Rivka Felsher is a daughter of the Reform Movement. Rivka became a bat mitzvah at Temple Israel of Northern Westchester in her hometown of Croton-on-Hudson, NY.  She continued her education through Confirmation. As a student of Temple Israel Rivka volunteered and worked part-time as an office assistant to the religious school director and substitute taught classes in the lower division. During college, Rivka frequently returned home to visit family and attend Friday night and holiday services with her family. After college Rivka attended services at Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo, NY.  A professional student affairs administrator, Rivka helped reregister and co-advised the Jewish Student Union at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY.  She and her colleagues implemented holiday programs that served the entire North Country region of New York State, encouraging participation from Jews of several denominations who traveled over an hour through rural upstate New York to reach campus for events like a Yom Kippur Break Fast. Rivka then took a position as the Director of Residence Life at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, the Conservative Movement's seminary and undergraduate institution of higher learning. Rivka kept her home kosher to accommodate her students and learned a vast amount about the history of American Jewry, observance, and ritual. Rivka met and married her husband, Rich Felsher, and left New York for Florida in 2005. Shortly after the birth of their daughter Lilah, Rivka and Rich joined Temple Sinai of Palm Beach County. The following year Rivka joined the faculty of the Religious School, teaching 6th grade Judaics and co-teaching the  confirmation class. Rivka took a leave to attend her doctoral program in educational leadership at Florida Atlantic University full-time, and the birth of her son, Eitan. Rivka returned to teaching this year as the 7th grade transition year instructor. Rivka continues to pursue her degree in higher education leadership as a doctoral candidate, having successfully passed her comprehensive exam with honors, and was recently awarded both her academic department and college's award for outstanding graduate student of the year. Rivka holds a master's degree in urban planning, a graduate certificate in creativity and change leadership, and is published in the areas of teacher induction, teacher retention, and fiscal policy.

As the incoming Director of the Temple Sinai Religious School, a one-day-per-week program for students ages 3 through confirmation year, and beyond, Rivka has big plans for the School. Watch out for face lifts, class room reorganization, further Chai and Mitkadem curriculum implementation, the return of monthly family services, parent committee, youth group, and confirmation class, a monthly infant/toddler Shabbat celebration, parent classes in family ritual and prayer basics, more art, more music, more community partnerships, and more fun!