Lisa Gittelman Udi

STAMFORD — Lisa Gittelman Udi has been appointed education and youth director at Temple Beth El in Stamford, it was announced recently by Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, the synagogue’s spiritual leader.

Udi previously served as education director at Greenwich Reform Synagogue.  Prior to that, she also served as director of Jewish education at Congregation Kol Haverim in Glastonbury, the Community Synagogue of Port Washington, N.Y., and Temple Israel of Jamaica in Holliswood, N.Y.  She also served on the faculty of the Union for Reform Judaism’s Crane Lake Camp, and as chairperson of the Jewish Educator’s Council of Greater Hartford.

Udi holds a Bachelor of Arts in drama from the University of Southern California and a Master’s degree in folklore and mythology, specializing in immigrant/ethnic folklore and personal experience narrative, from UCLA. She also studied Jewish education and Jewish family education at Hebrew Union College in New York and Los Angeles, and at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles.

“Lisa was chosen enthusiastically by our committee following an exhaustive search and already within the last couple of months, she has met with parents, teachers and students and we’ve begun to sketch out some exciting plans,” said Hammerman in a letter to congregants. “She has an extensive background in Jewish camping.  Her expertise in both informal and formal Jewish education will enable us to create more educational opportunities for our kids that will be both meaningful and fun.”