18 Shoolman Way, Milton, MA 02186 | (617) 698-3394 | Email Us

Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills

South Shore Jewish Congregation

Teachers

Cantor Lisa Kipen-Hershenson- Educational Director 

Cantor Lisa Kipen-Hershenson has been the Education Director of the Rabbi Jerome Weistrop Religious School since 2020. She holds an MA in Judaic Studies (Val, ‘92) and a degree in Jewish, Early Childhood Education (‘92) from Hebrew College.  She received her ordination when she graduated from the HC Cantor Educator Program (Can ‘14). With over 30 years of teaching experience, Cantor Lisa has greatly enjoyed many facets of engaging students in Jewish education through projects, exhibits, and other hands-on, out-of-your-seat learning activities which build essential Jewish knowledge, teamwork, and skills. 

Cantor Lisa delights in knowing that all people have something to teach and something to learn! 

She enjoys partnering with others through teaching, tutoring B’nei Mitzvah students, community building, programming, mentoring, and collaborating with parents, members, faculty, staff, the President, the VP of Education, and the Religious School Education team.  Together with Rabbi Benjamin, Cantor Lisa plans and implements the Shalom Children Activities Program (SCAP) which provides programming throughout the year specifically designed for families with young children, age 4-6. 

 Cantor Lisa believes there is no substitute for a welcoming, activity-based, and inclusive learning community. She enjoys learning about how Jews around the world celebrate, serve, learn, decorate, dance & make music, work for peace, pursue justice, and of course, eat! Curiosity, warmth, excitement, wonder, quality, a variety of learning experiences, and great role models are just some of the key ingredients of a positive and lasting Jewish education. Cantor Lisa is pleased to be part of the Rabbi Jerome Weistrop Religious School’s growing learning community. 

She and her husband live in Dorchester, have two wonderful daughters, and enjoy exploring the Blue Hills with their Corgi, Milo.

email Cantor Lisa:  eddirector@bethshalombluehills.org 

 

Linda Diskin, Lead teacher – JEEAP & SCAP

Linda Diskin is most excited to join the faculty of the Rabbi Jerome Weistrop Religious School in 5783 as our new K-2 teacher. Linda Grew up in Milton and attended many events at Temple Shalom. She was there when Rabbi Weistrop was their spiritual leader and has fond memories of conversing with him. Linda holds degrees from Boston University and Lesley College. Growing up Linda attended Maimonides School, B’nai Jacob and Hebrew College where she participated in both Ulpan and Prozdor. Linda shares her love of children with her passion for Jewish education and Judaism. She believes that children are our future. When she taught in the public schools, Linda specialized in supporting neurodiverse learners. We are thrilled to welcome Linda to our faculty team and learning community!

 

Mindy Perry, Lead teacher – EJLALP 1 & 2 

Mindy Perry is excited to begin her twentieth year teaching religious school and her thirteenth year at Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Boston University with a focus in social studies curriculum and minors in history and psychology. She went on to receive a Master of General Education degree from Fitchburg State College. Mindy taught in both private and public school settings before settling into a full time career. Raised in Brockton, MA, she credits her love of Judaism from her strong Jewish upbringing. As a grandchild of Holocaust survivors, Mindy takes great pride in her heritage and loves passing Jewish traditions and teachings down to her 3rd – 6th grade students. Mindy currently lives in Stoughton, with her husband, Richard (a Milton native) and their cats.

Lisa Yorra, Lead teacher – EJLALP 1 & 2

Lisa Yorra, a graduate of Prozdor at Hebrew College, has decades of experience teaching children Hebrew and Judaica. She taught at the former Temple Beth Shalom for several years and returned in 2016 as a tutor. Now a veteran of the Rabbi Jerome Weistrop Religious School, where she teaches 3rd – 6th graders, Lisa loves seeing the enthusiasm the students have when they are learning and expressing their joy of Judaism. Lisa lives in North Easton. 

Pre-B’nei Mitzvah –

Rabbi Benjamin and Cantor Lisa will again share in teaching the Pre-B’nei Mitzvah class. On Sundays, students in this class will serve as Madrichim in K-6th grades, prayer partners, and leaders during T’fillah. On Tuesdays, students will engage in an in-depth approach to Jewish Prayer and Judaica through active learning based on, Jewish Values using Great Jewish Debates & working with younger students, Jewish Philosophy, Torah perspectives on modern issues using the Hot Topics curriculum, Israel from the Israel, It’s complicated curriculum, and Human behavior and the Holocaust using the Facing History and Ourselves curriculum, among other age-appropriate topics