staff
Rabbi Carrie Vogel
Director, Jewish Experience Center
Rabbi Carrie Vogel serves as the Director of the Jewish Experience Center. Carrie oversees and works with the JEC team to make sure that our kindergarten-12th grade programming and experiences are at the highest level.
Carrie was ordained as a rabbi from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion here in Los Angeles in 2009. In addition she received a Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters in 2006 and a Master of Arts in Jewish Education in 2007 from HUC-JIR. During Carrie’s time in rabbinic school she worked at a number of synagogues, camps and day schools in the greater Los Angeles area. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Cincinnati.
Carrie and her husband Brian are the proud parents of two children and in her "spare time" she enjoys being outside, reading and sorting LEGOs.
Rachel Tichauer
JEC Assistant Director, On-Site Programs
Rachel Tichauer 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.
Rachel was a teacher in our program for three years before joining our full time staff at Kehillat Israel. You can usually find her prepping materials for our Project Based Learning lessons or kvelling over our students' progress in their Hebrew studies when they come in to take a test with her! In her free time, Rachel enjoys sports, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.
Rachel and her husband, Alex, are loving their new roles as parents to their son Adam.
Michelle Chajet
JEC Assistant Director, Experiential Education
Michelle is a recent graduate of the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion where she received her Master of Arts in Jewish education and a certificate in Jewish Organizational Leadership. Prior to graduate school, Michelle served as the Director of Jewston (Houston Hillel's community for Jewish 20somethings), Program Associate at the Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach, and Education Fellow at the Woldring/Goldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. Michelle earned her Bachelor's degree in Judaic Studies and Communication from the University of Arizona.
Michelle was our HUC-JIR Education Intern in 2018-2019 and is thrilled to be back at KI to begin her new role as JEC Assistant Director of Experiential Education. In her spare time she enjoys hiking with her husband, Elias, and their dogs, Roxy and Roux, lounging at the beach, and baking challah.
Max Muller
Youth Programs Coordinator, B'nai Mitzvah Teacher
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".
Alex Haro
Administrative Assistant, ECC & JEC
Alex has a Master of Science in Education: Specialization in Early Childhood Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from Mount Saint Mary’s University. She was born and raised in West Los Angeles.
Alex has been a preschool teacher for the last six years before moving on to Administrative Assistant at Kehillat Israel. In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts and Dodger games with her husband, Brandon, taking naps with her English Bulldog, Mojo, and spending time with her family and friends.