Our Staff
JCP: Explore, Learn, Celebrate!
Rabbi Darren Levine, Executive Director - Click Here
From camps, to college campuses, to youth groups, to synagogues, Darren has been organizing Jewish communities for over 15 years. He has worked with Russian, Ethiopian, and Ugandan Jews and lived in Israel from 1996-1999. He is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz, holds rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College, and is currently working on a doctorate in pastoral psychology with an emphasis on the family. Darren and his wife Julia live downtown with their son Emmett.
Sharon Shorofsky Mack, Director, Early Childhood Center - Click Here
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 and has worked in the field of education for over fifteen years. Sharon's background also includes preschool teaching as well as admissions work in preschools, independent schools and higher education. Sharon and her husband Alex have three children and live in Manhattan.
Hollis Gauss, Director of Jewish Life - Click Here
Hollis Gauss has been educating Jewish children and their families for more than fifteen years, beginning part time as a Hebrew School teacher and camp counselor, and growing into a full-time career. Her own Jewish education began at Congregation Beth El in Sudbury, Massachusetts, and was supplemented by many summers at Camp Ramah in New England. Hollis holds masters degrees in Human Services Management and Jewish Communal Service, both from Brandeis University. Prior to coming to JCP, Hollis was the Director of Education at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in Manhattan.
Stephanie Amarnick, Assistant Director
Stephanie moved to New York City three years ago from Philadelphia after graduating from Temple University with a Marketing and Business Administration degree. Stephanie lives in Manhattan and spends her free time dancing, doing yoga and visiting her niece in Philadelphia.
Sarah Abrams, Program Director
Sarah graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in Political Science. She spent a year in Jerusalem studying at Hebrew University's Graduate Year Program and learning Hebrew. She lives in Brooklyn and has worked for a glossy fashion magazine, a couple of newspapers, and a Jewish organization. She likes coconut sorbet, hula hooping, writing, and dancing.
Marcia Marks Thaler, Assistant Director, Early Childhood Center
Marcia is a life-time Manhattanite and experienced early childhood educator. She comes to us from the 92nd St. Y Nursery School where she was admissions director. Marcia is the mother of Karen and Lawrence, and the self described "insane grandma" of Henry.
Alex Kogan, Administrator
Alex comes to JCP from a background in not-for-profit administration in the Russian Jewish community. Alex is currently studying psychology and he enjoys playing music and writing poetry.
Shari Pick, Camp Coordinator
Shari joined the JCP-ECC in 2007 after having completed four years teaching at The Brotherhood Synagogue Nursery School, most recently as Head Teacher of four-year-olds. Shari is completing her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education at Bank Street College of Education. She has spent several summers managing children and staff at Camp Poyntelle Lewis Village.
From camps, to college campuses, to youth groups, to synagogues, Darren has been organizing Jewish communities for over 15 years. He has worked with Russian, Ethiopian, and Ugandan Jews and lived in Israel from 1996-1999. He is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz, holds rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College, and is currently working on a doctorate in pastoral psychology with an emphasis on the family. Darren and his wife Julia live downtown with their son Emmett.
Sharon Shorofsky Mack, Director, Early Childhood Center - Click Here
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 and has worked in the field of education for over fifteen years. Sharon's background also includes preschool teaching as well as admissions work in preschools, independent schools and higher education. Sharon and her husband Alex have three children and live in Manhattan.
Hollis Gauss, Director of Jewish Life - Click Here
Hollis Gauss has been educating Jewish children and their families for more than fifteen years, beginning part time as a Hebrew School teacher and camp counselor, and growing into a full-time career. Her own Jewish education began at Congregation Beth El in Sudbury, Massachusetts, and was supplemented by many summers at Camp Ramah in New England. Hollis holds masters degrees in Human Services Management and Jewish Communal Service, both from Brandeis University. Prior to coming to JCP, Hollis was the Director of Education at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in Manhattan.
Stephanie Amarnick, Assistant Director
Stephanie moved to New York City three years ago from Philadelphia after graduating from Temple University with a Marketing and Business Administration degree. Stephanie lives in Manhattan and spends her free time dancing, doing yoga and visiting her niece in Philadelphia.
Sarah Abrams, Program Director
Sarah graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in Political Science. She spent a year in Jerusalem studying at Hebrew University's Graduate Year Program and learning Hebrew. She lives in Brooklyn and has worked for a glossy fashion magazine, a couple of newspapers, and a Jewish organization. She likes coconut sorbet, hula hooping, writing, and dancing.
Marcia Marks Thaler, Assistant Director, Early Childhood Center
Marcia is a life-time Manhattanite and experienced early childhood educator. She comes to us from the 92nd St. Y Nursery School where she was admissions director. Marcia is the mother of Karen and Lawrence, and the self described "insane grandma" of Henry.
Alex Kogan, Administrator
Alex comes to JCP from a background in not-for-profit administration in the Russian Jewish community. Alex is currently studying psychology and he enjoys playing music and writing poetry.
Shari Pick, Camp Coordinator
Shari joined the JCP-ECC in 2007 after having completed four years teaching at The Brotherhood Synagogue Nursery School, most recently as Head Teacher of four-year-olds. Shari is completing her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education at Bank Street College of Education. She has spent several summers managing children and staff at Camp Poyntelle Lewis Village.
