Admin Gallery_People
Amy Benarroch
Assistant Director, Education & Programming
Amy is thrilled to joining Fig Tree Program as the Assistant Director of Education and Programming. Amy first began her teaching journey teaching English in an Arabic speaking school and holds a Masters in Teaching ESL from Tel Aviv University. Since moving to New York, Amy has worked as a Jewish educator in New York at Central Synagogue, Town and Village Synagogue, Hannah Senesh Community Day School and helped launch a video-based Israel curriculum for children. She is a proud board member of Emma's Torch, a restaurant that empowers refugees through culinary education. What she loves most about Judaism is its connection to social justice and is currently working on a micro-giving platform that connects the Jewish community to lesser known nonprofits called Righteous Crowd. When she's not working in Jewish education she is spending time practicing yoga and navigating life as a new mom in Brooklyn! She lives with her husband and daughter in Carroll Gardens.
Sarah Chandler
Director, Curriculum Design & Cultivation
Sarah Chandler is a Brooklyn-based Jewish educator, ritualist, artist, activist, and poet. She previously served as the Director of Earth Based Spiritual Practice for Hazon’s Adamah Farm, where she was responsible for Food, Farm, and Forest Jewish Educational Programming. Through the Jewish Theological Seminary, Sarah earned an an M.A. in Jewish Education, an M.A. Hebrew Bible, and a certificate in Contemporary Israel Education. She also received a certificate in Non-Profit Management and Jewish Communal Leadership from Columbia University. She teaches, writes, and consults on issues related to Judaism, earth-based spiritual practice, the environment, mindfulness, food values, and farming. Locally, Sarah is well known for customized baby naming rituals, creative backyard Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, and officiating weddings with Jewish components for couples of all heritages.
Rachel Figurasmith
Director, B’Nai Mitzvah Program
Rachel Figurasmith is and born and raised New Yorker. She has worked in education and non-profit spaces for over a decade and is passionate about increasing access to quality education for all young people. Rachel is a trained special educator and works as a disability rights activist in multiple spaces. Rachel currently works with Repair the World NYC as the Family Engagement Coordinator, designing meaningful service learning experiences for families of all ages. Outside of Repair the World and Fig Tree, Rachel is a visiting professor with Hebrew College and private disability inclusion/behavior management consultant.
Rachel holds a BA from Hampshire College and a Masters in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. When work in all these exciting spaces isn’t keeping her busy, Rachel can be found chasing her three-year-old daughter and two dogs, or spending time with her husband.