Welcome to Heritage School Staff Lounge!
(click here to register as a new teacher)

(click here to download new  teacher's forms)

 

The purpose of this NEW page is to help you learn more about your teachers and teacher assistants. The content of the page is constantly updated according to the information that is coming in. All our teachers are highly qualified professionals who have confirmed and upgraded their Soviet teaching credentials by graduating from US Colleges and Universities.

 

Most of our teachers have been with the school for more then 10 years. Their dedication, love for Judaism and love for children are the gifts that make our school a place you and your children want to come every Sunday. Most of the teachers assistants are former students of our Sunday school who have come back to share their knowledge and love with a new generation of Russian Jewish students.

 

Rabbi Eliezer Dimarsky

A member of the pre-Glasnost Russian Jewish underground movement, Rabbi Dimarsky has started his first Sunday night Torah classes taught in Russian in 1998. New lectures drew the curiosity of more and more people. Since then there has been no single class in which new faces did not appear. Different faces, very different. What unites them?

The Soul... The Torah... The Goal...

 

Heritage Congregation, headed by Rabbi Eliezer Dimarsky, has grown into a big family of vibrant Jewish men and women attending programs in Skokie, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield and Chicago, Friday night services, lectures for college students at local campuses, spirited weekend Seminars, holiday celebrations, social gatherings and NOW HERITAGE FAMILY SCHOOL!

Svetlana Pritzker

 
Program Director, Svetlana has been teaching, coaching and consulting in the USA since 1991. Prior to her immigration, she lived in Kiev working a teacher and assistant principal. Svetlana holds a Bachelor Degree in Methodology and Psychology of Elementary Education and Master Degree in Management and Supervision.

 

Her additional training and expertise include certifications in Human Software Engineering, Optimum Health Program, Nia Fitness Technique, Mindful Way (meditations and mental practices), Quantum-Touch Practitioner, as well as training in Human Design analysis, EFT and Relationship education. Svetlana has co-created the Norbekov Institute for Health and Success (2002) and The Williams-Pritzker Institute for Personal Development and Training (2004) to engage more people in the extraordinary process of positive change.

 

Regina Podkovik

Program Coordinator, Regina has been with the school from 1992, first as a teacher and then as program coordinator. Regina's calm pleasant personality and a great ability to solve problems are well known and respected by students, parents and teachers. She is also a Master teacher who's knowledge of curriculum and personal involvement in Jewish life of her family and community makes her a valuable member of our administrative and teaching team. 

 

Meet the Teachers

 

Regina Spevak

I was born in Russia, and in 1990 my family and I moved to Israel. Since 1990-1999 I worked at as a teacher in a hospital with children with mental and physical disabilities. Since 1999 I have been living in the United States. Since 2001 to today I work at the JCC as a teacher. I teach 2-3 year old pre-school.

 

I enjoy teaching children Hebrew,

Jewish traditions, and holidays, and every week we do Shabbat, and Havdalah. I worked at Shalom Sunday for three years.

I've graduated from the University of Tajikistan in 1989 and Hebrew school (Ulpan) in Hadera, Israel in 1991. I take extra classes to increase my qualifications.

 

I work at the Sunday school because I love children, and I know I can help them learn Hebrew, and Jewish traditions. Knowing Hebrew makes it easy for me to teach them. I also love Israel very much, and I try to instill my love for Israel into the children so they know more about where they came from.

Maya Kramer

I was born in the city of Kiev, Ukraine in a family with Jewish traditions. I started to take piano lessons when I have reached 8 years of age. Since that time music became the most important part of my life. I have received Master degree in Art and Music from Kiev University and worked as a music teacher in the music schoolsince I was 20. 14 years ago together with my family I came to Unites States of America. In 2 months I was hired in Russian Transitional school affiliated with Jewish Academy where I worked for 4 years. The choir that I've created had performed in Chicago Cultural Center for many Jewish organizations in Chicagoland. I have been working at Shalom Sunday school as a music teacher since 1994. My special talent is to open for children the world of wonderful Jewish history traditions through music, songs, dances, stories, games and much more. Since 1995 I have been working at Lieberman Geriatric Center as Music Therapist.

