Staff

Lisa Bruskin

Executive Director

Lisa was born in England, and later moved with her family to Israel as a young child. In the mid-1970s, she and her family relocated to New York City. Lisa attended Hunter College, where she graduated with a B.S. in physical education/corrective exercise, with a minor in education. Lisa’s career in fitness began having worked on cruise ships for seven years, traveling the world. Thereafter, she entered the non-profit world, working for more than 20 years at several JCCs in New York — including 10 years at the Riverdale Y as the director of member engagement and wellness. For many of those 10 years, she oversaw a very successful half-marathon, 10K, and 5K run/walk that drew hundreds of runners each year of all ages.

Lisa is very good at creating community, and with much determination, she plans to build a hub for the Bronx and its surrounding communities to come in and enjoy our services and our expanding programming.

Lisa keeps all the moving parts of our Temple moving, with much of her work done behind the scenes. She would love to hear from you and looks forward to building out our Temple family’s home and all that it offers.

execdirector@riverdaletemple.org
(718) 548-3800 x2

Alexandra Abikzer

Director, Riverdale Temple Nursery School

Alexandra Abikzer has been an Early Childhood Educator for over 10 years. She has taught Threes and Fours, Kindergarten and First Grade in both Public and Private Schools.

For the past six years, she has been a lead teacher in our 3s and 4s program. Alexandra also founded Ali’s Art in the Park, an outdoor art class for children 18 months to 8 years old.

She has a Master’s of Education in Early Childhood from Hunter College, and a Bachelors of Science in Corporate Communications. Alexandra is passionate about Early Childhood Education. She believes that this is the most important part of education, because it is the foundation upon which all other education is built.

The most important thing about a school, for Alexandra, is that it is a loving, caring supportive place for children, families and teachers. She is a Progressive Educator and believes strongly that children’s ideas and passions are important and should be celebrated and encouraged.

She has three children, and an amazing husband, Jonathan. She loves art, children’s books and working at Riverdale Temple Nursery School! She especially loves the warmth of the community, teachers and parents.

Alexandra wants you to know that her doors are always open, and she will always strive to do what is best for our teachers and families.

More about the nursery school here!

director@riverdaletemplens.org
(718) 796-0335 or (718) 548-3800 x3

Judith Lewis

Interim Education Director, Riverdale Temple Learning Center

Rabbi Lewis is excited about “coming home” to one of her favorite activities — helping children learn the Joys of our Jewish heritage.

She retired as Rabbi and Education Director at the temple in 2015 to care for her father. After his passing in 2022, she realized retirement wasn’t for her, so she helped a colleague with his religious school in Cincinnati, OH in 2023 — and loved it!

When the opportunity presented itself for her to return to Riverdale Temple as Interim Director or Education, she couldn’t resist the chance to come home to her “family.” The Riverdale Temple Learning Center (formerly Simcha Learning Center) will help your children acquire the knowledge and skills to feel fully empowered and engaged as members of the Jewish community, and have fun doing it!

If the children are not having fun, or if you have any questions, suggestions, reactions, please feel free to contact her. She looks forward to hearing from you — and exploring our Jewish heritage with your children.

More about the Riverdale Temple Learning Center here!

judithlewis@riverdaletemple.org
(718) 548-3800 x6