Faculty

James Karlin earned his BA in Classics from Kenyon College, with intensive coursework in Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit, and his MA in Eastern Classics from St. John’s College, where he studied the great books of India, China, and Japan, along with Classical Chinese. While his deepest academic passion lies in ancient texts and archeology, he practices in the liberal arts pedagogical ideal of cultivating wonder and excellence across many disciplines, and has taught sixth through twelfth grade language, literature, history, arts, and science classes at classical charter schools and Jewish day schools for nearly a decade. In addition to his academic work, Mr. Karlin competed in collegiate athletics and coached middle school and high school cross country and track and field. Mr. Karlin will be leading Emet’s Classical Languages department.

Dr. Zachary Levine is a scholar of ancient Jewish history, literature, and culture, with a special focus on biblical interpretation and the Dead Sea Scrolls. He holds a PhD in Hebrew and Judaic Studies from New York University and an MA in Adolescent Social Studies Education from Hunter College, and he is a New York State certified teacher of Adolescent Social Studies. At Emet, Dr. Levine teaches Judaic Studies and Humanities, pairing close reading of classical texts with rigorous historical inquiry and lively discussion. He has developed integrated Jewish History courses and electives on the Dead Sea Scrolls and Apocalypse, encouraging students to reflect on how ancient texts shape modern Jewish experience. Dr. Levine has also taught Global and U.S. History in Bronx public schools, Jewish day schools, and independent-school settings, and has served as an adjunct professor at New York University and Hunter College.

Dr. Joseph Cardinale holds a PhD in English from the University of Hawaii, and an MFA in fiction writing from UMass Amherst. He has published a book of short stories that explored questions of physics and philosophy, and was reviewed by The Kenyon Review. Dr. Cardinale has taught at both the high school and college levels. His composition class develops writing skills in conjunction with the ninth grade Humanities course.

Rebecca Attar teaches humanities at Emet. Previously, she was a content developer at the Tikvah Fund and taught English Literature and Social Studies for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at Mazel Day School. Ms. Attar has a BA in Philosophy and Russian from the University of Leeds and an MA in Humanities and Classical Education from the University of Dallas.

Dr. Briscoe leads our Math and Physics Department.  He is a theoretical physicist with a focus on quantum and statistical mechanics.  Dr. Briscoe joins us from Iona University, where he was chair of the mathematics and physics departments. He has also successfully tutored many younger students in middle and high school. He is an expert in developing mathematical models and algorithms with a strong affinity for teaching and mentorship. Dr. Briscoe has published in peer-reviewed journals in math and physics, and has a background in cybersecurity. Prior to joining the Academy, Dr. Briscoe worked in digital forensics at Aon Plc, where he developed and applied quantitative methods to complex problems in security and data science. Dr. Briscoe earned his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Cooper Union and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from the City University of New York.

Dr. Gaby Platz is a native New Yorker and devoted mother to three beautiful children. She earned her undergraduate degree from Baruch College and went on to complete her doctorate in Molecular Genetics at Stony Brook University. Her research focused on vaccine development for Francisella tularensis, a Category A bioterrorist pathogen, and has been published in notable journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Infection and Immunity. Dr. Platz has been a professor of science at the New York Institute of Technology for the past fifteen years, where she has taught a wide range of courses including General Biology I and II, Microbiology, Comparative Anatomy, Gross Anatomy, Genetics, and Chemistry. Beyond the classroom, she is passionate about community service, cycling, hiking, music, and the arts.

Dr. Avital Shulman was born in Calgary and raised in Toronto and St. Louis. She earned her BA in Biochemistry from Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women, where she also minored in music and physics and nurtured a love for teaching as a peer tutor, lab assistant, and a recitation instructor for general chemistry. Avital completed her PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences where she focused on the mitotic surveillance pathway. She also played the piccolo flute in the Music and Medicine Orchestra at Weill Cornell. Outside of academia, she continues her childhood passion for figure skating.

Daria Chudnovsky is a PhD candidate in Mathematics Education at Columbia University’s Teachers College and holds a BS in Pure Mathematics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. With a lifelong love of mathematics and a deep commitment to making it accessible, joyful, and meaningful for students, Ms. Chudnovsky believes that olympiad-style problems offer a uniquely powerful way to develop mathematical thinking and appreciation. She has founded several math circles and clubs – including the Midwest Math Circle – and brings years of experience in enrichment tutoring, specializing in competitive math preparation. Her students have earned top placements in national contests such as the AMC 8 and Math Kangaroo. A former math competitor herself, Ms. Chudnovsky placed in the top 20 nationally in Math Kangaroo during her senior year of high school.

Mark Zelcer received a PhD in Philosophy from the CUNY Graduate Center. His research focuses on the philosophy of mathematics, ancient philosophy, and Jewish philosophy. He has written two books, Politics and Philosophy in Plato's Menexenus and The Philosophy of Joseph B. Soloveitchik.

Inbal Gabay is a Hebrew educator originally from Israel. After completing her military service where she taught Hebrew language to new immigrants, Ms. Gabay earned a bachelor’s degree in Special Education from David Yellin College and taught in Israeli public schools. Additionally, she has taught non-native Hebrew speakers in Israeli middle schools and has supported them throughout the year, helping them socially integrate into Israeli schools.

Mr. Gottesman teaches Bible/Tanach and Jewish Civilization. He is also coach of Emet’s Debate Club.   Mr. Gottesman graduated from Yeshiva University with Bachelor’s degrees in both Political Science and Jewish Studies. He has since served as the Tikvah Fund’s Associate Director of High School Fellowship and the Dean of Students at the Tikvah Scholars Program. While at Yeshiva University, Mr. Gottesman studied under Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik as an undergraduate scholar at the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought.

