Administration
Kelly Sussman, M.Ed.
Director of Early Childhood Education
Kelly joined KI shortly after arriving from the United Kingdom in 2006—before she even had a place to live! She quickly found a home within the KI community and has spent nearly two decades serving in a variety of roles dedicated to strengthening and supporting our congregation and families.
A lifelong educator, Kelly is proud to have built a career in early childhood education that culminated in earning her Master’s Degree in Education and becoming Director of Early Childhood Education. For Kelly, working in the preschool is more than a profession—it is a calling. She is passionate about creating meaningful experiences for children, supporting families through the joys and challenges of parenting, and fostering a community where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and connected.
Together with her husband, Benjamin, Kelly is the proud parent of two teenage daughters. After years of guiding preschoolers through sharing, listening, and emotional regulation, she can confidently say that raising teenagers has provided an entirely new level of professional development! Fortunately, both age groups require a good sense of humor, plenty of snacks, and endless patience.
In addition to her work at KI, Kelly is an active member of the TJM Artist Collaborative, a vibrant KI program that celebrates and supports artists throughout our community. When she’s not at school, you can often find her creating, writing, planning the next big preschool adventure, or cheering on the children and families who make KI such a special place.
Lauren D'Orazio
Administrative Coordinator
Lauren D’Orazio is a lifelong member of the KI community and has been part of the congregation for as long as she can remember. In fact, Lauren attended the Richard E. Rudolph, Jr. Preschool herself as a child! KI has always been a second home to her, and there has rarely been a week in her life when she hasn’t walked through its doors for worship, education, community events, or celebrations.
Lauren first joined the preschool team as a camp counselor, working with children from 2017 to 2019. After graduating from Penn State University with a degree in Public Relations, she embarked on a unique adventure, working at Walt Disney World—not once, but twice! Her time with Disney allowed her to combine her passion for communication, guest experience, and creating magical moments for others.
After returning home from her Disney adventures, Lauren was thrilled to rejoin the KI community as the Preschool Administrative Coordinator. In this role, she supports the daily operations of the preschool while helping to ensure that children, families, and staff feel welcomed, informed, and connected. Lauren brings warmth, organization, and a genuine love for the KI community to everything she does.
A proud third-generation KI congregant, Lauren has had the privilege of watching the community grow and evolve throughout her lifetime. She is deeply committed to helping ensure a bright future for the congregation and the preschool that helped shape her own childhood. Alongside her mother, Melanie, Lauren is also a teacher in KI’s vibrant JQuest religious school program, where they teach children in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade and help foster a love of Jewish learning.
When she’s not at KI, Lauren enjoys spending time with her beloved miniature poodle, Harley. She is also an avid traveler with a special love for Walt Disney World and hopes to one day visit all 50 states (She’s half way there!).
For Lauren, KI is more than a workplace—it’s family, community, and home.
Orah Mendelsohn
Human Resources Coordinator and Assistant Group Supervisor
Orah recently joined the KI Preschool team, bringing with her a lifelong passion for working with young children. Originally from Germany, Orah moved to the United States in 2020. Her work with children began while she was still in high school, and knowing early on that early childhood education was where she belonged, she went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
Orah’s talents extend beyond the classroom. With a love for both early childhood education and administrative work, she has found the perfect balance at KI in a unique hybrid role. As KI Preschool’s Human Resources Coordinator, Orah supports our growing team and helps strengthen the day-to-day operations of our school, while also spending time in the classroom as a teacher. This combination allows her to support both the children and the educators who make KI such a special community.
Outside of KI, Orah loves spending time with her husband and four children. In her free time, you can often find her painting, playing the piano, or happily getting lost in a good book.
Jill Levine
Jewish Enrichment and Jewish Life Development Specialist
Jill Levine serves as the Jewish Enrichment and Development Specialist at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (KI). With more than 35 years of experience as an educator, Jill has dedicated her career to helping young children discover the joy, traditions, and values of their Jewish heritage. She has taught children from age three through Pre-K, creating meaningful and engaging experiences that help young learners develop a strong connection to Judaism. Jill also teaches kindergarten in KI’s JQuest Religious School program, continuing her passion for nurturing Jewish learning and identity across generations.
Jill’s connection to KI is deeply personal and spans generations. Her twins attended KI Preschool through Confirmation, and nine years ago, her daughter was married at KI. Today, Jill’s granddaughter is part of the KI community, having started in the Infant Center and now continuing her Jewish journey in Confirmation class, with hopes of studying in Israel next year. For Jill, KI is more than a synagogue or school—it is her warm and loving Jewish home, a place where generations come together and where everyone is welcomed into the Jewish community.
Lauren Hallenbeck
Jewish Music and Program Specialist
Lauren is thrilled to bring music, movement, Jewish traditions, and plenty of silliness to the preschool. After all, she believes that Jewish learning is best when it involves singing, dancing, laughing, and maybe a little bit of chaos. Lauren previously worked at KI as a classroom teacher, an experience that inspired her to pursue a Master’s degree in Education from Gratz College. Before joining the preschool in 2018, Lauren worked in professional theater production as an Equity Stage Manager at theaters throughout the Philadelphia region.
Lauren’s Jewish identity has been shaped by a lifetime of experiences at Shir Ami: Bucks County Jewish Congregation and, especially, her many summers at URJ Camp Harlam. She began at Harlam as a camper and later returned in several staff roles. These experiences continue to influence how she approaches Jewish education today. She believes that Judaism should be something children can experience with their whole selves—through music, movement, creativity, friendship, tradition, and lots of joy.
Lauren teaches in KI’s JQuest program, where she loves helping children discover their own connections to Jewish life and tradition. She and her family have an especially close connection to the preschool: one of her children is a proud preschool alum, while the other is currently a student. Outside of KI, Lauren enjoys running and has completed several marathons and sprint triathlons.
Of course, no Lauren bio would be complete without mentioning that she oversees the care of the preschool’s resident bearded dragon, Bim Bam, who has become a beloved member of the preschool community.