Teachers
Yoni Kretzmer, Senior Teacher
Before moving to NYC in 2010, Yoni, a Jerusalem-born tenor saxophonist and composer, was an active member in the growing Tel Aviv nu-music scene leading various groups such as “New Dilemma” (chamber/free jazz string quintet) and “Far From Home” (free/folk quintet with two acoustic guitars). He has performed and curated many shows and festivals including October Jazz Fest, RedSea Jazz Festival and Tel Aviv Jazz Festival.
Yonatan Gutfeld, Musical Director
Yonatan Gutfeld grew up in Jerusalem, where he studied music composition. He was active in the Tel Aviv singer-songwriter scene and toured the country with his band after releasing his debut album. Since 2012, Yonatan has lived in NYC where he records his songs, writes music for theater productions and works as a music educator. In 2017 he released Time’s Tyranny, an album of new compositions to Shakespeare’s sonnets in Hebrew translation. In 2019 he released In Exile Even In His Own Room, a selection of songs set to lyrics by poet Ory Bernstein. In 2020 he released Acht U Shtaim, an album of original Hebrew children’s songs.
Dana Herz, Senior Teacher & Branch Manager
Born in Jerusalem to a family of musicians, Dana Herz began her musical studies at the age of eight with the flute, and gradually gravitated towards singing, playing piano, and songwriting. While her initial training was classical, she eventually found her creative home in different musical styles, primarily combining Jazz, R&B and folkloric styles of Middle Eastern music.
Dana studied at The High School for Music and Dance In Jerusalem , and received a scholarship to study in The Excellent Musician Program at The Center for Jazz Studies under The Israeli Conservatory, where she began her Academic education. She then returned to Opera studies temporarily at The Buchmann – Mehta School of Music, before receiving a full scholarship to continue her Jazz studies at The New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City, where she received her BFA Degree in Jazz Performance Magna Cum Laude.
Dana is currently leading her own band and is in the midst of recording her debut album. She has performed in some of the most prestigious venues and festivals in Europe, Israel, and the US, such as WOMAD Festival UK, The Troubador London, Le Poisson Rouge NYC, Musig Im Pflegidach in Switzerland, The Hamilton in Washington DC, Harvard University, Yale University and the Sunset Sunside in Paris, and more..
In 2017, Dana worked as a backing vocalist and keyboardist with international singer Shakira, performing for her album release shows, as well as recording backing vocal tracks for Shakira’s El Dorado World Tour.
Eden Bareket
Eden was born in Buenos Aires and grew up in Israel. He attended a TALI elementary school, and the Democratic School in Hadera for middle and high school. He later studied jazz at the Israeli Conservatory of Music. Eden has been playing the saxophone since the age of 9, and music is the reason he moved to NYC in 2015. He has been living in Brooklyn ever since — playing music, teaching Hebrew and Jewish studies, and teaching saxophone — and mostly trying to find good places to eat.
Mor Cohen
Mor Cohen is an actress and a filmmaker. She was born and raised in Israel and works as a Jewish educator focusing on Hebrew teaching, Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring, Modern Judaism, Israeli Spirit, and Film-related topics. She has been working with students of all ages, all around the United States.
Ran Livneh
Ran is a musician and teacher, born and raised in Zichron Yaakov, Israel.
Since moving to Brooklyn in 2012 Ran has been teaching Hebrew, Judaism and music around the city and with the School for Creative Judaism.
Ran brings to his students an open minded and personal approach together with mindfulness, music, movement and art.
Roni Eytan
My name is Roni, and I’m a jazz musician and composer and I play the harmonica. I grew up in Jerusalem, in a family with deep roots in the city going back centuries. I graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, and in 2018, I became the first harmonica player to be selected for the prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz (formerly the Thelonious Monk Institute). Studying with legends like Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter was an incredibly inspiring experience.
My musical language is deeply rooted in the jazz tradition of improvisation, and it also draws heavily from the rich musical heritage of the Middle East and North Africa, particularly Andalusian music.
Roy Ben Bashat
Roy Ben Bashat is an educator and musician, originally from Tel Aviv, Israel. Roy graduated with a BA degree in Music from Berklee College of Music in 2022, the same year he relocated to Brooklyn, NY, to become an educator and freelance musician. Roy has been teaching language, judaism, and music at various schools and privately for the past eight years.
Inbal Hever
Inbal grew up in Moshav Beit Yanai, located on Israel’s Mediterranean shore. She is a professional classical singer and has studied and lived in Israel, The Netherlands and Germany. Since relocating to NYC Inbal has been teaching Hebrew at, among others, CBE, Brooklyn Heights Synagogue and most recently, The Heschel School (2018-2023). Inbal lives in Park Slope with her husband, Omri and their 10 year old son, Amitai.
Aviya Hernstadt
Aviya is a performance artist and youth educator. Her performance work draws from Jewish rituals and stories to find a contemporary context for Judaism. Her performance work is deeply connected to her work with youth. In addition to creative Jewish education, she teaches dance, drama, drag, and tumbling to children across New York City with Brooklyn Arts Exchange and the National Dance Institute.
Ira Klein
Ira Klein is an educator and award-winning composer and guitarist from Jerusalem. He holds music degrees from Bard College (Masters) and Berklee College of Music (Undergraduate). He has taught at The Senesh School, Berkeley Carroll School, and Berklee Summer Programs. Ira has performed at the Center for New Jewish Culture in Brooklyn, and has collaborated with LABA Artist Beit Midrash and The Neighborhood. In his teaching, Ira strives to create an environment that allows each student to express themselves and explore new avenues of learning. He believes in text study, art, and music as tools that build community.