Izabella Osipova

I was born in the city of Rostov-on-Don, USSR. Then my family moved to Baku where I went to the school.  In 1968, I was admitted to the school of philology and literature of the Azerbaijan State University named after Kirov from which I graduated with Masters Degree in Russian Language and Literature, Philology, and Journalism in 1974.

 

I worked in the International Children Camp "Artek", was a teacher of the Russian Language and Literature in the private high school and held a position of the Assistant Professor at the State University of Baku.  Starting from 1994 through 2000, I held a position of the Instructor Methodist of the Russian Language and Literature in the Northeastern district of Moscow.  In November of 2000 I've immigrated to USA and I now work as a teacher at JCC of Chicago.

 

Being born in the Jewish family, I have learned many family traditions.  Working in JCC for five years, I have attended many conferences and have received certificates that represent my studies and ability of teaching children Jewish traditions.  I hold Masters Degree in Russian Language and Literature, Philology, and Journalism.  Working with children for 35 years, I have gained tremendous experience in handling various situations with children and their parents and enjoy transmitting my knowledge and experience to my students.

 

My hobby is to write poems and scenarios for events.  It is very important to teach children their heritage and traditions through acting out stories and historical scenes instead of lecturing them, especially children of ages 2 through 4. I am planning on bringing more of traditional music and teaching traditional songs that represent the sad and happy moments Jewish people face through out their lives. 

 

Boris Upart

I was born in Minsk, Belarus in 1948. I graduated from the Belorusian University in 1971

as a Mathematician and a Math Teacher and worked mostly for the Urban Planning Institute. I also worked as Assistant Coach of the Belorusian Academy of Economics Chess Team, 1980-94

 

I emigrated to the U.S. in December, 1993. I  now work as an independent Math Consultant and Chess Instructor. My chess credentials:

·        Expert level in chess

·        Winner of the Chicago Russian Community Blitz Tournament 2002, 2003

·        2nd place in the Kings and Queens Quick Chess Tournament at BH JCC 2003, 2004

·        25 years experience in teaching chess

Among my students:

·        Jacob Levin, 1^st place in Chicago Scholastic Tournament 2004, 2^nd grade

·        8^th Grade Team, 1^st place in Illinois All Grade, 1996-97

 

Family, Work, and Community are the most important in my life.

Here in Chicago, I've been teaching at Shalom Sunday for 10 years - working for the Russian Jewish Community and helping children develop their skills and build their characters. Chess has been always the way to demonstrate the strength of the mind in a fair game. It is also a great teaching device for all the Life issues, including the history of Jewish people. I enjoy teaching and consider it as a great privilege because you can give so much and not to lose anything...

 Yevgeniya Kovaleva

I have been teaching for 16 years. I gaduated from Kuban State University with M.A . Degree in teaching English as a foreign language. I taught English to various age children for ten years. Within those years I worked in the first Jewish school in the city of Lvov. Upon arrival to United States I decided to continue my education. In 1999 I graduated from Loyola University with M.Ed. Degree. For the past 6 years I have been teaching in elementary school in District 21 and working with kids in Shalom Sunday School. I love working with children and their parents. Kids give me a lot of energy and inspiration. I always treat parents as my team-mates. We learn from each other. Teaching Jewish values to the children of our community is very important to me.

Our Teacher Assistants

Albina Katsman

I have always loved little kids and working at Sunday School with the two year old children was a blessing for me. While I was working with them, I learned many things about the behavior of young children. 

 

Up till the age of four, I lived in Kiev but then my family and I moved to Pittsburgh for nine months. There I went to an American day care and learned English fairly quickly from the teachers and children around me. Later on, we moved to Chicago and I went to school there. When my brother was born I took on many responsibilities and helped out my family.

