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Director of Religious School Education Ava Kurnow

ava-kurnow Ava joined the Lee and Frank Goldberg Family Religious School staff as Director of Judaic Studies and assumed the role of Director of Religious School Education in 2011. Before joining Beth Israel, Ava worked as director of lifelong learning at Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For 23 years before that, she was director of education at Temple Chai in Phoenix, Arizona. While in Phoenix she also served on the city's Educator's Forum and taught workshops for new Jewish principals and other colleagues at conferences and at Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) biennials.

Ava's creative programming has earned her awards from the National Association of Temple Educators (NATE), where she served as a consulting board member, and from the Center of Advancement for Jewish Education (CAJE). She won the Belle Latchman Award from the Council for Jews with Special Needs, where she also served as a consulting board member. A contributor to the URJ's new and cutting edge "Chai Curriculum," Ava has published many articles in Jewish periodicals. Ava holds a BS in Accounting and a Masters in Educational Administration and Supervision from Arizona State University. She has studied at the University of Judaism, the Hartman Institute and Pardes in Jerusalem. Ava and her husband, Michael Kurnow, reside in Leucadia. She has two grown sons and two grandchildren.

Director of Religious School Education

Beth Faber Jacobs

Teacher_Pics_010 Beth Faber Jacobs has been the Congregation Beth Israel K-2 religious school music teacher for about 7 years. Playing guitar and singing Jewish music since she was a teen, Beth studied opera at UCLA and served eight years as the first cantorial soloist for Congregation Dor Hadash in San Diego. She is a member of the Guild of Temple Musicians and Temple Adat Shalom adult choir, and she performs as cantorial soloist at life cycle and community-wide Jewish events in San Diego. When not singing, Beth is an attorney for the State of Califor.

Natalie Freedman

Natalie Freedman has taught every grade in Jewish schools from preschool to high school. She finds her 4th graders deligthful and eager to learn. Natalie was the Director of Temple Beth Israel Day School and Maimonides Day School of Phoenix for 13 years. It was one of the first five Reform day schools in America. She also has a deep history with Congregation Beth Israel of San Diego. She taught 7th, 8th, and 9th Grades in the Day school. One of her daughters had a Bat Mitzvah here and another daughter, Cara, who ran ShowBIS for many years was married here. Natalie has 5 children and 8 grandchildren. Her hobbies are gardening, gourmet cooking, and writing. She has an MSW in Social Work and a teaching credential. She feels that "the Religious School at Beth Israel has recently taken a new direction and it is organized and very exciting. The personal care of Ava and Debbie to every single child (and teacher) makes for a wonderful atmosphere in which to teach."

Rachel Sampson

My name is Rachel Sampson and I am thrilled to be returning to my home here at Beth Israel. Beth Israel introduced me to Jewish camp where I attended first as a camper and then as a counselor. Camp Newman introduced me to Israel through the NFTY EIE program. I spent a semester in high school learning and experiencing the beautiful language and culture of Israel. My Israel experience inspired me to continue learning and practicing my Hebrew. While in college I stayed connected with Judaism by becoming a student leader at Hillel and studying Hebrew for 3 years. My interest in working with children began with my experience as a Madricha at Beth Israel and as a Camp counselor at Camp Newman. Throughout college I was involved in the local community in public schools working with primary students in the garden, tutoring at-risk middle school youth, and interning with child protective services (CPS). I recently returned from an 8-month assignment in Tanzania, East Africa. I love working with children, and my creativity blossoms when thinking about lessons, programs, and games to help them learn and experience Judaism.

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Erev Shabbat Services

Clergy-Led Friday Evening Services

Join us every Friday evening to welcome Shabbat with song, prayers and blessings. These services often feature notable speakers and the beautiful music of our Youth and Teen Choir, Adult Choir and Chai Band.

Shabbat Services

torahs sanctuary congregation beth israel

Clergy-Led Shabbat Morning and Afternoon Services

Most Saturdays Congregation Beth Israel holds Shabbat services in the mornings at 10:00 a.m. and afternoons at 4:00 p.m. in our beautiful Glickman-Galinson sanctuary. These services celebrate the Bar/Bat Mitzvahs of our members and are open to the entire community. Please join us and celebrate Shabbat!