Staff
Rabbi Darren Levine, Executive Director
From Jewish summer camps, to college campuses, to youth groups, to synagogues, Darren has been organizing Jewish communities since he was 18 years old. He has worked Internationally 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 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 is a published author and is a contributor to the CCAR Journal, Sh’ma Magazine, and The Jewish Week. Darren and his wife Julia 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.
Talia Kushnick, Director, Hebrew School Project
Talia Kushnick holds a MA in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. She completed her undergraduate degree in Anthropology from State University of New York at Binghamton. Talia has attended the prestigious Nativ College and Leadership training program in Jerusalem and is a graduate of Ramaz in NYC. She has served as the Director Of Havurah at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan and has a background in Jewish Summer Camps and Hamagshamim, the University Zionist Movement of Hadassah. Click here to meet Talia on YouTube
Stephanie Amarnick, Assistant Director
Stephanie moved to New York City six years ago from Philadelphia after graduating from Temple University with a Marketing and Business Administration degree. Prior to joining the JCP staff four years ago, Stephanie worked at the Jewish Community Center of Manhattan. She lives in Brooklyn and spends her free time exploring, doing yoga and visiting her niece and nephew in Philadelphia.
Courtney Allison, Assistant Director, Early Childhood Center
Courtney has a BA in Education and Child Study from Smith College and a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Courtney was a classroom teacher in Seattle, New York and Philadelphia before she became a New Leaders for New Schools Fellow and then a school administrator. Courtney was the founding co-leader of the Henry Street School for International Studies, a 6-12th grade public school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Most recently she has been working with preschoool children and families, in admissions and program development at Blue School. Courtney, her husband, daughter Eleanor, and son Edwin have been attending JCP events since its beginning and are thrilled to be deepening their connection and participation at JCP.
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. Her spare time favorites – grandsons, gardening and golf.
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 Fogel, Assistant Director, Hebrew School Project
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 an extensive amount of programming experience with her into this position. In addition to being in the classroom, Maayan will be working on Shabbat, holiday, and Mitzvah programs throughout the year. Click here to meet Mayaan on YouTube.
Marielle Solan, Operations and Communications Manager
Marielle received her BA with Honors from Oberlin College, where she studied Photography, Graphic Arts and Theater. She comes 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 pursuing her passion for theater and art: In 2007, she co-founded a theater/film production company called 4th Meal Productions, for which she production manages, acts and designs marketing materials. She is also a freelance photographer; you can view her work at www.mariellesolan.com.
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!
Danny Dignazio, Facilities Manager
Danny has been with JCP from it’s 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.