Staff
Meet JCP’s Staff
Rabbi Darren Levine, Executive Director
JCP’s Founding Executive Director, Darren is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz, holds rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College, and has a doctorate in pastoral psychology with certification from the Post-Graduate Center for Mental Health in NYC. He has worked in the States at Jewish summer camps, on college campuses and in synagogues. Internationally he’s worked with Russian, Ethiopian, and Ugandan Jews and lived in Israel from 1996-1999. Prior to his appointment at JCP, Darren was the Assistant Rabbi at Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York City. He is a published author and is a regular contributor to the CCAR Journal, Sh’ma Magazine, and The Jewish Week. Darren and his wife Julia, the creator of Little Pim, live downtown with their boys, Emmett and Adrian.
Sharon Shorofsky Mack, Director, Early Childhood Center and Associate Director, JCP
Sharon Shorofsky Mack graduated from Barnard College and went on to earn a Masters Degree in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She was the Founding Director of the Brotherhood Synagogue Nursery School in Manhattan. Sharon has worked in the field of education since 1989. Sharon’s background also includes preschool teaching as well as admissions work in preschools, elementary schools and higher education. Sharon and her husband Alex have three children and live in Manhattan.
Elianna Yolkut, Director of Jewish Life
Elianna received her rabbinic ordination from the University of Judaism in Los Angeles and holds a BA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandies University. Since 2006, Elianna has served as the Assistant Rabbi and Religious School Director of Adat Ariel, a congregation in Los Angeles, CA. During her tenure at Adat Ariel, she was an adjunct faculty member at the Fingerhut School of Education at American Jewish University and was instrumental in transforming the Adat Ariel Religious School into a thriving place for supplementary Jewish Education.
Stephanie Amarnick, Assistant Director
Stephanie holds a Marketing and Business Administration degree from Temple University in Philadelphia. Stephanie has worked in the JCP Community for over five years and prior to joining the JCP Team, she worked at the Jewish Community Center of Manhattan.
Alex Kogan, Business and Finance Manager
Alex has a background in not-for-profit administration in the Russian Jewish community. Having graduated with a BA in Psychology and Economics from Hunter College, Alex has a creative side, and enjoys playing music, writing poetry and exploring the city.
Maayan Gorlin, Manager of Operations and Administrative Services
Maayan is a native of Israel living in the United States. She has her MBA from Bar Ilan University in Israel and is a graduate of Boston University. Maayan brings varied experience with her into this position. After receiving her BA, Maayan moved back to Israel where she worked in the Finance Department of Checkpoint Software Technologies, and later as a Junior Economist at Olesh Business and Economic Consulting, Ltd. After completing her MBA, she returned to the U.S and joined Dor Chadash, a Jewish non-profit organization, where she directed a portfolio of 30+ community programs. She recently got married on Jerusalem’s hills overlooking the old city.
Marcia Marks Thaler, Assistant Director, Preschool
Marcia is a life-time Manhattanite and experienced early childhood educator. Marcia received her BA from University College, NYU and did her various graduate work at institutions throughout the city. Marcia was formerly the Admissions Director at the 92nd Street Y Nursery School for over 20 years. Marcia is the mother of Karen and Lawrence and grandmother of Henry and Charlie. Her spare time favorites – grandsons, gardening and golf.
Andrew Belinfante, Associate Director, Center for Jewish Life
Andrew recently graduated from California State University Northridge with a degree in English. He is currently enrolled in a Masters Degree program at the Jewish Theological Seminary and is excited to be working at JCP. He has worked in both formal and informal Jewish education for over six years, including having worked in various Religious Schools in Los Angeles, and as a long time staff member at Camp Ramah in Ojai, California. He loves seeing movies, eating frozen yogurt, and spending time with his family!
Sarah Abrams, Jewish Life Coordinator
Sarah Abrams is returning to JCP (formerly our Program Director) having spent this last year in Jerusalem. She grew up in Washington D.C. and earned a degree in Political Science at Kenyon College in the cornfields of Ohio. She has background in publishing and in her free time she enjoys biking around Brooklyn, reading, and baking. Sarah will be coordinating JCP Community-wide holiday and Shabbat programs, teaching in the Kesher program, and managing all Jewish Life classes and events at JCP.
Marielle Solan, Hebrew School Project Manager
Marielle received her BA with Honors from Oberlin College, where she majored in Studio Art and Theater. She came to JCP having spent 18 months at Tribeca Hebrew, where she served as the school’s Marketing and Programming Associate. She spends her free time doing yoga and pursuing her passion for graphic design and photography; you can view her work at www.mariellesolan.com.
Joshua Beraha, Rabbinic Intern & Kesher and Mechina Faculty
Josh is a Rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. Originally from Providence, RI, Josh majored in History and Hebrew Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduating, he went on to earn his Masters in Education through the New York City Teaching Fellows program and taught at a public school on the Lower East Side for five years. He enjoys listening to music and cycling. Josh will be teaching in the JCP Kesher and Mechina programs, participating in Jewish holidays and Shabbat experiences, and building the Youth Group.
Barry Bryan, Welcome Desk Manager
Barry Bryan, a former preschool teacher, received his BA from Oberlin College in 2007, where he majored in Theater and English. In his free time, he enjoys biking, photography and soccer. New to the JCP community, Barry encourages you to stop by the welcome desk to introduce yourself!
Staci Myer-Klein, Administrative Assistant, Early Childhood Center
Staci is a recent graduate of New York University with a double major in Jewish History and Civilization and Psychology. She is a native of Philadelphia who now resides on the Upper West Side. Staci was employed by the Jewish National Fund for two years and has taught Hebrew School. Staci enjoys travel, “trekking” through New York City, reading, and entertaining her friends.
Danny Dignazio, Facilities Manager
Danny has been with JCP from its very first days on White Street as our inaguaral security guard. Danny was the Assistant Scout Master of Troup 304 in Harrison, NJ. He is the Past President of the Harrison Chapter Lions Club International. Danny grew up in New Jersey and has been a lifelong follower of classic rock. Click here to meet Danny and Brian on YouTube.
Brian Mieles, Facilities Manager
Brian joins the JCP Team after having spent the past four years as Facilities Manager at Tribeca Hebrew, where students fondly referred to him as “The Popcorn Man”. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brian is a die-hard Mets fan. He also is interested in graphic arts and has taken illustration classes at TCI. Click here to meet Danny and Brian on YouTube.