Rabbi Eli Samber, an Arie Crown graduate (class of 80′), spent nine years teaching at Arie Crown as eighth grade rebbe. Rabbi Samber attended Skokie Yeshiva, Ner Yisroel of Baltimore, Toras Moshe and Mir Yeshiva in Israel and Yeshiva Gedola of Passaic. He learned in Kollel Lakewood East in Israel then spent more than two years in the Chicago Community Kollel. He has a B.A. in Talmudic Law and a M.A. in Education/Administration from Loyola University. He has smicha from Rabbi Doniel Lehrfield from Yeshivas Bais Yisroel.

Rabbi Menachem Kirshner, an Arie Crown graduate (class of ’93), joined Arie Crown as Assistant Principal of the Hebrew Department in 2010 and is proud to serve as an administrator of his alma mater. He attended Fasman Yeshiva, Har Etzion in Israel, and received his B.A. and smicha from Hebrew Theological College, and M.A. in Education and Supervision from the Loyola University/JELI program. Rabbi Kirshner was formerly Director of the St. Louis Kollel, Principal of the Sachs Skora Hebrew School, and was teacher/Assistant Mashgiach at Fasman Yeshiva.

Mrs. Miriam Swann joined Arie Crown as Director of General Studies in June 2012. She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a M.Ed. degree in Curriculum and Instruction from UIC. After graduating, she taught in England for 10 years and served as Deputy Head of English at Bay House School in Gosport, Hampshire. Upon returning to the United States in 2004, she taught fifth grade boys at Arie Crown for three years, then spent five years teaching English and Journalism at Lake Forest High School, where she also worked on revamping the English curriculum.

Mrs. Morgenstern joined Arie Crown in 2013 as the Business Office Manager and now has returned in 2023 as Assistant Principal in the Limudei Kodesh Department for girls in grades 4th -8th. Mrs. Morgenstern has taught at the junior high and high school levels in several schools and cities for over 20 years, and has extensive experience in the areas of mentoring, curriculum coordination, and fostering academic growth and excellence in the classroom. Mrs. Morgenstern received her B.A. from the Anne Blitstein Teacher Institute, and her M.A. in Education and Supervision from the Loyola University/JELI Program.

Mrs. Goodfriend joined Arie Crown as a resource math teacher in the fall of 2013 and taught support, enrichment, and core classes while also serving as the Middle School Math Curriculum Coordinator and Instructional Coach since 2016. She holds a B.S. in Mathematics, a B.S. in Civil Engineering, and an M.S. in Structural Engineering all from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Mrs. Goodfriend worked as a structural engineer for 15 years before transitioning into teaching through offering tutoring support to students.

Mrs. Shoshana Safirstein joined Arie Crown in 2015 after previously serving as the Assistant Early Childhood Director at the Mayer Kaplan JCC. Having received a B.A. in Early Childhood from Northeastern University, Mrs. Safirstein went on to teach and volunteer in the classroom, and take on key leadership roles in various organizations. Mrs. Safirstein’s knowledge base enables her to guide our Early Childhood program as one that focuses on the needs of each individual child, while instilling a love of learning that will help serve as the foundation for our students.

Mrs. Shani Rosenbaum joined Arie Crown in 2019 as a Hebrew Reading Specialist before transitioning to Assistant Principal of Limudei Kodesh for 1st – 3rd grade students in 2020. Mrs. Rosenbaum brings with her over 15 years of educational experience in numerous roles including Judaic Studies Teacher, Secular Studies Teacher, and Kriah Department Head at Yeshiva Gedola Elementary School in Montreal. Mrs. Rosenbaum received her professional accreditation under the direction of Dr. Karen Gazeith of the Federation CJA in Montreal.

Mrs. Abrams joined Arie Crown Hebrew Day School in 2014 as a teacher for our elementary school and brought her classroom skills to our middle school students as a 2nd and 5th grade teacher. During this time, she served various additional roles within the school including K – 4th Grade Language Arts Instructional Coach, 2nd Grade Team Leader, and Rotation Learning Instructional Coach. In 2020, Mrs. Abrams transitioned to her new role as our Assistant Principal of General Studies for our 1st – 3rd grade students. Mrs. Abrams received her B.A. degree from Brandeis University and a Masters degree from the University of Southern California.

Mr. Sam Medow joined the Arie Crown administrative team in 2013 bringing a wealth of experience from his previous senior roles in prominent Jewish organizations in Chicago including the YU Torah Mitzion Kollel of Chicago, Chai Lifeline Midwest and the JCCs of Chicago. Mr. Medow holds a B.A. from the University of Iowa and a M.B.A. from Roosevelt University and currently oversees the finances, development, public relations and building management of the school.

Rabbi Yisrael Bogopulsky joined the Arie Crown administrative team in 2023 bringing nearly 10 years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit leadership from his previous roles at Camp Nageela Midwest and The Chicago Center. He attended Mesivta Yesodei Yeshurun, Yeshivas Bais Yisroel, Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim and then spent a year in the Kollel at Beis Medrash L’Talmud. He also holds a B.S. in Accounting from Lander College for Men. Rabbi Bogopulsky joins our staff with a focus on development, marketing, and community outreach.

Mrs. Ellen Wigoda joined Arie Crown Hebrew Day School in 1993. She taught first and second grade boys for 12 years and then became the General Studies Coordinator in 2005. Mrs. Wigoda received her B.A. from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and her M.A. in Teaching from Foster G. McGraw Graduate School (now National Louis University).