Youth Institute Madrichimot

Madrichimot is the gender-neutral plural Hebrew word for "educational guide." At Malkhut, we see our teachers as guides and fonts of knowledge to aid in your child's exploration of their Jewish identity. Each teacher chooses the appropriate form that feels true for them - madrich (male), madricha (female), madricheh (gender-neutral). To learn more about our use of gender-neutral Hebrew, visit the Nonbinary Hebrew Project.

Tkiya (Malkhut & Me and Music Madricheh)

Tkiya creates participatory music experiences that meet participants where they are – physically, psychologically, and spiritually – to find their unique connection to Jewish culture and community. Founded in New York City in 2014 by Carla Friend, who found herself on a journey of re-discovering her Jewish identity through music, Tkiya helps others do the same.

Lucy Robins (Shtilim Madricheh)

Lucy Robins (she/her) is a long-time educator, organizer, and lifelong New Yorker. She has been a public school science teacher for the past twelve years, and is currently finishing a doctorate in education at the CUNY Graduate Center. She has loved being part of the Malkhut community over the past few years, and is thrilled to be serving in the role of Shtilim Madricheh for the 2024-2025 school year. Lucy lives with her husband and son in Jackson Heights.

Marina Bardash Nebro (Anafim Madricha)

Marina (she/her/hers) is excited to bring her non-traditional and museum education training to the children of Malkhut. With a background in art history and history, and professional experience teaching all ages, she is passionate about fostering diverse, accessible, and loving learning-based spaces. It is her belief that education is a tool for building strong communities. As an educational guide at Malkhut, she will put students front and center in their learning and spiritual journey. Through democratic teaching and learning, we are all experts in our own experience.

Rachel Kunstadt(Mekhinim Madricha)

Rachel Kunstadt (she/her) is a social work graduate student and aspiring psychoanalyst. In her previous life, she spent twelve years freelancing as a musical theatre writer, playwright, and theatre producer while simultaneously working full time at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, where she oversaw programming in the areas of adult Jewish learning, meditation & spirituality, Ulpan, Jewish holidays, LGBTQ+ community, leading ImmerseNYC (open mikveh). Rachel most recently worked in the counseling office of a middle school in East Harlem, leading the Gender-Sexuality Alliance, seeing seven students for weekly psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and conducting crisis intervention. She lives in Astoria with her shih tzu Bernie and cat Marzipan.

Sharone David (Mekhinim Hebrew Decoding & Olim Prayerbook Hebrew Morah)

Sharone David (she/her) really enjoys teaching Hebrew! She has taught Hebrew and Jewish studies at reform synagogues, Jewish Day Schools, and home settings (groups and individuals) all over NYC for the past 20 years. She enjoys working with children of all ages and is flexible in matching her teaching to each student’s individual learning pace, strengths, and challenges. Keeping learning fun and engaging is key! Sharone is a fluent Hebrew and English speaker, having grown up in Israel, as well as in the United States. She was a soldier in the Israeli Air Force and has a BA in Psychology from CUNY. Having lived in both countries has given her a unique perspective on both American and Israeli culture. Sharone currently resides in Jackson Heights with her 12-year-old son, Aviv, who is in the Olim Program. She enjoys reading, coming up with healthy and tasty meals, swing dancing, and playing Settlers of Catan with her son.

C. Meranda Flachs-Surmanek (Olim Social Justice Madricheh)

C. Meranda Flachs-Surmanek (they/them/theirs) is a civically engaged artist and popular educator who makes living history projects and new works of theater. Meranda works with people to explore our relationships with the places we live in and each other. As an educator for over 10 years, they work with public school teachers to create more room for wonder, curiosity, and relationships across the lines that divide us. Meranda is a graduate of New York University and Virginia Tech, where they obtained their Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning and Master's of Fine Arts in Theatre for Public Dialogue. As a facilitator, they work with organizers to democratize historical narratives and develop creative projects that serve as places for belonging, learning, and healing with Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia. With the Freedom Festival, they are growing a grassroots movement that celebrates the full commitment of the U.S. to emancipation. In their free time, they study Yiddish dance with Avia Moore and play the fiddle in the old time music tradition, having learned from Earl White. At Malkhut, they will facilitate their favorite work: making inaccessible civic processes more transparent, equitable, and fun; creating democratic space to host complex conversations; and enabling us to build connections between our lived experience, the lived experience of others, and the impact local/state policies have on our shared world. www.merandissime.com.

Emily Herzlin (Olim Madricha)

Emily (she/her/hers) is interested in Jewish spirituality, particularly the intersections of mindfulness, meditation, and Judaism. Emily hopes to help spiritual seekers connect to the powerful practices of mindfulness, compassion, and ethical action within Judaism. Emily cares deeply about social justice and supporting interfaith families. Emily lives in Queens, NY with her spouse, Kris, and is the Rabbinic Intern at Malkhut. She is the founder and guiding teacher of Mindful Astoria, a local meditation community. She has an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from Columbia University.

Sophie Bushwick (Olim Madricha)

Sophie Bushwick (she/her) loved learning Hebrew in school and began helping other students with the language as a teenager. She has been tutoring students in Jewish studies, prayer and Hebrew ever since. Sophie lives in Jackson Heights and works in Manhattan as a science writer.

Jim Talbott (Olim Madrich)

Jim Talbott (he/him) has been teaching Olim at Malkhut since the beginning. Previously he taught 5th grade Hebrew school in Chester, CT. He is also active in Jews for Racial and Economic Justice's Freedom to Thrive campaign.

Cantor Miriam Eskenasy (Olim Madricha)

Cantor Miriam Eskenasy is Cantor Emerita of KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation on Chicago's South side. Since her retirement, she continues to serve and impart her knowledge gained over the years tutoring b'nei mitzvah students and teaching Hebrew and Adult Education classes in person and on zoom. What she loves most about tutoring is seeing the transformation from child to responsible, young Jewish adult and how a positive first Jewish experience influences who they become later in life!

Born in Bucharest, Romania to a Zionist family, Miriam immigrated to Israel when she was 10 years old and to the US at the age of 16. She married and raised her family in Jackson Heights, New York. After 20+ years in the business world, she returned to school, attending the Hebrew Union College, JIR, DFSSM. Earning a Master of Sacred Music degree, Miriam was ordained as a Cantor in 2002 and has served congregations in New York, New Jersey and the Midwest until 2016.

Five years ago, Miriam moved to Portland to be closer to her daughter, Carin (principal bassoon of Oregon Symphony) and grandson Elias. Since her move, she has been busy tutoring b'nei mitzvah, as well as teaching 6th and 7th graders at Congregations Beth Israel and Beit Haverim. When she is not at the symphony, Miriam has taken up the hobbies of weaving and walking in the beautiful parks of Portland!