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Rabbi Samuel Yolen received semikha (was ordained) as a rabbi and received a master of Arts in Jewish Studies in the Spring of 2018 from the Academy of Jewish Religion, an accredited pluralistic seminary in Yonkers, New York. Rabbi Yolen has over twenty years working in the Jewish world, from humble beginnings as a summer camp rabbi at Camp Modin in Maine, to junior positions in reform, conservative, and renewal synagogues in Hastings on the Hudson, Mt. Kisco, Port Chester, and Riverdale New York. Those congregations are Temple Beth Shalom, Beth Torah, Knesses Yisrael, and Congregation Tehilah. Rabbi Yolen has extensive experience ranging from B’nai Mitzvah tutoring to dynamic programming, counseling, and officiating life cycle events. He brings his enthusiasm for tradition in innovative and musical ways to Kesher Israel as well as in tailoring Jewish rituals to suit the needs of his congregants. Rabbi Yolen has also been a rabbinic intern at senior living residences such as “The Hebrew Home” in Riverdale New York, and “The Jewish Home for the Elderly,” in Fairfield CT, where he learned Jewish pastoral skills. Before joining the KI team, Rabbi Yolen worked as the full-time pulpit rabbi in Lebanon PA (2018-2023), and as a Lebanon VA Hospital chaplain, receiving four CPE units and over 1600 supervised hours in a hospital setting. His tour of duty at the Lebanon VA was the hospice ward and the locked behavior unit. Before becoming clergy, Rabbi Yolen received his undergraduate degree from Western Connecticut State University in Finance and Economics.
Lannie Hulnick joined Kesher Israel as the Executive Director in August 2014. She has worked in the Jewish Communal field for over 20 years. Lannie started her career as the Regional Teen Coordinator for the Jewish Community Center of Greater Philadelphia, then moved on to spend 5 years working for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. During this time, Lannie also worked in Jewish Education first with the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College and then in 2015 she helped establish the Chester County Hebrew High School.
In her role as Executive Director, Lannie helps manage the day-to-day operations of Kesher Israel Congregation. She works in partnership with Lay Leadership, Clergy, the Education Director and the Preschool Directors to optimize function of the organization. A true definition of an extrovert, Lannie thrives on meeting new people and sharing her love for the Kesher Israel Community with everyone she comes in contact with.
Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Lannie, her husband Scott and children Hannah and Andrew live in West Chester PA. When she is not at the synagogue you will find her spending time as a family at Philadelphia Union games, at FC Delco Soccer games cheering on Hannah, driving Andrew around to trampoline parks, ice skating rinks or his favorite Parkour gym, spending quality time with Scott and snuggling their Yorkshire Terrier- Chip Charles.
Rachel Mussaf (Muh-suf) serves as the Education Director and is an integral part of the David Ari and Michael Eric Zukin Religious School. Rachel graduated from the University of Arizona in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Dramatic Theory and received her Elementary Education Teaching certification from West Chester University in 2005. Shortly after graduating, Rachel began teaching Hebrew School at Congregation Beth Shalom in Wilmington, DE and found her true passion! Jewish Education is very important to Rachel and it shows in her dedication and creativity when working with Jewish children and their families. In 2009, Rachel became the Assistant Director of Education at Congregation Beth Shalom and helped to grow their Hebrew School for 5 years. In 2014, Rachel began working at Temple Beth El in Newark, DE as their Synagogue Administrator. This position was all encompassing and taught Rachel many of the skills she holds today. While at Temple Beth El, Rachel not only served as Administrator, but she was in charge of payroll/billing and served as the B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator as well. In the Summer of 2017, Rachel was offered the Religious School Administrator position at Temple Beth El in addition to her other responsibilities. Rachel was thrilled to be getting back into a school setting and creating new and unique programs for the families at TBE. Over the course of her time within the Religious School, Rachel specialized in bringing new, creative and innovative programs to the students and families at TBE. In addition to her full-time positions, Rachel has also been a private Hebrew and B’nai Mitzvah tutor since 2014.
Rachel and her husband Josh live in Claymont, Delaware with their 2 children, Jenna (10) and Henry (8). Rachel’s family have been members at Congregation Beth Shalom in Wilmington, DE since 2007.
Gail DeMarco began in 1998 as a co-director and teacher at Kesher Israel Preschool / Kindergarten. She has been working in the field of Early Childhood Education since 1988. Gail works mostly in an administrative capacity with teachers and families, as well as teaching a toddler class. She also leads the Tot Shabbat Service with Rohna Paskow.
Gail earned her Early Childhood Education degree from Temple University in 1982 and received her Core Director’s Certificate in 2006. Gail is the recipient of the Ateret Kavod award for an outstanding and well-rounded Jewish early childhood program. Gail continues her education through various workshops and with the Director’s Council at Jewish Learning Venture. She and Rohna continually develop curriculum at the preschool and kindergarten to remain current with the Pennsylvania State Standards and to make sure they are involved with the best and most current early childhood practices.
Gail has a fulfilling home life as well. She shares thirty-five years of marriage with Howard and has two young adult children, Bryan, Lauren and her husband Phil and beautiful grandson, Owen. She loves vacations (especially going to the beach), trying new restaurants and spending time with family and friends!
Sara Kawalek began teaching at Kesher Israel Preschool in 2009. In 2020, she became the Assistant Director and has been working as Co-Director since 2022. Sara also assists with the Tot Shabbat Service with Gail DeMarco and Rohna Paskow.
Sara earned her degree in Early Childhood Education from West Chester University in 1996. She has continued her education through the years through various professional development trainings with Jewish Learning Venture, NAEYC and other organizations. In addition to being a part of the preschool, Sara taught religious school at Kesher Israel for 11 years.
Sara and her husband Scott have lived in West Chester ever since they graduated WCU in 1992. She has been married for 25 years and has 2 amazing daughters, Emily and Dana, who are both Kesher Israel Preschool graduates. Emily works at a Jewish Day School and Dana, while attending WCU, spends afternoons working at Kesher Israel Preschool (L’dor V’dor). Sara’s family have happily been members of Kesher Israel Congregation since 2004.
Marci has been an employee of Kesher Israel since 2005 and a member of the Kesher Israel Office Staff since 2012. After working as an attorney, Marci and her family moved to West Chester where Marci taught in the Preschool and the Religious School. Marci also served as the Bar and bat Mitzvah instructor for 10 years. As Director of Operations, she manages the day-to-day operations of the synagogue office, manages vendor relationships, provides support for the synagogue and religious school, assists in programming and works with our families to coordinate all aspects of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah process.
Marci and her husband Rick have been members of Kesher Israel since 2002 and live in West Chester with their wonderful children Julia and Harry.