Magda Reyes has served as Har Sinai Temple’s Director of Education since June 2002. In her role, she is responsible for overseeing the Religious School and Youth activities, as well as facilitating Family, Sisterhood and Adult education programming. She teaches Hebrew High School classes, conducts teacher workshops and facilitates the Religious Education committee meetings. In addition, she participates in ongoing professional development programs, is a member of National Association of Temple Educators (NATE) and an active member of the local Principal's Council. She is very much looking forward to the completion of Har Sinai’s Temple’s new home in Pennington and the growth and expansion of educational programming there.
Magda’s love for Jewish education comes from the deep respect she holds for her religion and the drive to make certain that the religion and the culture lives on to the new generations. As a daughter of Holocaust survivors, growing up in Eastern Europe behind the Iron Curtain in the sixties, she had first-hand knowledge of anti-Semitism under the Communist regime. When the Soviet tanks rolled into her town to squash Prague Spring, the first attempts at liberal reforms, her family, along with the rest of the few Jewish families left in town, made the decision to emigrate to the West. With only tourist visas in hand and the clothes on their backs, they crossed the border into freedom. After many misadventures in trying to adapt to American society (ask her sometime about her first, very embarrassing, exposure to that quintessential American sport-baseball, and her stint at the all-girl yeshiva in the Bronx), she has settled in East Windsor, New Jersey with her family and one, very active, Australian Shepherd puppy.
Magda attended Hunter College and Pace University in NYC for her work towards the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and holds a graduate certificate in teaching from The College of New Jersey. Prior to beginning her teaching career, she was an associate economist with The Conference Board in NYC. She has taught preschool, elementary and middle school children at Congregation Beth Chaim, summer camps and enrichment programs in Religious and public schools. She was Religious School Education Coordinator at Congregation Beth Chaim before becoming Director of Education at Har Sinai Temple.
Susan Sacks, Music Director
Susan Sacks is in her fifteenth year as Har Sinai's Religious School Music Director. It is a pleasure for her to work with Har Sinai's wonderful teaching staff and students. Susan keeps current with The Reform Movement's music by her yearly attendance at Hava Nashira, a five-day Jewish song-leading workshop in Wisconsin. She has also attended several CAJE conferences. On the High Holy Days, Susan co-leads the Junior Congregation services. Throughout the year, she helps to lead class Shabbat services and other services from time to time.
Susan has taught music and toddler classes at various synagogues and preschools. Before moving to this area, Susan taught middle school and high school Spanish and English as a Second Language.Susan has a BA from Kenyon College and an MS from CW Post Center (Long Island University). She lives in Yardley with her husband, Fred, and their two sons, Evan and Jeff. Evan, 16, is in 10th grade and Jeff, 20, is in his sophomore year at the University of Pittsburgh.
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Magda Reyes has served as Har Sinai Temple’s Director of Education since June 2002. In her role, she is responsible for overseeing the Religious School and Youth activities, as well as facilitating Family, Sisterhood and Adult education programming. She teaches Hebrew High School classes, conducts teacher workshops and facilitates the Religious Education committee meetings. In addition, she participates in ongoing professional development programs, is a member of National Association of Temple Educators (NATE) and an active member of the local Principal's Council. She is very much looking forward to the completion of Har Sinai’s Temple’s new home in Pennington and the growth and expansion of educational programming there.
Susan Sacks is in her fifteenth year as Har Sinai's Religious School Music Director. It is a pleasure for her to work with Har Sinai's wonderful teaching staff and students. Susan keeps current with The Reform Movement's music by her yearly attendance at Hava Nashira, a five-day Jewish song-leading workshop in Wisconsin. She has also attended several CAJE conferences. On the High Holy Days, Susan co-leads the Junior Congregation services. Throughout the year, she helps to lead class Shabbat services and other services from time to time.