Being Jewish is very important to me and although my family and I do not go to temple too often,  we celebrate every holiday. Just last year, I had my bat-mitzvah which I considered a true beginning to my Jewish life.

 

I have many hobbies and talents which include playing tennis, dancing, acting, and swimming. I have been taking acting classes lately and have realized that acting is a very big part of my life and I hope to pursue an acting career.

 

Alexandra Beckov

I was born in Kiev, Ukraine on Sept. 18, 1990. I speak fluent Russian, am currently a freshman at Stevenson High School, and will shortly be 15. I live in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

I worked at Shalom Sunday last year with the 4 year old group. I've attended Shalom Sunday for 4 years and I thoroughly know all the Jewish holidays. I celebrate most of them with my family. I am very interested in Jewish traditions and religion, and hope to continue practicing it for many years to come.

I have been dancing since I was about three years old, and I love the sport. I have taken all kinds of dance... from ballet to hip hop, you name it, I've taken it. I also enjoy painting very much, and I love doing arts and crafts. I also love playing sports such as volleyball, and consider myself athletic. I also like reading.

I love working with kids, and hope to one day have a profession that will deal with children. I have grown to love this school, and I hope I will still be part of it. I have seen that my 4 year olds really enjoying the programs like music and art. Their Jewish learning through art and music helped them understand it, as well as have fun while doing it.

Erica Nayvelt

I am nineteen years old and I have just completed my first year at University of Illinois in Chicago. I am thinking about pursuing a major in mathematics and a minor in Psychology and becoming a teacher.

 

My hobbies include dancing and playing soccer. I have been a student at Shalom Sunday since I was six years old. After completing my Bat Mitzvah at this school, a worked as a teacher's assistant for five years now. I enjoy working at Sunday school because I love interacting with children and teaching them about their Judaic background. While working at this school, I have perfected my teaching skills and become even more educated in the Jewish heritage.

Miri Spevak

I go to Stevenson high school and I will be 16 in October. In this picture I am standing in front of Jerusalem. Me and the rest of my Hebrew club made this for worlds fair. I was born in Russia, and then I moved to Israel. I lived there for 9 and a half years, and I go back there every year to visit my friends and family. I love dancing, and I have been taking classes since I was five. I took ballroom, gymnastics, jazz, and now I take hip hop. I love playing sports, and listening to music.

I want to work for the Sunday school because I worked there this year and I loved it. I loved working with the kids, especially because they were older, so I didn't have to treat them like they were little kids. While they were eating we've always talked about important things and we had a good time. I have a 9 year old brother so I have a lot of patience. I am organized and people trust me to do a good job.

Sofie Kreiman

I have been working at JCC since September 2004. I went to school in Israel until the sixth grade, and I can help students learn more about their Jewish legacy. I am fluent in Russian and Hebrew and I can assist students study Hebrew.

I am responsible and very good with kids, and I recently have been certified to perform CPR and currently I am taking a life-guarding course.

 

I play guitar and would like to be helpful for musical performances and Jewish celebrations at Heritage Family school. I am taking a photography course which will make me able to document Sunday school experience through photographs. My photographs have been featured in "The Half-Wit", an artistic school magazine, and in The 4x5 Art Show at Fremd.

Nana Yusubova

I am 17 years old. I moved to USA from Baku,  Azerbaijan in 1995. I am currently a senior at Glenbrook South High school, but in the fall I am going to attend Loyola University in Chicago.

I love to travel. My favorites countries are Spain and Israel. I enjoy playing tennis, swimming, watching movies, and listening to music. I speak Russian, Farsi, English, Turkish, and a little bit of French. I also love crafts and enjoy making jewelry, knitting and sewing.

Although I am an only child, I love to be around people, especially kids. I have been working at Sunday school for about 4 years and I love it! The atmosphere here is great for the kids. We make kids feel special and happy every Sunday.