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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.
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.
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 will be working as Director of the Preschool with Gail DeMarco, Director Emeritus and Robyn Hobart, Assistant Preschool Director.
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.
In her personal time, Sara enjoys travelling, going to concerts and baseball games, and spending time with friends. She has 2 amazing daughters, Emily and Dana, who are both Kesher Israel Preschool graduates. Sara has happily been a member of Kesher Israel Congregation since 2004.
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!
Robyn Hobart began teaching at Kesher Israel Preschool in 2020. In 2024, she became the Administrative Manager and began working as the Assistant Preschool Director in 2025.
Robyn grew up in Baltimore and earned her degree from University of Maryland, College Park (Go Terps!) in 1997. Prior to joining Kesher Israel Preschool, Robyn worked for jkidphilly and Jewish Learning Venture, planning Jewish programs and experiences to connect young Jewish families in the Chester County area.
During her spare time, Robyn enjoys spending time with her husband Allan and 2 daughters Ady and Lizzie, both Kesher Israel Preschool graduates. She loves travelling, cooking and cheering on the Orioles and Ravens!
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. marcir@kesher-israel.org
Janna Rhodes has worked at Kesher Israel since 2024 as the Rabbi’s administrative assistant and the office marketing coordinator. Janna grew up in the nearby town of Wayne and, after living in rural Ohio and New York City for 15 years, moved back to the area in 2006. Janna’s background includes extensive experience in the educational publishing industry, primarily in editorial/project management and graphic design. Now KI congregants, the Rhodes family lives in West Chester and consists of Janna, their husband, Mark, and their daughter, Tamsin, and an ever-fluctuating aggregation of animals (at the time of this writing, six cats and a crested gecko). jannar@kesher-israel.org