Our Team -

MANAGEMENT

With gratitude and deep appreciation for the teachers and administration of Torah Academy of Milwaukee – thank you for all you did for our daughters. You all do so much to make our community the special place that it is.

-Rabbi David and Ali Begoun (Parents of TAM graduates)

Administration

Mrs. Sora Rauch – Principal

Mrs. Sora Rauch, TAM principal, has over 30 years’ experience in the field of education. Her teaching experience spans from third grade through high school in Baltimore, New York and Milwaukee.

She has served as principal of TAM since its inception. She teaches several Chumash classes as well. Mrs. Rauch emphasizes both skills of learning the original text, as well as the implication and impact of what is studied, on one’s life in the 21st century. As a school leader, Mrs. Rauch concentrates on bringing together a staff of highly qualified teachers in all areas who possess the characteristics of knowledge, patience, and consistency coupled with enthusiasm and friendliness. Mrs. Rauch strongly believes that a happy teenager is a successful one and puts in full effort to ensure that the students are well-adjusted and happy.

sora.rauch@torahacademymil.org
Tel: 414-352-6789 Ext: 1

Dr. Mary Duarte - Director, Secular Studies

A history teacher at TAM over twenty-five years ago, Dr. Mary Duarte has returned to the school after a twenty-five year career at Cardinal Stritch University where she was an associate professor of history and department head. Dr. Duarte earned her doctorate in history at Marquette University and has remained active in her field with numerous conference presentations and publications with the most recent in September 2024. She likes to use original (primary) sources in her classes which are analyzed and discussed to gain a better understanding of the periods covered.

mary.duarte@torahacademymil.org
Tel: 414-352-6789 Ext: 2

Mrs. Beth Meister - Administrator

Mrs. Beth Meister is TAM’s administrator, and her responsibilities include all financial aspects of TAM, running our Wisconsin School Choice program, and maintaining our building and facilities. Beth is also a proud TAM graduate and mother of two TAM graduates and one current student.

beth.meister@torahacademymil.org
Tel: 414-352-6789 Ext: 3

Faculty

Mrs. Shulamis Halpern – Beiur Tefilla and Shmuel

Mrs. Halpern has been teaching for 19 years and received her training at Northwestern Illinois University and Machon Devorah Seminary. Mrs. Halpern loves working with the TAM students and enjoys the challenge of “making them think”.

Mrs. Chava Israel – Limudei Kodesh

Chava Israel has been in the field of education for over 17 years, teaching Chumash, Navi and many other Judaic courses. She joined Torah Academy in 2007 with an outstanding reputation from her previous school in Baltimore, Maryland. She challenges her students to increase their skill level in reading and translating psukim (passages) and meforshim (commentaries), recognizing important facts and stresses the value of the prophecies studied. Her Rosh Chodesh singing kumzitz, accompanied by her guitar, is something her students look forward to monthly.

Mrs. Gitty Kramer – Limudei Kodesh

Gitty Kramer, a proud alumnus of Torah Academy of Milwaukee, holds a Masters’ Degree in Education and Counseling from Cardinal Stritch University. She has been teaching for over 15 years. Her experience began as a teacher at TAM, continued in a number of high schools in the New York area, before returning to teach in TAM in 2014. Mrs. Kramer is well known for her thought provoking classes that elicit critical thinking and higher order integration of material studied. At any given point, one can see her students involved in heated debates as they synthesize and internalize the text learned into their own unique lifestyles.

Mrs. Michele Merens - English 9th-12th grade

Michele Merens, English teacher, has more than a dozen years of experience teaching at TAM. She has taught at Cardinal Stritch University and Concordia University as well. She has a Masters’ Degree in Journalism from Northwestern University and a Bachelor’s degree (senior scholar) from Barnard College. She is a member of the Dramatist’s Guild and a published playwright and author.

Mrs. Rae Zachai – Jewish History and Kesuvim

Mrs. Zachai has been teaching at Torah Academy of Milwaukee since its inception in 1991. She is a master Jewish History teacher, with depth of knowledge, expertise and style that are unmatched. Her students from years ago proclaim that the vast education in Jewish History that they received from Mrs. Zachai has impacted their understanding of both Jewish and world events. In addition, no one ever forgets Mrs. Zachai’s presentation and elucidation of the “Aishes Chayil”!

Mrs. Eva Zussman – Math

Mrs. Zussman has been teaching at Torah Academy of Milwaukee since 2014. She holds a Bachelors’ degree in Mathematics with a minor in Jewish Studies from Yeshiva University- Stern College and a Masters’ degree in Secondary Education from Loyola University Chicago. Mrs. Zussman is known to be extremely creative and innovative in finding modalities in which to teach the student the higher mathematics in a way that will be received and appeal to each individual. She is strong on advancing her education and methodology and is consistently taking classes and attending seminars to advance and change her approaches. Students know that they will achieve in Mrs. Zussman’s class and they know that they will be heard and understood!