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Professional Staff

Danny Kochavi, Director of Education

Danny Kochavi, Religious School Director, joined The Conservative Synagogue in July 2007.  He shares his passion for Jewish education with our youth, overseeing the Kindergarten through sixth grade program, Atid (grades seven and eight), and Kollel (grades nine through twelve).

Prior to joining our staff, Danny was the Director of Education and Youth at Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park, Michigan, where he developed and implemented a vibrant and innovative school curriculum.  Danny also held positions as an assistant educational director, a youth activities programmer and high school director, and an age group leader at Camp Ramah.

Danny received his Master’s Degree in Judaic Studies, Education and Synagogue School Administration from the William Davidson School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.   Prior to that, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Judaic Studies and Biology from the State University of New York at Albany.   He has studied at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem and participated in the year long Nativ USY leadership course in Jerusalem as well. He currently sits on the Board of the Jewish Educators Assembly.

Danny was born in Israel, raised in Forest Hills, New York, and currently resides in New York City with his wife, Danielle and his son Netanel Dov.

Jamie Klein-Zoref, Director of Early Childhood Education

Jamie Klein-Zoref, our new Director of Early Childhood Education, joined The Conservative Synagogue in July 2010.   Jamie brings over 22 years of experience in the field of Jewish early childhood education, and is eager to make her mark at her new home, The TCS Preschool.

Prior to TCS, Jamie spent 20 years at the Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford, beginning as a lead teacher and ultimately becoming the Director of Early Childhood Education.  During her tenure as Director, she oversaw the growth of their program from 25 to over 100 preschoolers.  Subsequent to her work at Solomon Schechter, Jamie joined the Greater Hartford JCC as the Director of the Early Childhood Community Center.  In this role, she supervised and directed all aspects of the early childhood program for over 300 children in three separate locations.  Most recently, she was the Child and Family Development Director at Eastern Connecticut State University where she oversaw all aspects of their innovative, on-campus preschool.

Jamie holds two Masters Degrees in early childhood education, one of which is from the renowned Bank Street College of Education.  She lives in the local community with her husband, Steve.

Marcy Bratman, Synagogue Administrator

Marcy grew up in Forest Hills, New York, with her parents Sylvia and Johnny Pekats and her brother Todd. They had a traditional, observant Jewish home, one in which family relationships, religion and Jewish customs played a large role, to which she credits her strong Jewish identity.  As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Marcy has a lifelong commitment to creating lasting Judaic connections for her family, her friends and her congregation.

Marcy attended SUNY New Paltz and the Fashion Institute of Technology.  She worked in the advertising industry for over 12 years and was responsible for IBM media contracts and budgeting.  As a stay-at-home mom in Westchester County, New York, Marcy and a friend developed a Mommy and Me program– The MusicCraft Express.  After moving to Westport, Marcy became the Director of the Arts and Crafts program at the Jewish Community Center in Norwalk, before being hired to teach Judaic Arts and Crafts in The Conservative Synagogue Religious School.

Marcy and her family joined The Conservative Synagogue community nearly ten years ago when the membership was approximately half the size it is today.  She served on the TCS Board of Directors as Chair of the Social Committee for two years before being offered another opportunity to learn and grow as the Synagogue Office Manager; she currently serves as the Synagogue Administrator and is an integral part of the day-to-day running of our shul.  Marcy is committed to providing a home that will welcome congregants and their families for generations to come.

Marcy lives in Westport and is proud to be the mother of her two children, a daughter Arly and a son Spencer.