Our Staff

Rabbi David Edelman, Dean ob"m

 Rabbi Edelman was the leader of LYA since 1950. In addition to visiting people in the community, Rabbi Edelman visited the classroom sharing his life experiences with the students. He was truly an inspiration to us all. LYA is dedicated to continuing his mission since his passing in January 2015. May his memory be for a blessing.

Rabbi Noach Kosofsky, Director

Rabbi Kosofsky has been a member of the LYA team since 1984. Rabbi Kosofsky received a B.A. in Religious Studies from Rabbinical College of America and an M.A. in Religious Studies from United Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Brooklyn, NY.

E-mail: [email protected]

Stephanie Zolotor, Director of Education

Stephanie joined the LYA team in 2010. She received a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from UMass Amherst and Masters degree in Education from Smith College. Stephanie is the 2012 recipient of the Harold Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. She is also the 2012 recipient of the National Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.

E-mail: szolotor@LYA.org 

  Early Childhood Department

Lilia Luzhanskiy , Early Childhood Director

Lilia Luzhanskiy joined the LYA team in August 2010. She received her degree in Early Childhood from Open University, Tel Aviv, Israel and the Levinsky College of Education, Tel Aviv, Israel. Lilia Luzhanskiy holds a degree of Associate in Arts from Springfield Technical Community College.

E-mail: lilia@LYA.org 

Kayla Larrivee, Early Childhood Teacher - Toddler Class

Kayla joined the LYA team in 2020. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and Photography from Holyoke Community College and Greenfield Community College. Kayla is certified in infant, toddler and preschool care. 

Keri Siwicki, Early Childhood Teacher Pre 3 Class

Keri joined the LYA team in the fall of 2018. She received her BS and MEd from Westfield State University .  Keri began working in the Chicopee Public School system in 2011.

Stephanie Windyka, Early Childhood Teacher Pre 4 Class

Stephanie joined the LYA staff in the fall of 2013 after interning at LYA in the 2012-2013 school year. She holds a Bachelors Degree from Bay Path University.

Click here to see Stephanie's Class in action.

Faigie Wolff, Early Childhood Judaic Teacher  

Office Staff

Lynn Menard, Bookkeeper

Lynn Menard joined the LYA team in October 2006. Lynn received certification in Accounting through the Business Administration Program at Springfield Technical Community College.

E-mail: [email protected]

Esther Kosofsky, Assistant to Administration & Food Services Director

E-mail: [email protected]

Judaic Staff

Yocheved Adelman, Kindergarten and First Grade Judaic

Yocheved has been a part of the LYA team since 1988. She received her Judaic teacher's certification from Bais Rivkah Teachers Seminary in New York, with an emphasis on Early Childhood and Elementary Education. In 1997, Yocheved was a recipient of the Harold Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. Yocheved lectures nationally on Jewish topics.

Rabbi Chaim Kosofsky, Zekelman Standard Coordinator/Outreach

Rabbi C. Kosofsky has been a part of the LYA team since 1988. He received a B.A. from the Rabbinical College of America in New Jersey. He received his rabbinical ordination from United Lubavitcher Yeshiva, Brooklyn, NY. Rabbi C. Kosofsky is a 2001 recipient of the Harold Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. He received the 2007 Sidney Taylor Notable Book Award for Young Readers for his book Much, Much Better.

Rabbi Lavy Kosofsky, Middle School Judaic

Rabbi Lavy Kosofsky joined the LYA team in the summer of 2014. He received rabbinical ordination from ULY, Brooklyn, NY. Rabbi Lavy teaches Talmud and is the coordinator the the YJP (Young Jewish Professionals) Program in W. MA and the Jewish Business Network.

Rochel Leah Kosofsky, Middle School Judaic

Rochel Leah has been a part of the LYA team since 1988. She received her Judaic teacher's certification from Bais Rivkah Teachers Seminary in New York, with an emphasis on Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She was a recipient of the 1997 and 2008 Harold Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. Rochel Leah was a 2008 recipient of the National Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.

Rabbi Yosef Kulek, Middle School Judaic

Rabbi Kulek joined the LYA team in 2019. He received his rabbinical ordination from Ohel Levi Yitzchack V'Chana in Israel. He is the Executive Director of Chabad Chevra in West Hartford, CT.  Rabbi Kulek teaches Talmud and Jewish Law.

 Mrs. Mushky Ostrozynski,Second and Fifth Grade Judaic

Mushky joined the LYA team in 2021. Mushky taught in Chicago at a Reggio Emilia preschool and at the Chicago Cheder.

Rabbi Aizik Schwei, Third & Fourth Judaic

Rabbi Aizik Schwei joined the LYA team in 2021. He received rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Dovid Shochet, the president of the Toronto rabbinical council and has completed an advanced course in Contemporary Jewish Law. Rabbi Schwei began teaching in 2013. He teaches a college accredited online course to teens. Rabbi Schwei lives with his family in Norwich, Connecticut and is a Rabbi and Director of Chabad of Norwich and CTeen Eastern Connecticut. 

Rabbi Yakov Wolff, Adult Education and Outreach

Rabbi Wollf has been a part of the LYA team since 1996. He received his rabbinical ordination from United Lubavitcher Yeshiva, Brooklyn, NY. Rabbi Wolff is the 2002 recipient of the Harold Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. He is also the 2002 recipient of the National Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.

Secular Studies Staff

Chris Bailey, First & Fifth Grade Secular

Chris joined the LYA team in 2020. He holds  a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and American Studies from Springfield College. This is his seventh year teaching, having taught both fourth and fifth grade previously. 

 Dr. Ted Blaisdell, Middle School Math and Science

Dr B. as he is called by his students joined LYA in 2021 and  began life as an MD practicing Family Medicine. He earned a BA in religion at Dartmouth, an MA in English at Lehigh University and MD from Hahnemann Medical College.  For the last 17 years he taught Science and Math to 6th-8th graders in Massachusetts.  When he is not rampaging through the science lab, Ted likes to perform and direct operas and musicals, especially for Valley Light Opera! 

 Lane Futrell, Kindergarten and Second Grade Secular

Lane Futrell joined the LYA staff in the summer of 2015. Mrs. Futrell received her Masters of Arts in Teaching from Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and holds an educator's license in Early Childhood: Students with and without Disabilities. With her background in school-based occupational therapy, she is well versed in special education laws and implementation of student IEP's.

Rosaleen Lewis, Middle School Language Arts & History, and School Media Specialist

Rosaleen Lewis joined the LYA team in 2011. She received her B.S. from Springfield College in History/Education and is pursuing her Masters degree in Library Science at Simmons College. Ms. Lewis also completed course work in Conflict Transformation. Rosaleen was the proud recipient of an award for Excellence in  teaching from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation in 2019.

Keri Siwicki, Third & Fourth Grade Secular

Keri joined the LYA team in the fall of 2018. She received her BS and MEd from Westfield State University .  Keri began working in the Chicopee Public School system in 2011.

Specialists

Samantha Owen, PE Instructor

Pamela Kalman, Art Specialist

Hagit Ben Naim, Kitchen Staff

Yocheved Gesin, Kitchen Staff