Meet the Faculty

The faculty of the Jewish Study Network is composed is Jewish scholars with a variety of experiences and backgrounds. See below for more information on individual members of our team.

Rabbi Avromi Apt

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Rabbi Apt was raised in Detroit, Michigan and studied in the Philadelphia Yeshiva before moving to Israel to continue his Rabbinic studies. He joined the JSN in 2005 and has recently become the Director of Operations. Rabbi Apt teaches classes in a variety of subject areas and is a favorite Bar Mitzvah teacher on the Peninsula. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rabbi Joey Felsen

Rabbi Joey Felsen, Founder and Executive Director of the JSN, hails from Toronto, Canada. A skilled educator, Rabbi Felsen teaches for the Florence Melton School for Adult Education at the JCCs in Palo Alto and Los Gatos. For his work at Kehillah High, Rabbi Felsen received the 2006 Grinspoon-Steinhardt National Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rabbi Shaye Guttenberg

Rabbi Shaye Guttenberg grew up in Baltimore. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Yeshiva University, rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and an M.A. from Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. As the rabbi of The Desert Synagogue in Palm Springs, Rabbi Guttenberg also directed Judaic Studies at the Jewish Community School of the Desert, and currently directs JSN San Francisco. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rabbi Ephraim Kamin

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Rabbi Ephraim Kamin joined the JSN team in 2008 as the Director of Campus Programs in conjunction with Meor. Rabbi Kamin works part-time at Hillel at Stanford and travels to Berkeley once a week to bring his own charm and flair to the collegiate Jewish experience. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rabbi Avi Lebowitz

Rabbi_Lebowitz Rabbi Avi Lebowitz received his ordination from Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore and a Masters in Education from Johns Hopkins University. An expert in the realm of Halacha (Jewish law), Rabbi Lebowitz recently published a comprehensive and scholarly work on the Mikvah (ritual bath), which includes an innovative commentary on the related Mishnaic tractate. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rabbi Josh Marder

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Originally from sunny Florida, Rabbi Marder holds a B.A. from Yeshiva University and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies. He studied under the tutelage of Rabbi Yitzchak Berkowitz, of the Jerusalem Kollel and received his ordination in 2005. Rabbi Josh also practices as a psychotherapist working with families, couples, and children throughout the Jewish communities of the Bay area. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rabbi Avi Stewart

Rabbi_Stewart Rabbi Avi Stewart was born and raised in Los Angeles. He has lived in a number of cities around the world including Mexico City and Jerusalem. Rabbi Stewart joined the JSN after receiving his Rabbinical Training at Ner Israel Rabbinical College. He also has an M.S. in Clinical Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. He received his training in family counseling from Lighthouse Inc., an adolescent and family counseling center located in Catonsville, Maryland. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rena Apt

rena_apt Raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Mrs. Rena Apt graduated from the School of Computer Arts in New York. Among her artistic talents, Rena is also a gifted baker and her custom cakes have earned her a stellar reputation. Before joining the JSN team, Rena managed personnel for Parameds. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sarah Felsen

sarah_felsen Mrs. Sarah Felsen was born in San Francisco and spent her early childhood years in Berkeley. She has an M.A. from Columbia University in Learning Disabilities. Sarah teaches 1st grade at the South Peninsula Hebrew Day School. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dina Guttenberg

A native of Southern California, Dina studied abroad at Bnot Torah Institute and Neve Yerushalayim in Israel. After returning to California, Dina graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor's degree from Chapman University. She also received a credential as a certified instructor of reading in the Multi-sensory Orton Gillingham approach while studying at Stern College for Women, an affiliate of Yeshiva University. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Malkie Kamin

Malkie_Kamin_copy A native of Brooklyn, NY, Malkie attended seminary before obtaining a Master's in both Special Education and School Administration and Supervision. She is a veteran teacher and has taught children of multiple ages, from early childhood through sixth grade. Malkie was one of the founding members of Our Place Too, an after-school program for teenage girls at risk. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Fia Lebowitz

Fia_Lebowitz Mrs. Fia Lebowitz graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Masters in Special Education and practices in the Bay Area. She organizes community building events in San Jose for women and enjoys teaching teens supplementary Jewish education. The Lebowitz’s have five children. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Laura Marder

Laura_Marder Laura was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. Laura studied in Israel before receiving her Masters in Social Work from the Hunter College School of Social Work. She is a practicing psychotherapist and works with individuals, couples, and families. She directed and taught in the Jewish women's learning program in the Atlanta Scholars Kollel for 3 summers, and continues to teach on a variety of topics. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Shaindy Stewart

shaindy Shaindy is a native of Toronto, Canada. She has a BA in Jewish Education as well as an MA in Curriculum and Instruction in Education with a focus in Special Education from MacDaniel College of Westminster. Shaindy has worked as a special education teacher and supervisor for many years. She has coordinated and implemented numerous childrens programing, including day and overnight camps, holiday programs, and musical dramas for young girls and teens. Email Me