Meirav Kravetz leads Hebrew language program. Ms. Kravetz is the director of Hebrew immersion programs at Tikvah. She has designed the highly regarded Hebrew language immersion program for the Havruta School in Austin, Texas. She holds an M.S. in Education from Nova Southeastern University and studied Judaic Studies at the Nishmat Center in Israel. She has mentored teachers in many schools in the U.S. and internationally. Ms. Kravetz was born and raised in Israel.

Rabbi Mark Gottlieb leads  Emet’s Judaic Studies Department, focusing on Bible and Jewish Civilization. Rabbi Gottlieb served as head of school at Yeshiva University High School for Boys and principal of the Maimonides School in Brookline, MA. He has taught middle and high school students as well as at the college level. Rabbi Gottlieb received his BA from Yeshiva College, rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University, and an MA in Philosophy from the University of Chicago, where his doctoral studies focused on the moral and political thought of Alasdair MacIntyre. Rabbi Gottlieb is also chief education officer of Tikvah and founding dean of the Tikvah Scholars Program, Tikvah’s summer program for advanced high school students, located at Mt. Holyoke College.

Philip Fisher is a classical pianist, widely recognized for his refined style, versatility, and chamber music abilities. Mr. Fisher is a highly sought-after ensemble performer, giving over fifty concerts per year. He has appeared with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Copenhagen Philharmonic, and the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Fisher has released several recordings including the complete solo piano works of American composer John Corigliano and Handel’s Eight Great Keyboard Suites. He holds degrees from the Royal Academy of Music and the Juilliard School.

Tatyana Kot grew up in Kazakhstan where she trained and performed as a ballerina. After earning a Master’s degree in History and Education, she moved to New York City with a dream of becoming a professional theater artist. Tatyana continued her movement and acting training with the legendary choreographer Kay Nishikawa (Nishikawa Collective) and theater director Jessica Burr (“Blessed Unrest theater company”) while teaching theater and dance classes both in the US and abroad. In the past 22 years Tatyana has choreographed 10 world premiers of plays, including Don Nigro’s THE CHAPLIN PLAYS and John Patrick Shanley’s CANDLELIGHT for which she was handpicked by the playwrights. As a teaching artist, she taught movement workshops in Russia, Japan and Switzerland. She authored and implemented original theater curriculum for children ages 6-14. She developed, produced, and directed 2 full-length plays that involved 250 students. Awards: “Best actress” prize at Midtown International theater festival, twice “best performer” winner at Planet connections theater festivity , Winner of Secondo Theater festival (Zurich, Switzerland).

Yoav Gal is a composer and multimedia artist who has turned to education as a second calling. He has sought a more meaningful way to contribute to the Arts world by helping build character and confidence in Jewish youth. Born in Israel, Yoav moved to New York, where he created critically acclaimed Hebrew-language operas such as Mosheh and 3Weeks, as well as a musical for children Hanna and the Moonlit Dress. Yoav’s artistic work evolved into community-building: he founded cultural and educational initiatives for Israeli-American families, including Hebrew theater, holiday events, and Bible study groups based on Project 929. He teaches in a Hebrew school and is a candidate for a Master’s in Jewish Education at the Melton School of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, as well as for the Tikvah–University of Dallas Master’s in Classical Education. Yoav holds a Master’s in Music Composition from Queens College. For Yoav, the classroom is a new stage for telling the story of the Jewish people.

Eve Pomerantz is a graduate of The Dalton School, Barnard College, and Columbia Teacher's College. Eve began her art training at age 14 in a traditional apprenticeship with renown figurative sculptor, Greg Wyatt. She has taught art at The Dalton School, Sacred Heart, and Hunter College High School, where she also became the Director of the Hunter Summer Program for the Gifted. She has completed bronze sculptures through grants and commissions, including a 3-foot sculpture inspired by Shakespeare's King Lear, now permanently installed in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Eve received training as an intern and school tour guide under Rika Burnham, then Head of Education at The Frick Collection and pioneer in the conversational method of Museum Education

Dr. Bischof is a leading orchestral conductor and opera conductor, as well as concert/liturgical organist and pianist. He is the founder and Artistic Director of Modus Operandi Orchestra of New York City. Dr. Bischof has worked with legendary MET soprano Roberta Peters, as well as Klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer. He has recorded with orchestras such as the Zurich Symphony and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Dr. Bischof is a regular guest organist at the Royal Opera House. He is Chair of the Alumni Council of Manhattan School of Music, where he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts. Dr. Bischof served as a professor at Manhattan School of Music for many years, as well as at Barnard College.

Raz Chen is Emet’s Senior Martial Arts Coach. Mr. Chen trained under Master Gabi Noach and completed the Civilian Krav Maga instructor course at Wingate in Israel. He served as a Kfir Operations Combatant, and in counter-terrorism missions. He was a senior IDF Krav Maga instructor, having trained over 10,000 soldiers, including IDF Special Forces and U.S. Marines. He has been featured as a Krav Maga expert on CBS and the New York Times.

Eric Balck is a lifelong chess enthusiast, National Master (NM) and professional chess instructor. His decade-long coaching experience ranges from one-one lessons to traveling chess teams. Schools he has worked with include Success Academy, the Dalton School, Trinity School, Epiphany School, British International School, Packard School, and many more. He is also an International Chess Federation (FIDE) national instructor and a United States Chess Federation (USCF) senior tournament director. He holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University.