Education Staff

Director of Education

Rabbi Judy Spicehandler was raised in a rabbinic family with a particular passion for education and for the Hebrew language.  She spent the latter half of her childhood in Israel, where her father was the dean of the Jerusalem branch of Hebrew Union College.  After serving in Tzahal (Israel Defense Force), and spending a year at Kibbutz Tzelim, she studied art at the University of Chicago (BA 1976) and at the Art Institute of Chicago (MFA 1999), and was a professional artist before shifting her focus to Jewish education. Rabbi Spicehandler comes to Beth El with 18 years of experience in Jewish education, interrupted only by four-year tenure as a student at Hebrew Union College, where she was ordained in 1999.

Find out more about Beth El’s Religious School.

Youth Educator

Mark Gutman comes to Sudbury all the way from Denver, Colorado, where he graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Coming from Colorado, he has a passion for the outdoors; hiking, camping, backpacking and anything else that involves nature. He’s also a sports fanatic; he love baseball and can’t get enough of football.

While growing up in Colorado he attended Shwayder Camp (a small Jewish Reform summer camp) for five summers as a camper and following that, worked there for another six summers. During his time as a staff member at Shwayder Camp, he held many different positions including bunkcounselor, Unit Head, Programming Director, and Developmental Director.

Israel has taken a large role in Mark’s personal growth and love for Judaism. He spent his freshman year of college in Israel on Young Judaea’s Year course, and recently came back from a six month trip volunteering around the country making new friends and spending time in local communities.

Mark has a passion for informal education and a love for Jewish summer camping. He believes that Jewish Summer Camps and youth groups are the most important aspect in helping teens create their own Jewish Identity. “I am excited to join the Beth El community as the Youth Educator.”

Find out more about Beth El’s Youth Groups.

Education  Coordinator – Beth Schine

Find out more about Beth El’s Religious School.