Tara Gordon 

Tara Gordon was born in Westchester, New York and received her undergraduate degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She is currently completing her multi-subject credential and Masters program at Western Governors University.  This is her second year at Emek and previously taught second grade and Elementary PE and Health.  She has a passion for hands-on learning and believes every child has the ability to learn. In her free time, Miss Gordon enjoys theatre, roller skating, and spending time with her cat, Wolf. "The Emek community has been a welcoming and supportive family for teachers and genuinely cares and believes in every student" 

To contact Tara Gordon, email [email protected]. 

Rabbi Eitan Monesa

Rabbi Eitan Monesa, is our new 1st grade boys rebbe. He was born and raised in Santa Monica and has learned in multiple yeshivas around the world for many years, the most of which, in Shor Yoshuv. He learned in Shor Yoshuv, a yeshiva in Far Rockaway, NY, for almost six years, earning his talmudic degree and smicha from the Rosh HaYeshiva, Harav Naftali Jaeger. He also has his Psychology degree, which he earned from UCLA. He grew up playing sports such as football and basketball, so besides his passion for learning torah, children, and teaching, he also loves athletics. 

To contact Rabbi Monesa, email [email protected]. 

Molly Scott 

Molly Scott is a new 1G general studies and 5G math teacher at Emek. Originally from Los Angeles, she grew up surrounded by a loving Jewish community, which greatly influenced her. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychological and Brain Sciences from UC Santa Barbara in 2020 and a Master’s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University in 2023. She spent the last four years teaching in public and charter schools in inner-city Memphis, but she is thrilled to be back in LA and teaching at Emek. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her two rescue dogs, Tikva and Archie. She is ready for an amazing year!

To contact Molly Scott, email [email protected]. 

Hope Birnbaum

Hope Birnbaum went to Brandeis University for her Bachelors Degree where she also completed the Education Program.  She then moved to Los Angeles where she began her teaching career at Maimonides Academy while attending the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education.  At USC, Hope completed her Masters Degree in Elementary Education with a focus in Reading and Writing as well as a Reading Certification.  She has years of experience teaching in the classroom as well as tutoring.  Hope and her husband have three wonderful children. Morah Hope is excited to join the extraordinary Emek Family! 

To email Ms. Birnbaum, email [email protected]. 

Emunah Shamekh

Emunah Shamekh is our 1st grade Torah Studies teacher this year. Morah Emunah grew up here in Los Angeles and has attended Bais Yaakov for highschool and Meohr Teachers Seminary for a year in Israel. She has her degree in Psychology and has had the privilege to teach for the past 4 years. Morah Emunah has a passion for spreading Hashem's Torah and mitzvot through a loving, engaging, and inclusive classroom atmosphere. She is excited and looking forward to learn, grow and connect with all her students this year Beezrat Hashem! 

to contact Emunah Shamekh, email [email protected]. 

Ilana Geiger 

To email Ilana Geiger, email [email protected].

Rabbi Dovid Junik 

Rabbi Dovid Junik grew up in London, England, on Shlichut helping spread Judaism around, and went on to graduate The Rabbinical College of America in New Jersey with ordination from Rabbi Israel Meir Lau and Rabbi Chaim Schapiro. Together with his wife Dina and 3 children they live in Encino.

To contact Rabbi Junik, email [email protected].