of experience as a Hebrew tutor to Hebrew Wizards. As a child she attended the Solomon Schecter Day School in Westchester and attended various Jewish Summer Camps. She continues to pass on her love of Judaism to her five children (ages 7-19). Shira teaches students who range from beginning hebrew learning to the more advanced chanting of prayers, Torah and Haftarah studying for B mitzvah preparations. She has also acts as a "private" tutor for many children in the Greenwich/Stamford area. Shira is excited to join Hebrew Wizards as our own private hebrew tutor for children in our B Mitzvah classes. |
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| Wizard Testimonials |
I have never been able to learn Hebrew in such a Fun way
Michael, age 13
Hebrew Wizards is fun because we get to teach other students in our own unique way.
JJ, age 12
When I hear all my friends talk about how much they hate Hebrew School, I feel so fortunate that I have a place that I love to go to like Hebrew Wizards.
Kate, age 13
I love Hebrew Wizards. I have been at Hebrew Wizards for all 6 years it has been open. I started out when I was 7 as a Wizards I student and now I am an assistant Teen Wizard.
Emma, age 12
Hebrew Wizards has successfully re-imagined what Jewish Education can be; innovative and meaningful, fresh and exciting.
Josh Nelson, Jewish Rock Musician
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Bar Mitzvah Blues
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