Rabbi Shimon Lazarof

Executive director

Mrs. Chiena Lazaroff

Director and Principal of Judaic Studies
clazaroff@tdshouston.org

Mrs. Chiena Lazaroff was born in Tashkent, Russia. She lived in Paris, France before her family moved to America where they lived in Cleveland, Ohio. She attended The Hebrew Academy of Cleveland and graduated from Yavne High-School for girls.

She received her seminary teachers training at the Bais Yaakov Teachers Seminary in Brooklyn, New York. She has taught for forty-five plus years in New York, Detroit and Houston in Elementary Schools, High Schools and Adult Education classes. She obtained an Administrative License from the Department of Protective and Family Services, she is a member of the Professional Administrators National Credentialing, and attended the Principal’s Center at the Harvard Graduates School of Education.

Chiena Lazaroff has served on the board of the National Conference of the Central Organization for Jewish Education, spearheading the educational teacher training division. She lectures, nationally and internationally, on a broad range of subjects including the structure of the Hebrew Language.

She co-founded Chabad Lubavitch of Texas in Houston, Torah Day School of Houston and Camp Gan Israel of Houston. She has served as our Judaic Principal, curriculum developer and Judaic studies teacher since 1977.

Mrs. Chiena Lazaroff says “When we came to Houston people asked us what was our goal, our plan. We were there to create greater Jewish awareness and observances. How this was to be done, we had no idea. As needs arose, we rose to the occasion. It’s not the work of our hands, but the blessings of Hashem, conveyed to us through the Lubavitcher Rebbe and his love for each and every Jew. So many lives have been touched; it’s gratifying to see the second and third generation availing themselves of the Jewish education we provided and in turn, contributing to the community, as well. The Rebbe made us leaders, always urging us to greater heights. I feel privileged to have earned his confidence.”

Her children have graduated from Torah Day School and have gone on to become Rabbis, degreed professionals, project managers and one has served in the Elite Forces for the Israeli Defense Force. Several of her grandchildren are current students of TDS.

Rabbi Enan Francis

Assistant Head of School
efrancis@tdshouston.org

Rabbi Francis is an experienced principal and educator, joining us after leading the Southern CT Hebrew Academy for seven years. He also taught in various schools from Nest+M to the United Talmudic Academy. He graduated from Brooklyn College and attended YU’s Azrielli School of Jewish Education. He also received smicha at United Lubavitcher Yeshiva.

Rabbi Francis and his wife Gitty, an experienced social worker, have five children (KA”H) all of whom attended or are attending TDS.

Ms. Roben Lepore

Assistant Principal

Mrs. Chaya Sara Kaufmann

Early Childhood Coordinator
ckaufmann@tdshouston.org

Mrs. Shoshannah Bonn

Executive Secretary
sbonn@tdshouston.org

Shoshannah Bonn has a background in accounting, conference management, parks management, and nature education. After working in the front office and the school office at TDS, she has joined Rabbi Francis's office as his executive secretary. She enjoys reading, hiking, gardening, dancing, and Jewish holidays.

Ms. Devorah Hoffer

Front Office Manager

Mrs. Adina Metchik

Wellness Director, School Social Worker
ametchik@tdshouston.org

Ms. Chaya Lazaroff

Early Childhood Secretary

Mrs. Gila Barnett

3rd Grade Judaic Teacher
gbarnett@tdshouston.org

Morah Yaffa BarYam

Hebrew Language Teacher
ybaryam@tdshouston.org

Morah Yaffa has been teaching Hebrew and early childhood for over 30 years. She has been a teacher at Torah Day School since 1992, and taught Hebrew at Beth Israel's Religious School for 10 years, which she greatly enjoyed.

Yaffa completed her teaching certification from the Shine School of Education, a division of Bar Ilan University in Tel Aviv, for early childhood education and Hebrew as a Second Language.

Yaffa and her husband Kobi enjoy traveling, especially to Israel to visit family, and spending time with their daughters and grandchildren in Houston.

She greatly values her friendships, and makes time to meet with friends regularly.

Mrs. Menuchi Cagen

2nd Grade Judaic Teacher
mcagen@tdshouston.org

Rabbi Shmuly Ceitlin

Middle School Boys Judaic Teacher / Pre Mesivta Program
sceitlin@tdshouston.org

Born in Toronto Canada, graduate of the Chabad Yeshiva system, moved to Houston in the end of 2020 as a Chabad emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

Mrs. Mindy Ceitlin

Middle School Judaic Teacher / Tzivos Hashem Coordinator
mceitlin@tdshouston.org

Mrs. Eta Cotlar

Middle School Chassidus Teacher
ecotlar@tdshouston.org

Mrs. Connie Dotan

2nd Grade Secular Teacher
cdotan@tdshouston.org

Morah Gitty Eber

Early Childhood EC2 Teacher
geber@tdshouston.org

Morah Marissa Finkelman

Kindergarten Teacher
mfinkelman@tdshouston.org 

Mrs. Rivka Fishman

Middle School Judaic Teacher
rfishman@tdshouston.org

Rivka Fishman has been a teacher at TDS for over 20 years. She is currently our Special Programming Coordinator and our 4th and 5th grade judaic teacher. She is a recipient of the Irving L. Samuels Outstanding Teacher Award for Judaic Studies and of the Grinspoon – Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. Rivka is the author of the children’s book “Sara the Bucket Filler,” which helps children learn to be kinder and stay happier. She gives workshops on bullyproofing for parent, camp and school groups worldwide.

Rabbi Shmuly Gniwisch

5th and 6th Grade Boys Teacher
sgniwisch@tdshouston.org