Mrs. Leah Diskind, born and raised in Elizabeth, NJ, hails from a family of Mechanchim. Her late father, Rabbi Reuven Joffe ז”ל, served as the principal of the Yeshiva in Elizabeth for over 40 years, inspiring her dedication to education.
Mrs. Diskind attended Yavneh Teachers Seminary in Cleveland, OH, renowned for its excellence in training mechanchot. After completing her studies and earning a Torah Umesorah degree to teach grades K-12, she furthered her education at Touro College, majoring in Education and Special Education. As a lifelong learner, Mrs. Diskind has continued to expand her knowledge through various professional development opportunities, including a summer fellowship at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Her teaching career began in the JEC in Elizabeth, NJ, and Magen David Yeshiva, after which she was invited by Rebbetzin Rassi Busel A”H to help open Shaare Torah High School for Girls. Mrs. Diskind served as Assistant Principal for 14 years, playing an instrumental role in growing the school from just 9 students to over 100. Following Rebbetzin Busel’s untimely passing in 1998, Mrs. Diskind assumed the role of principal for the next 9 years, continuing to guide the school to great heights.
In 2007, Mrs. Diskind was offered the position of principal at Bnot Rachel High School, where she, alongside a stellar team of educators, led the school to become a place of growth, learning, and inspiration. Under her leadership, Bnot Rachel produced countless exceptional Bnot Yisroel who continue to be a source of pride for the community.
With her extensive experience in educating girls and her commitment to excellence, Mrs. Diskind is excited to head the new merge of Bnot Rachel High School with the Lev Torah school system. We are thrilled to welcome her to this new chapter of growth and success for the girls of our community.
Mrs. Mozelle Seruya has dedicated over 43 years to educating and inspiring Sephardic girls. Raised in Brooklyn and educated in our community schools, including MDY and Flatbush, Mrs. Seruya spent a year in Israel where she obtained her teaching license from the State of Israel’s Education Department. Later, she furthered her expertise with a two-year immersion in the Torah Umesorah Principals Fellowship certification program, where she qualified to supervise teachers and students, develop curriculum, and manage all school programming.
In addition to her leadership qualifications, Mrs. Seruya has gained expertise in delivering professional development workshops on the Elements of Instruction and is currently a presenter for Catapult Educational Services.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Seruya has taught and supervised students at MDY, Ateret Torah, Shaare Torah High School, Bnot Rachel High School, and presently Lev Torah Girls’ High School. While she specializes in teaching the laws of Shabbat at the high school level, she is also known for being a creative force behind many inspirational, exciting, and fun programs that have enriched the school community.
Mrs. Seruya’s commitment to nurturing and inspiring young minds, coupled with her extensive experience, makes her an invaluable asset to Lev Torah Girls’ High School.
Mrs. Esther Bookson is the Assistant Principal at Lev Torah Girls High School. Born and raised in Brooklyn, she is a proud graduate of BYA High School and Seminary. Mrs. Bookson continues a strong family tradition of chinuch, with her husband, mother, and, in earlier years, her father, all having served as principals.
Mrs. Bookson earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Education from Touro College, followed by a Master’s degree in Special Education. She holds New York State Certification and Licenses in Special Education for all grade levels.
Eighteen years ago, Mrs. Bookson joined Bnot Rachel High School as the Special Education Director. Five years ago, she transitioned to the role of General Studies Assistant Principal.
Mrs. Bookson brings professionalism, dedication, specialized training, and excellent interpersonal skills to her role at Lev Torah. Her extensive experience plays a key role in enhancing the education of the students at Lev Torah Girls High School, and we are fortunate to have her as part of our leadership team.