Ilana is the Director of the Temple Emanuel Religious School and Chai 385 Middle School Program. After teaching in every Jewish denomination, she is dedicated to Jewish pluralism and helping students find their personal connections to Judaism and Israel. Through her personal and professional Jewish education journey, Ilana developed a passion for providing supplemental school students a Jewish day-school caliber experience and education.

Previously, Ilana served as the Executive Director of Kesher Newton, as Associate Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League in New England and as Director of Academic Affairs at the Consulate General of Israel to New England, all while teaching Religious School on the side, including 5^th grade at Temple Emanuel! Ilana holds a B.A. and M.A. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University with a Massachusetts State Certification in Elementary Education and minors in both Hebrew language and History.  She also studied abroad at the University of Haifa in Israel.

Ilana lives in Newton with her husband Avner, and two sons, Izzy (5) and Sammy (8 months).