Rabbi Barry Lutz (Rabbi) Since joining TAS in 1984 as Director of Education, Rabbi Barry Lutz has been the architect of our successful and respected educational program. Our nationally recognized Confirmation program, community trips to Israel and 11th grade social justice experience in Washington D.C. are among his proudest accomplishments. Rabbi Lutz served as assistant chair of the 1992 Conference for Alternatives in Jewish Education; as a member of the executive board of the National Association of Temple Educators, and as co-chair of the Bureau of Jewish Education’s Principals’ Council. He is a clinical faculty member for the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at the Hebrew Union College. Rabbi Lutz was ordained  at H.U.C. in 1999. He holds an M.A. in Jewish Education from H.U.C. and a M.S. in Educational Psychology from U.S.C. Rabbi Lutz is joined in his enthusiasm and dedication to this community by his wife Debbie and children Adam, Jeremy and Emily.

Halli Steinberg (Director of Education and Youth Programs) comes to Temple Ahavat Shalom from Camp Kinneret, where she spent four summers as the Assistant Director and Director. She also was the Religious School Principal at Temple Judea in Tarzana and West Hills for six years. Halli has a Master’s Degree in Education and an MBA in Non-Profit Management, both from the American Jewish University (formerly the University of Judaism). She lives in Agoura Hills with her husband and two children. Halli is excited to be part of the Temple Ahavat Shalom family!

Oshrat Moyal (School Administrator)

Reesa Shaw (School Administrative Assistant) After teaching at Ahavat Shalom for over ten years, Reesa also began working in the temple school office as the Religious School Administrative Assistant in 2008. Her administrative background includes an 18 career in the temporary personnel services industry where she managed numerous temp services over the years. She also has an extensive sales and social work background, as well.

Fanny Arana (10th Grade)

Rabbi Shawna Brynjegard-Bialik (Confirmation)

Danielle Licht (Eighth Grade)

Rick Lupert (Music, 9th Grade) has worked at Temple Ahavat Shalom for twenty years. He is the music specialist at the school serving the Kindergarten through Dalet classes, as well as the monthly Saturday morning Guiar minyan with Rabbi Alan Henkin. He also teaches the Jewish Identity unit in the ninth grade curriculum. Rick served for six years as the Assistant Director for Hillel at Pierce and Valley Colleges for which he was awarded the Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence Award at Hillel's International Professional Staff Conference. He has been involved with LA's poetry community since 1994 and runs a major poetry and writing related website. Rick is also serves as Marketing Coordinator for TAS, creating print and electronic marketing materials for the Temple's community. He also works from home as a freelance graphic and web designer who has created web-sites for luminaries such as Craig Taubman, Jeff Klepper and Danny Maseng (among others). He is married to Addie and they live together in Van Nuys with their son Jude who was born in 2008.

Eric Morgenstern (Bet, Eighth Grade)

Reesa Shaw (Kindergarten, 9th Grade) as been a teacher at Temple Ahavat Shalom since 1997. She and her family have been members of the congregation since 1995. Her two children, Brandon and Stephanie, both attended pre-school here at TAS, and are currently students in the Confirmation program. Reesa has her Bachelors degree in Journalism from Cal State Northridge, where she met her husband David. She attended Los Angeles Hebrew High and graduated from Union Hebrew High School.

Bruce Udelf (3rd Grade, 10th Grade) has taught religious school since 1975, but came to TAS in 1989. He currently teaches third and ninth grades, but has taught nearly every grade, as well as a variety of subjects.  He is also helping to lead the Cooking Chug in the Confirmation program.  Bruce holds a B. A. in Geography from Miami (Ohio) University, along with a M. A. in Geography and a teaching certificate from Western Illinois University. In everyday life, he is the Executive Director of Brighton Gardens of Camarillo, a retirement community.