OUR TEAM
|
MakomNY has a vibrant team of experienced professionals, educators, clergy, musicians and volunteers who bring a fresh and dynamic energy to our community.
SHERRY GUTES
Director of Programs [email protected] As Makom begins our 12th year, Sherry continues as our dynamic Director of Programs. Sherry focuses on all of our many programs offered to our Makom community for all stages and ages. Sherry is the coordinator of our growing B'nai Mitzvah program and our Adult Learning programs, and she is thrilled and honored to continue to partner with Rabbi Bravo to create outstanding, meaningful and impactful programming opportunities for the MakomNY Community. Sherry comes with many years of experience as a Jewish communal professional and takes great joy in her work as a Jewish educator, reaching and teaching children, adults and families. She believes that her work with MakomNY brings together the sum total of all of her experiences in different and unique ways, and she is excited to transition to this new role. 
CHEN KALFON
Director of Moadon [email protected] We welcome Chen (pronounced ch like challah) to our Makom team as of August 1, 2026. Chen will be partnering with Barrie and Rabbi Bravo to oversee the day-to-day running of our Moadon Hebrew school program. Chen brings a powerful blend of high-level operational leadership, educational expertise, and a deep passion for Jewish community building. Chen has an extensive background in leadership and education both in the United States and Israel. Locally, she served as a Hebrew Teacher at the Luria School in the NYC area. In Israel, she taught Hebrew and prepared students for exams at ORT Yad Leibovitz Netanya. Beyond the classroom, Chen has built an impressive track record as a dynamic people leader and operations manager. Her diverse leadership experience includes serving as the National Sales Director for Tnuva USA and Canada, managing complex operations as the JFK Flight Security Manager for El Al Airlines, and leading over 30 officers and soldiers as a Captain in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) within the education force. Chen holds an LL.B. (Law Degree) from Ono Academic College in Israel and a B.A. in Business and Management from Derby University in the UK. As a native Hebrew speaker, she brings an authentic cultural and linguistic perspective to our learning community. Chen resides in Great Neck with her husband and their four children. 
BARRIE DRATCH
Associate Director of Moadon: Director of Teen Programs [email protected] Barrie begins her fifth year working as part of the Makom team. She continues the position of Associate Director of our Moadon, which includes communicating with parents, overseeing the Madrichim program and administering our Moadon Hebrew School program. Barrie continues to lead our Teen Program, working to engage and connect our teens to one another and to our greater Makom community. Barrie is a retired elementary school teacher and spends summers as the Head Counselor for the girls’ side at Camp Starlight. Barrie is a former member and former vice president of the school board at the Glen Cove School District. She enjoys playing tennis and canasta (but not at the same time) and is a devoted sun worshipper. She is the proud mom of two adult daughters. 
DAVID BRAVO
Musical Director David makes high level music an accessible part of our worship and learning, serving as music director, accompanist, producer and arranger. He arranges concerts and musical programs of all kinds for MakomNY. David works in partnership with Rabbi Bravo and Cantorial Soloist Linor Ein Gedy to bring an exceptional level of music and song to prayer and activities within the community. David's career as a professional musician includes playing with such luminaries as Harry Belafonte, Bo Diddley, Jack Bruce and Dave Matthews. In addition, David was the Musical Director for Debbie Friedman, z'l, contemporary Jewish music icon. 
JACKIE KLIGERMAN
Special Educator Dr. Jacqueline Kligerman is a teacher at Moadon who has a great deal of experience, education and passion for both Judaism and children with special needs. She works with small groups of students who need additional support in learning Hebrew. Jackie is a retired special educator who served as a teacher, clinician, administrator and school principal in a variety of public and private educational settings throughout her career. She holds a doctoral degree from Teachers College, Columbia University where she taught courses in psychology and education. 
RACHEL BIELER, Moadon Teacher
Rachel serves as a teacher for grades 3 -7. She has been teaching in both public school, Jewish day school and congregational school settings for many years. She has been with MakomNY since our inception and she cannot think of a more welcoming and meaningful place to embrace Judaism. She is thrilled to be teaching at Moadon. 
SIMA MATTHES, Moadon Teacher
Sima is joining us for her sixth year at Moadon, where she teaches beginning Alef students and our 6th and 7th graders. She deeply believes in personally connecting students with prayer and ritual, and enjoys working with students with different learning styles. Sima previously worked in congregations in Old Westbury and Lynbrook, and was the Jewish Culture Specialist at the Friedberg JCC's summer camp. 
ORI PAGOVICH, Moadon Teacher
Ori is beginning his seventh year as a teacher in our Moadon, bringing tremendous energy and spirit to his students. Ori has a great passion for Judaism, Jewish learning and Israel, and he enjoys dialoguing, questioning and pondering with our students of all ages. A financial planner by day, Ori loves to spend his afternoons with our Moadon students. |
|
