Our Teachers and Teaching Assistants
Hadar Melamed
JK-SK Teacher
Hi! My name is Hadar Melamed, 28 years old, and I am so excited to be a part of the Makom family! I was born and raised in Northern Israel and started my new life in Canada 8 years ago, and in Toronto 5 months ago. I have taught students of various ages (4 to 16 years old) in various subjects in Canada and Israel and worked in a Kindergarten in Israel for 2 years as well.
I have a passion for helping all children reach their potential and love to challenge students to be curious and take chances when learning. I am very excited to move back into a classroom teaching role where I can support your children in their Hebrew and Judaica learning journey, and look forward to getting to know you this year!
Danna Deutsch
Grades 1-2 Teacher
Danna is a caring teacher and she brings a lot of energy to the classroom. She loves listening to students and connecting their learning goals with their interests. Danna has a wide base of Jewish knowledge to share, from translating Hebrew poetry to working in bagel shops. She loves working with children, and at Makom she hopes to help her students connect with Jewish values in a way that is meaningful to them. When she is not teaching at Makom, Danna is usually busy with her graduate research. She can be found studying in libraries and biking around the city.
Pnina Dinkin
Grades 3-5 Teacher
Born in Latvia and raised in Israel, Pnina is a graduate of Toronto School of Art, has a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from OCAD University and is a certified Montessori elementary teacher. Pnina has worked with children and teens teaching visual art, art history, Hebrew and general subjects. She's taught in galleries, private high schools, elementary schools, Jewish schools and a Montessori school in Toronto, and has been teaching at Makom Afterschool since 2017. Pnina is interested in social change, philosophy, art and art criticism.
Shoshana Hargitai
Grades 3-5 Teacher
My name is Shoshana, this is my fourth year as Hebrew and Judaic teacher at Makom and I am excited to be back for another memorable year. I love working at Makom where Hebrew and Jewish learning is enabled through creative, cultural, spiritual and fun curriculum. Over the years I also taught Hebrew at various institutions, including York Region District School Board, where I worked with a student body representing diverse and rich cultural backgrounds.
I grew up in Israel where I attended ‘Tachkemoni’ Schools focused on fostering Jewish identity through learning Jewish history and culture.
Growing up in Israel I enjoyed learning Hebrew literacy and attending folk dancing of Hora and immersed myself in Israeli culture. Arriving in Canada as young university student, after graduating, I felt the need to share my joy and passion for Jewish history, language and identity and decided to pursue a career in education. I’m pleased to bring my passion, knowledge and experience to Makom students with the goal of elevating their Hebrew and Judaic learning experience.
Jonathan Brown Gilbert
Teaching Assistant
Jonathan loves singing old Yiddish folk songs, and riding around the city on his electric cargo bike. He has a B.A. in Contemporary Studies & Gender and Women’s Studies from the University of King’s College, and an M.A. in Comparative Literature & Jewish Studies from the University of Toronto. Jonathan has studied at the Yiddish Book Center in Massachusetts, and has done Jewish education work in Toronto with Shoresh and the Morris Winchevsky School. Jon recently applied to teachers’ college.
Maxine Lee Ewaschuk
Teaching Assistant
Hi! My name is Maxine Lee Ewaschuk and I’m 22 years old, working on a degree in Jewish Studies, History, and Philosophy at the University of Toronto. I grew up in the west end of Toronto and in high school I volunteered as an assistant at a visual arts summer camp. These days, I spend most of my time outside of school and work making art and learning Torah. Looking forward to meeting you and working with your kids!
Anna Lippman
Teaching Assistant
Anna grew up immersed in Jewish community and is excited to share this love with Makom Afterschool! Anna spent over a decade working with young people in various capacities including: summer camps, youth centres, and homeless shelters. She is currently a PhD student at York University studying sociology. In her free time, Anna loves exploring different parts of the city and perfecting her cooking skills.
Nina Loganova
Teaching Assistant
Nina is a highschool student at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts. She is very involved in her school, being on the student council, in a wellness club, and assisting in running a choir. She is constantly looking for new ways to be involved whether it is in school or not. Since the age of 12 she has worked with younger children. She babysits and volunteers at an overnight summer camp.
Nina has always had a passion for creating community, and believes it is essential for wellbeing. For the past few years, Nina has been looking for more ways to be more involved in Toronto's Jewish community. At Makom, she is hoping to help kids create a strong and meaningful connection towards Judaism.
When Nina is not at school or working, she spends her time reading, singing, and hiking in nature.