Professional Staff
Office Staff
David Winitsky, Executive Director
215-735-5148 | email
David Winitsky is a non-profit leader, theater producer and director, and teacher from Ambler, PA. He is the founder and Artistic Director of the Jewish Plays Project, where he has developed over 50 plays that have gone on to production in New York, London, LA, Tel Aviv and around the U,S. He was a Fellow at the UJA Institute for Jewish Executive Leadership at Columbia Business School, a LabShul Storahtelling Maven, an UpStart National Fellow, and a LABA Artist Fellow. He has held leadership roles at the Kitchen Theater (Interim Producing Artistic Director and Acting Managing Director), Playwrights Theater (Producing Director), What Exit? Comedy Theater (Co-Artistic Director), and the Obie Award-winning HERE Arts Center (General Manager). MFA in Directing (Northwestern); BA in Mathematics (Cornell). Proud husband of Elizabeth Samet, and thankful father of Ezekiel (24) and Alexander (21).
Julia Pollock, Programming & Outreach Coordinator
215-735-5148 | email
Originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Julia has been able to pursue her passion for people by obtaining her Bachelor’s in Public Relations at Temple University and is now working on her Master’s in Communication Management. Julia has worked in both event planning and social media content creation with hopes to bring a fresh perspective to the communication realm at BZBI. Her dedication to continuous learning will shine through as she begins this new path in life, celebrating both non-profit work and becoming a part of the Philadelphia Jewish community. As this new chapter unfolds, Julia strives to provide open communication to all members of the congregation and a positive presence at BZBI.
Aleksandra Konior, Operations Coordinator
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Aleksandra Konior moved to Philadelphia from Krakow, Poland where she had worked at the Jewish Community Centre of Krakow. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Jewish Studies from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. Both of her theses focused on Yiddish language and translations. Aleksandra is passionate about sharing her knowledge about Jewish Poland and will be happy to answer any and all questions that congregants may have. She is excited to be joining the BZBI team, and hopes to contribute to its growing prosperity.
Leslee Schwartz, Human Relations & Account Specialist
215-735-5148 | email
Leslee Schwartz is our Financial Account Specialist addressing the day-to-day financial transactions for our members and vendors. She works closely with the treasurer and finance committee to help insure the accuracy of our financial statements. She is the go-to person for questions about your account and can easily update any information in your synagogue files. Leslee manages employee benefits and payroll for BZBI. She is a Center City resident and a former school teacher who has taught part-time in our religious school.
Marc Hersch, Torah Reading Coordinator
215-735-5148 | email
As the Torah Reading Coordinator, Marc Hersch plans and communicates the Torah/Haftarah readings for all Shabbatot and holidays. He sees his work as not just scheduling readers, but getting to know community members over shared interests. Marc is a fourth-year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS), who recently spent a year of study at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. He has previously served in leadership roles at Columbia/Barnard Hillel, Camp Ramah Darom and the JTS daily minyan. Marc invites all community members to be in touch with him at torah@bzbi.org.
Education
Missy Horrow, Director of Early Childhood Education
215-735-5142 | email
We are excited to welcome our new Director of Early Childhood Education, Missy Horrow, to BZBI. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position. We thank the committee that was involved in bringing her to us and we look forward to watching the early childhood program continue to grow and thrive under her direction.
Missy has been an early childhood educator for over 30 years, dedicated to fostering the growth and development of young children through hands-on learning and play.
Missy’s approach is heavily influenced by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which posits the environment is the third teacher. She strives to create spaces where children can learn, grow, and develop. Additionally, she is influenced by the teachings of Bev Bos, particularly the idea that “if you want it in their minds, you need to put it in their hands first.” This reflects Missy’s core belief that children learn best by doing and that play is their essential work.
Her educational philosophy emphasizes the importance of providing children with rich, engaging experiences that help them learn to cooperate, develop social skills, and prepare for the more structured environment of formal schooling.
Earning her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Chestnut Hill College, she is a lifelong learner who is constantly seeking out the latest research and innovative methods in the field.
Missy is excited and happy to be back at a synagogue with her tribe, where she feels a deep sense of community and belonging. She cherishes the opportunity to contribute to the vibrant life of BZBI and to support the growth of young children while integrating them and their families into the life of the larger synagogue community.
When not working, Missy enjoys spending time with her three granddaughters, Ruby, Maya and Cassie. She has two grown children: Jenna, married to Evan and Andrew who is married to Sami. A long-time resident of the suburbs of Philadelphia, where she lives with her husband – Jeff, she enjoys hikes in the woods, reading and going to the beach.
Sarah Fleischman, Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education
215-735-5142 | email
Sarah has been a member of BZBI for her entire life (her BZBI preschool diploma hangs in the office) and has played many different roles in the synagogue. From serving as a Tot Shabbat Leader and Preschool Teacher to guiding Hebrew School students and advising Kadima/USY programs to Adult Education Board Chair, she’s had the privilege of working with congregants of all ages. Her journey has been deeply intertwined with BZBI, and each role has enriched her understanding of our community’s needs.
Now, as the Preschool’s Assistant Director, she is committed to fostering an even stronger bond between our preschool families and synagogue members. This new role will allow her to use the skills she’s learned and developed throughout her master’s program in Jewish Communal Service/Nonprofit Management from Gratz College and professional career working in non-profit development and operations management. Simultaneously, it allows her to remain deeply connected to the classroom, teachers, students, and families — a closeness that she cherishes.
When not at BZBI (which isn’t often), Sarah enjoys traveling, reading by the pool, going to the gym, attending theater, and hanging out with friends and family.
Stacey Lasky, Director of Congregational Learning
215-735-5148 | email
After several years as an educator in BZBI’s Laurie Wagman Playschool and Abigail R. Cohen Preschool as well as within the Neziner Hebrew School, this year I seized the opportunity to step in and gain even more experience as the interim Religious School Coordinator.
Since my formative years learning how to be a leader with Young Judaea, USY, and University of Florida’s Hillel, I have been a Jewish Educator in the US and Israel in some capacity or another. After earning my Masters Degree from Gratz College in Education with a concentration in Jewish Instructional Education, this opportunity is the perfect next step for me. I am eager to embark on this new journey that will help plant seeds for the future and cultivate the current crop of lifelong Jewish learners.
Larry Kaplan, Teen Program Coordinator
215-735-5148 | email
I am a lifelong Philadelphian and a graduate of Central, Temple and the University of Pennsylvania. I Have a Masters of Education and taught in Philly and the surrounding suburbs for many years. I have run youth programs at various synagogues for even longer. When not teaching, I have owned a number of business including dessert shops and the award winning Varsity Fitness, where I trained professional athletes from around the world. I love to travel and explore and have some very interesting stories to share. I can’t wait to hear all of your stories too!
Maintenance
Joel Chew, Maintenance Lead
215-735-5148
Joel Chew is the lead person in our Maintenance Department and is charged with the general maintenance of the building, facilitating set-ups for classes, meetings and services, and ensuring that the building is accommodating to our congregants and visitors. He is the person who makes sure it’s cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Joel has been on staff for 11 years and helps make BZBI the welcoming place it is.
Brian Johnson, Senior Maintenance Expert
215-735-5148
Brian Johnson is our senior maintenance person. Brian has worked for BZBI for 12 years and is an expert on the facility and the nuances of our classrooms and meeting spaces. He makes sure the building is prepared for the next day’s programs and ensures its cleanliness each evening. He secures the building at the end of each day and is the smiling face that wishes those here late in the day a good evening.
