PRINCIPAL

Morah Lishai is a visionary educator, celebrated writer, and community builder with over a decade of experience leading transformative programs at the intersection of education, arts, and social impact. Deeply committed to creating inclusive, creative spaces for children and families, she has brought her love of learning to classrooms, libraries, and communities across Ontario.

She served as Executive Director of gritLIT: Hamilton’s Readers and Writers Festival, Program Manager at Leave Out Violence (LOVE), and Project Lead at the Toronto Women’s City Alliance. With a strong background in curriculum development and arts-based learning, Morah Lishai has designed and facilitated French, English, and creative writing programs in schools, and has supported learning communities through roles with the Ontario Library Association, the Toronto Arts Foundation, and UNITY Charity.

She officially joined the Kehila Heschel team part-time in September 2024, bringing her belief in the power of Jewish education to shape thoughtful, compassionate young people. We welcomed her full time in May 2025.

Morah Jen brings five years of experience, teaching grades 3-7 at a Canadian School in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She has a rich background in the arts with a degree in photography and graphic design, which she uses to engage students creatively. Passionate about sustainable fashion, she advocates for reducing waste and pollution by shopping secondhand and supporting local businesses. Morah Jen joined the Kehila Heschel team in September 2024.

HEBREW & JUDAICA LEAD TEACHER

Morah Zehava has been teaching at Kehila since the year 2000 just after Kehila’s inception. Zehava brings to Kehila Heschel her background as a native Israeli, and over thirty years teaching in Hebrew school in Canada. Zehava was the recipient of the 2018 Greenspoon Award for Excellence in Education

ECOSCHOOL INSTRUCTOR

Morah Liat was born in South Africa and moved to Israel when she was a young child. She emigrated to Canada in 2002 with her family. Her love for children and working in a Day Care as a teenager inspired her to qualify as an ECE. (Early childhood educator). Further studies got her a degree in Sociology. Liat started working at Kehila Heschel in September 2022 and has been a champion of our EcoSchool mandate.

LEAD GENERAL STUDIES TEACHER

Morah Linda, was the recipient of the 2020 Greenspoon Award for Excellence in Education. She is an experienced educator who taught in South Africa and Israel before joining the Kehila Heschel team in 2002. Linda is the lead general studies teacher who welcomes and introduces our youngest students to the Kehila Heschel experience.

FRENCH

Morah Olivia is proficient in both oral and written French. Her mother was a French teacher, and she grew up in a bilingual home where English and French were spoken daily. As a child, she attended Francophone daycare and Francophone schools up to Grade 8 with Conseil scolaire Viamonde, before continuing her studies in French Immersion with the Halton District School Board.

As the daughter of a teacher, Olivia often visited her mother’s classroom, observing her lesson planning and teaching with admiration. When it came time to choose her own academic path, she knew without hesitation that she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and pursue French education. She completed a Specialized Bachelor of Arts in French with a Minor in Indigenous Studies at McMaster University, receiving the Dean’s Award multiple times and graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Building on her academic achievements, Olivia continued her studies with a Master’s degree in French Studies. She then embraced her passion for teaching, fulfilling her dream of becoming an elementary French teacher by earning her Bachelor of Education from Brock University in June 2025.

PRIMARY SECULAR TEACHER AND SPECIAL EDUCATOR

Morah Carlyn has 15+ years of experience working with children and youth. She is a professional storyteller and multidisciplinary artist, performing in schools across Ontario. As an arts educator, Carlyn programs and facilitates courses and workshops for all ages. She has a background in Special Education and a passion for accessibility and disability advocacy. Morah Carlyn joined the Kehila Heschel team in September 2022

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Paul is an experienced operations support Associate with 8 years of experience in office administration, skilled in process optimization and has an uncompromising work ethic. Dedicated team player with the ability to analyse the problem & execute the solutions. Paul joined the Kehila Heschel team in September 2024