JEC Full Time Staff
Rachel Tichauer
-Director, Jewish Experience Center
Rachel Tichauer serves as the Director of the Jewish Experience Center. Rachel oversees and works with the JEC team to make sure that our Kindergarten-12th grade programming and experiences are at the highest level.
Rachel has a Master of Arts in Education from American Jewish University and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Arizona. She grew up in Los Angeles where she developed her love and passion for Judaic Education at the age of 12 when she joined her temple's Madrichim program. She then became a Religious School teacher before serving as KI's JEC Assistant Director. Rachel is so excited to step into the Director position and to work with the wonderful JEC Team and all of our families to create the best programs and experiences for our students.
Rachel and her husband Alex are the proud parents of two children, Adam and Rose, and in her free time, Rachel enjoys watching sports, cooking and baking, and spending time with her family and friends. On the rare Sunday off, you can find her at her local Farmer's Market with her family dancing to the live music and eating fresh fish tacos and tamales!
Rabbi
Daniel Freedman
-Associate Director, JEC
Rabbi Daniel Freedman is passionate about teaching Judaism, creating meaningful Jewish experiences, and cultivating sacred relationships in ways that reflect the values and aspirations of the people with whom he is in community.
Rabbi Freedman, a native of St. Louis, earned a bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies and Psychology at The Ohio State University. He was ordained as a rabbi with a master’s degree in Jewish Education and certificate in Jewish nonprofit management at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles in May of 2020. Since then, he has served as a Senior Jewish Educator at Santa Barbara Hillel and most recently as the Assistant Rabbi and Educator at Temple Sinai in Oakland.
In his free time, Rabbi Freedman enjoys hiking, playing tennis, exploring new neighborhoods, and cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals and The Buckeyes. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Rabbi Liora Alban and their dog Rexy. Rabbi Freedman is excited to support the Jewish Experience Center and join the Kehillat Israel community.
Max Muller
-Experiential Educator
Max is thrilled to be serving this year as the Youth Programs Coordinator. Max comes from an extensive background of Jewish education and experiential learning, having worked within the Jewish community in Southern California for over 20 years. This will be Max's 5th year on staff with the JEC, and he is looking forward to sharing some never-before-seen programs with our community. Max is passionate about narrative storytelling games and imaginative play, and never skips out on the opportunity to infuse some action and adventure into the lessons he teaches. Max is committed to expanding your student's Hebrew vocabulary, and will teach your student the word for Hero (Gee-bor) before challenging them to pick up that Herev u'Magen (Sword and Shield) and become one!
When Max isn't cooking up ways to excite and surprise you through Jewish living and learning, he is creating board games, cooking delicious foods he's seen on Pinterest, and spending time with his wife Star and their two cats Panini and Makemake. Lastly, if you ever find your way to Max's office, keep an eye out for his pet Dragon "Appo".