Yael was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and emigrated to the US with her husband, Steve in 1993. They have lived in Boston for 28 years and have raised 2 children in Newton, MA: Joshua (24) lives and works in New York City in consulting and Rachel (21) is a Senior at University of Miami.

Yael trained as a lawyer in South Africa and then she returned to school to complete a Master’s in Communication and Conflict Resolution at Emerson College. When she completed her Master’s Degree, Yael realized that her passion lay in working with students. Yael’s first job in the USA was the Director of a Mediation Program at a large Urban High School. Here she trained students to manage conflicts and become mediators for their peers. She stayed in that role for 12 years but decided she wanted to merge her love of Judaism with her passion for education. Yael took on her next role working as a part of a Jewish Non-Profit Organization that participated at several Independent High Schools training their students to understand Diversity and Multi-Culturalism through a Jewish lens. Thereafter Yael took on the role as the Director of Education at a vibrant Reform synagogue for 7 years and most recently worked as the Direction of Innovation and Educational Advancement at a very established and prominent Conservative Synagogue.

Yael is excited to move closer to her mom in Delray and her brother and his family in Boca Raton. She loves the beach, coffee ice-cream and long walks in warm weather and while she enjoys a snowy day, she is not sorry to say goodbye to winter coats and heavy boots. Her husband Steve loves to Scuba dive and hopes to learn Kitesurfing. Even her dog Shandy loves to spend hours lazing in the sun.

Yael is so excited to join the Congregation Kol Tikvah community as the Director of Education and Youth Engagement.