Directors of Family Engagement

Ariella and Mendel Lazaros - Youth@ahavahtorah.org

We’ve been building youth programs for the last ten years. We moved to Englewood this past
summer after seven years on the Upper West Side. For the last four years, we served as the
Youth & Teen Directors at Lincoln Square Synagogue. Before LSS, we ran Youth for Pesach
programs in the Bahamas, Cancun, Mexico, and San Diego, California. As Teen Directors, we
established a partnership with the Anti Defamation League to prepare teens for combating
antisemitism on college campuses.
In NYC, Ariella taught children during their first classroom experience at My Little School:
Tribeca. Ariella helped establish Kivun, an after school Jewish educational experience for
students of Harlem Hebrew Charter School. Ariella taught fourth grade at the 92nd street Y,
Montessori curriculum at the Goddard School, and served as the President of the Parent
Association for Chabad Early Learning Center. When it’s not Shabbat, Ariella works as the
Director of Admissions for the Moriah School.
Mendel is currently pursuing a Masters in Technology Management at Columbia University (22’)
and serves as the Chief Development Officer for the Algemeiner Journal. Together, we have two
beautiful daughters, Margot (5) and Sarina (2) who can't wait to meet you in groups!

Youth Co-Chairs:

Beth Lipschitz - bethslipschitz@gmail.com

Jeff Jacobs - jeffjacobsnyc@gmail.com