Kehilah School Staff


Our educators are accomplished, dedicated and devoted to the enrichment of our children and their families. Our goal is to provide the best quality education for every child in a stimulating and nurturing environment and to create a desire to learn and integrate Judaism into their everyday lives.

Ronit Razinovsky
Director, Education and Family Engagement
914-835-2850 x125


Ronit Razinovsky joined the JCCH family as the Director of the Kehilah School in 2016. Born and raised in Israel, her first experience as an educator was during Ronit’s IDF service, serving as a “Morah-Chayelet” for young and underprivileged soldiers. That experience inspired Ronit to continue her studies at the Hakibbutzim College, where she graduated as an Elementary school teacher. When Ronit moved to Westchester County, she began her career as a Jewish Educator at Solomon Schechter School of Westchester. She then served as Education Director at the Shaarei Tikvah Religious School in Scarsdale for 20 years before joining JCCH.

Ronit’s goal is to bring the language of teaching standards, collaboration, and professional development into her school culture. A firm believer in lifelong learning, Ronit continued her education and received a Masters in Jewish Education from the William Davidson School at the Jewish Theological Seminary. During the summer of 2018, Ronit was accepted to the Harvard Graduate School of Education for an intensive course entitled Improving Schools – The Art of Leadership. She was part of a cohort of the Leadership Institute, a collaborative JTS/Hebrew Union College program and she also trained for two years with the Jewish New Teacher Project, mentoring educators to increase teacher effectiveness and retention and student achievement.

Over the years, Ronit has developed warm relationships with students and parents, while at the same time, working closely with her colleagues to develop best practices for teaching in the 21st century. Ronit is a vibrant, creative, passionate Jewish educator and the mother of three grown sons and a grandmother to two twin girls.

Jeff Kelman
Youth Director & Director of Community Service
914-714-1257


Jeffrey Kelman has been with the JCCH for over ten years. He wears many hats, serving as our Youth Director and Director of Community Service and also as a teacher in our Kehilah School. He is a graduate of Drexel University and served as the Controller of the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic for many years.

Jeff’s strong passion for Judaism, Torah, and youth and families of all backgrounds eventually led him to a very successful career change transitioning to Jewish education and youth and family programming. He graduated Gratz Hebrew College in Philadelphia earning his Hebrew School teaching certificate. Jeff has served as a Director of Jewish Education, a Youth Director and as a Director of Family Programming in synagogues in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Westchester County. This experience has allowed Jeff to build his career bringing the joy and beauty of Judaism to scores of youth, teens, and adults of all ages.

Jeff’s other passions include his loyal support of his sports teams, swimming in the Long Island Sound and raising tropical fish and reptiles. Jeff and his wife are thrilled to be a part of the very special JCCH Family.

Kehilah School Teachers


Shorashim (Kindergarten & 1st) – Emily Herzfeld

Bet & Gimmel (2nd & 3rd) – Sherry Kfare

Dalet & Hay (4th & 5th)  – Irit Hadari

Vav 6th – Jeff Kelman

Zayin 7th – Jeff Kelman

High School – Jeff Kelman