Rabbi Tomer Ronen
Head of School
A highly respected leader both locally and nationally, Rav Ronen has over 20 years of experience in Jewish education. Originally from Rechovot, Israel, Rav Ronen began his career in the United States as a teacher and Junior High School Coordinator at SAR Academy in Riverdale, NY. Following SAR, he held the position of Rosh HaYeshiva at Ben Porat Yosef in Paramus, N.J. for ten years.
In the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year, Rav Ronen joined Yeshivat He’Atid as Head of School. His devotion towards Jewish education shines through in all that he does and to all those around him. He continually looks for innovative and progressive ways to excite children in learning. His passion to infuse his students with Hebrew language immersion and to bring a love of Eretz Yisrael to the classroom is evident through the programming he develops and the Shlichim that join his school each year. He is well-known for his ability to form authentic, lasting relationships with students, parents and his staff.
As Head of School, Rav Ronen is responsible for all facets of the school organization, including management of Yeshivat He’Atid’s administration. He has been instrumental in the implementation and creation of the Middle School. Rav Ronen connects with all of the students on a daily basis and particularly enjoys having Kabbalat Shabbat with all students every Friday.
With the success Yeshivat He’Atid is seeing through the academic growth of their students, Rav Ronen’s larger vision and goal is to bring Yeshivat He’Atid’s educational model to those communities across the United States who feel passionately about providing their children with a high-quality academic Jewish education in an affordable manner.
Ora Kornbluth
Executive Director
Ora Kornbluth is Yeshivat He’Atid’s Executive Director , handling all the day-to-day operations of the school. Ora brings to Yeshivat He’Atid nearly two decades of experience working in Jewish day schools. She worked for many years as the Director of Student Activities at Bat Torah Flatow Yeshiva High School in Paramus, N.J., where she had administrative responsibilities. She has also served as the COO of Sensation NY, a pediatric OT and sensory gym located on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. For several summers, she has worked as an Assistant Head Counselor for Camp Regesh. A sports lover at heart, Ora is an Official Statistician for CBS SPORTS and is part of the game day support staff for the National Football League. She currently serves as a Councilwoman representing the borough of Bergenfield, N.J. She holds a bachelor of arts in economics from Yeshiva University.
Janice Jacobs
Associate Principal
Morah Janice Jacobs is Yeshivat He'Atid’s Associate Principal and oversees Shorashim through Second Grade. Morah Janice oversees the General & Judaic Studies teachers and works closely with the faculty to ensure all student needs are met. She brings considerable skills and experience in classroom teaching, with a commitment to the growth of each child, and is highly proficient in designing and implementing individual programs for all learners. Morah Janice has been working in the Educational field for the past 25 years and has a passion for education and a love of and advocacy for children. Morah Janice earned her bachelor's degree from Stern College and has a Master's degree in Education. Morah Janice was awarded a Legacy Heritage Teacher Leadership Fellowship and completed her second Master's degree in Teacher Leadership from Brandeis University. Additionally, she was selected by the Avi Chai Foundation to attend the Harvard Principal Training Institute: Art of Leadership Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Morah Janice and her husband Steven live in Bergenfield with their four children.
janicejacobs@yeshivatheatid.org
Leiku Perles
Assistant Principal, Grades 3-5
Morah Leiku Perles is Yeshivat He’Atid’s General Studies Dean of grades 3-5 and the General Studies Director of Curriculum and Instruction for grades 1-8. Morah Leiku is one of the founding faculty members of Yeshivat He’Atid. Prior to her role as an administrator, Leiku was a dedicated elementary school teacher, sharing her enthusiasm and love of learning with her students. Over the years, she has played an active role in building and developing engaging 21st-century curricula for the school including major project based learning units, co-curricular programming, and grade-wide expositions. Morah Leiku will ensure the seamless transition from elementary to middle school curriculum for our teachers and students. Morah Leiku holds a dual masters degree in childhood education and in special education. She is an active member of Kappa Delta Pi: the International Honor Society in Education. In addition, she is a certified mentor teacher, completing her training through the New Teacher Project. Leiku strives to empower teachers and help them identify strengths in their students to facilitate a classroom environment where all students thrive.
