Shavuot Ideas and Inspiration 2020

x Mrs. Michal Horowitz Mrs. Michal Horowitz has a Bachelor of Science from combined studies at York University, Toronto, and Brooklyn College, and she has a Master of Science from Brooklyn College, NY. She offers weekly shiurim in her home community of the Five Towns, NY, and in the greater NY area. Michal is a speaker at Yeshiva University’s Midreshet Yom Rishon and has been a featured speaker for the last four years at the RIETS Shavuos Yarchei Kallah program. At the OU, she is a featured speaker on the Speakers Bureau of the OU, and most notably, taught Sefer Yehoshua to over 4000 women across the globe as part of the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi program of the OU Women’s Initiative. She has been a guest lecturer and scholar in residence in schools and communities, both nationally and internationally. A selection of her recorded shiurim are posted on YUTorah.org and TorahAnyTime.com. Michal lives in Woodmere, NY with her husband and children.

x Ms. Raizi Chechik Ms. Raizi Chechik, the Head of School at Manhattan Day School, is a creative and dynamic educator who brings to her position over two decades of school leadership experience and a passion for learning and teaching. She studied Tanach and Counseling at Michlala Jerusalem Teacher’s College, holds an MA in Jewish History, and has done doctoral work in both Education and Jewish Studies. Ms. Chechik is a recipient of numerous professional and academic awards, among them the national Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. A graduate of the Intensive Training Program for Day School Leaders at Yeshiva University, Ms. Chechik served as a mentor to new school leaders through their Principal’s Partnership program and continues to support new Principals and Heads of School.

x Mrs. Aviva Orlian Mrs. Aviva Orlian grew up in Baltimore, MD. She earned her BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Towson State University and her MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Brooklyn College. She teaches a weekly Tanach class to women in Monsey, NY, and has also been lecturing, giving shiurim and been a featured speaker for various community-wide women’s programming for the past 20 years. Most recently, Mrs. Orlian served as a presenter for the OU Women’s Initiative Simchat Torah and Counting Toward Sinai programs. Aside from her love and passion for teaching Torah, Mrs. Orlian is a full-time practicing speech-language pathologist. Mrs. Orlian lives in Monsey with her husband and children. A selection of her lectures and essays can be found on Torah Anytime, YU Torah and OU Holidays

x Mrs. Liz Diament Liz Diament is a senior educator at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC where she has managed and developed the docent education program for almost eighteen years. In addition she manages the school tour and general public tour program. At the Gallery she is passionate about her work with teachers, helping them integrate art and critical thinking into the curriculum. A proud native of London, England, Liz graduated from Manchester University with an honors degree in Art History and a Masters in Museum Education from Bank Street College of Education in New York. As a leader in the field of experiential museum education Liz creates nationally acclaimed professional development workshops for teachers, both in person and on-line. She enjoys conducting interactive workshops exploring how Jewish texts, history and ideas can be interpreted and understood through the prism of works of art.

x Mrs. Ann Koffsky Ann D. Koffsky is the author and artist of more than 30 published books including Creation Colors and Judah Maccabee Goes to the Doctor. Previous to her position at Behrman House, Ann was an adjunct professor of art at Stern College for Women. Inviting and joyful, Ann’s works utilizes a unique combination of acrylic paint, collage and papercut techniques. Several of her illustrated books have been PJ Library selections and her book Noah’s Swim-a-thon was listed as a notable book by the Association of Jewish Libraries. To learn more about Ann’s artwork or books, visit her website at www.annkoffsky.com or follow her on instagram at JewishArtbyAnn.