Disability Inclusion Network

Alison Lobron is the Inclusion and Program Development Coordinator at Temple Shalom of Newton.  Alison joined the Temple Shalom staff in 2018. Alison began her career as a public-school teacher, then moved into the field of social/emotional learning and eventually into Jewish education. Alison is ardent about creating learning environments where students of all abilities feel confident, capable, and eager to learn. Alison graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1994 with a degree in Elementary Education and Communications. She earned a Master’s in the Risk and Prevention program at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education in 2000. Alison lives in West Newton with her husband, David, their children Shira and Gabriel, and their bunny, Buzz.

Michelle Steinhart has been working in Jewish Education and Jewish Special Education for over twenty-five years, teaching in day schools and synagogue schools, serving as a counselor in summer camps, advisor in youth groups and is currently the Director of Learning and Inclusion at Temple Israel Center in White Plains, and the Director of Special Projects for MATAN. Michelle graduated Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women with a B.A. Degree in Education and an Associate’s Degree in Judaic Studies. Michelle went on to earn her M.A. degree in Special Education at Hunter College of the City of New York. Michelle has led professional development sessions for varying synagogues, schools and agencies and serves as a consultant for synagogues working to build inclusivity in their communities. Michelle is a 2002 recipient of the Grinspoon Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. Michelle and her husband Yaakov live in Rockland County, NY with their four children, Avi, Shaina, Shael and Shaya.

Eliana Rubin is a queer and trans educator and artist based in New York City. She aims to help people better understand themselves and the world around them, and is deeply grateful to do so through her work at Keshet.

Prior to joining Keshet, Eliana worked at The Jewish Education Project as their Education Manager for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI+B). Through her work, The Jewish Education Project reached over one thousand educators, fostering DEI+B actions and thought processes across the country. Eliana received her Master of Educational Leadership from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, and her BFA in Drama from NYU / Tisch.

Eliana is a musician and theatre maker. She intertwines her love of Jewish education with the arts through her original educational modality, Jewiscals (Jewish musicals), short musical numbers based around our sacred texts. She will never say no to a bag of movie theater popcorn.