leikuperles@yeshivatheatid.org
Rachel Obstfeld
Assistant Principal, Grades 6-8
Mrs. Rachel Obstfeld is the Middle School Assistant Principal. Mrs. Obstfeld has been the Director of Judaic Studies Curriculum and Instruction for the past three years, where she has implemented curriculum across the grades, strengthened and supported the faculty, and developed meaningful relationships with students in both Elementary and Middle School. As Assistant Principal, Mrs. Obstfeld will oversee General & Judaic Studies teachers, while working closely with the administration and faculty to ensure all student needs are met. A passionate educator with years of Middle School experience, Mrs. Obstfeld is looking forward to further developing and enhancing the Middle School program using her expertise, warmth, and creativity. Mrs. Obstfeld received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Judaic Studies and Psychology from Stern College, and a Master’s degree in Bible from Bernard Revel Graduate School. Mrs. Obstfeld has taught at various grade levels at SAR Academy, Torah Academy of Philadelphia, Kohelet Yeshiva, and Yeshivat Noam. Mrs. Obstfeld served as the founding Judaic Studies Team Leader at Kohelet Yeshiva Lab & Middle School, where she was instrumental in developing, facilitating, and implementing their Judaic Studies Curriculum across all grades, as well as planning and designing their inaugural Middle School. Mrs. Obstfeld joined Yeshivat He’atid in 2019, and has brought with her a passion for creating a warm, student centered environment where every child is poised to succeed.
rachelobstfeld@yeshivatheatid.org
Sarit Ginzburg
Judaic Studies Academic Dean - Grades 3-8
Mrs. Sarit Ginzburg is Yeshivat He’Atid’s Judaic Studies Academic Dean - Grades 3-8. Mrs. Ginzburg came from the Academies at Gerrard Berman Day School, where she has worked for 23 years. She started as a teacher and then moved on to be the school’s Judaic Studies Principal before becoming the School Principal. Mrs. Ginzburg co-led a two-year school initiative focusing on building a culture of collaboration among the teachers that emphasized the integration of General and Judaic Studies. She has extensive experience teaching through instruction and small-group learning. Mrs. Ginzburg has a Bachelors in Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University and then completed a two-year Legacy Heritage Teacher Leadership Fellowship, culminating in a Master’s in Education from Brandeis University.
saritginzburg@yeshivatheatid.org
Minda Mafouda
Judaic Studies Curriculum Coordinator - Grades 1 and 2
Mrs. Mafouda is Yeshivat He’Atid Judaic Studies Curriculum Coordinator. In addition to teaching, she will be supporting the administration and faculty with curriculum and programming. Mrs. Mafouda has worked as an educator and administrator of Ivrit and Judaic Studies in California at the Spivak Educational Center and Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy for more than 30 years. She oversaw the use of the iTalam curriculum, coordinated the Mesibat Siddur and Mesibat Chumash while also providing additional learning support specifically in Ivrit and Chumash. Mrs. Mafouda has a Masters in Psychology from Kean University.
mindamafouda@yeshivatheatid.org
Ariela Brum
Director of Guidance
Since joining Yeshivat He'Atid, Ariela has worked with students at the individual, classroom or school-wide level. Ariela brought social- emotional learning (SEL) to our school, enhancing the program each year. What started as a yearly school wide Middot program has expanded over the years and is now a weekly small-goup lesson in each grade of elementary and middle school. Social-emotional learning is now a regular part of our curriculum, taking place in class, on the playground and throughout the day. Morah Ariela has also been an influential presence in the Middle School. Morah Ariela has designed and implemented a three year Middle School curriculum which highlights the different needs of each grade with an emphasis on Project Based Learning, Chessed and Personal Growth. Our students benefit each day from the instruction and loving support they receive from Morah Ariela.
arielabrum@yeshivatheatid.org
Holly Finley
Director of Special Services
Ms. Holly Finley is Yeshivat He’Atid’s Director of Special Services. She has been the Director of Special Services at the Academies at Gerrard Berman Day School for the last five years. Prior to this, Ms. Finley served as a head special education teacher at P.S. 183 in New York City. As the Director of Special Services, Mrs. Finley provided classroom teachers, administrators and other service providers with best practices and modeled useful techniques to enable students to improve academic performance and access the curriculum. She coached teachers on to how to best support various learners and served as the liaison for Bergen County Special Services. Ms. Finley will have a similar role at He’Atid as she supports teachers ensuring that the academic needs of each learner are met, allowing them to thrive in the classroom, while also supporting BCSS and all other services. Ms. Finley has a Masters degree in both Special and General Education from Touro College.
hollyfinley@yeshivatheatid.org