Our Teachers

Esther Finzi

Morah Esther is a certified educator in elementary education in both Israel and New York State. With over 30 years of teaching experience, she has worked with students from kindergarten through 12th grade in Jewish day schools and Hebrew schools. Esther is passionate about teaching Judaic studies, including Torah stories, Jewish holidays, values, and history, and is dedicated to helping students build a strong foundation in their Jewish identity and heritage.

Lydia Ma'or

Morah Lydia is from Israel and loves to teach children. This will be Lydia’s fourth year teaching at our Hebrew school. Judaism is very important to her, and she believes in helping the next generation connect deeply with their roots, language, and traditions. Lydia is committed to fostering a sense of pride, responsibility, and love for Torah and Jewish life in every student.

Sophie Lee

Morah Sophie has been teaching in supplementary Jewish Education for 3 years with a focus on elementary grades k-5. She has a BA Degree from CUNY majoring in Jewish Studies and Hebrew language and minoring in Art History. In addition to teaching, Sophie is a visual artist and small business owner with a vibrant studio practice. She brings her passion for creative thinking, crafts and experimentation to the classroom. She enjoys teaching Jewish values, traditions and stories through art projects using a range of mediums and techniques. 

Cara Bernstein

Morah Cara  has led Tot Shabbat at ACI on and off since 2012. She has taught grades K-7 at synagogues in Manhattan since 2024.   She has a creative background in media and likes to incorporate that into the lessons. She enjoys teaching Jewish culture on top of religion and strives to make learning fun to keep students engaged.

Rabbi Noa Rubin

Rabbi Noa Rubin (Rav Noa) is originally from Los Angeles and moved to NYC in 2016 to attend the dual-BA program between Barnard and List College where she studied Sociology and Talmud. After college, Rav Noa was an AmeriCorps fellow with CityYear, volunteering in a middle school in East Harlem. She then attended rabbinical school at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she also earned an MA. Rav Noa taught in several religious schools in Manhattan, staffed and led programs with JTS, Moving Traditions, and Ramah, and worked at NYU Hillel. In addition to those roles, she also grew her pastoral care skills completing a unit of clinical pastoral education (CPE) serving as a chaplain in critical care units at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx. She is passionate about all things Jewish, food, dogs, or TV. Rav Noa lives in Washington Heights with her husband and pit-mix puppy, Frankie.