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The UAB Faculty
We Are Family
Aviv Bertele
Founder and owner of UAB. Holds an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies and Hebrew Language. Teaches the majority of courses at UAB, including the book clubs. Passionate about making Hebrew accessible to adult learners, he sees teaching Hebrew as his life’s mission. Known for his sharp wit and unapologetic humor, he brings energy and authenticity to every class.
Sharon Barbakov
Teaching Hebrew at UAB since 2018, she has an academic background in Semitic Linguistics and has taught Hebrew in both Jerusalem and Hungary. Combining dynamic energy with professionalism and precision, she creates an engaging and immersive learning experience in every class.
Orel Shmueli
Teaching Hebrew at UAB since 2023, he holds an M.A. in Hebrew Language and also works as a language editor for daily newspapers in Israel while developing educational programs. A true master of the Hebrew language—there’s no question you can ask him that he won’t have an answer to.
Jona van der Schelde
Teaching Hebrew at UAB since 2026, he is actually a proud UAB alumnus who completed all our levels before becoming a professional Hebrew teacher. His academic background includes a B.A. in American Studies from the University of Groningen, an M.A. in Sociolinguistics from the University of Amsterdam, an M.A. in General Linguistics from Bar-Ilan University, and an M.A. in English Education from Radboud University in the Netherlands. Since 2022 he has taught English across all high-school grades and Hebrew in the lower levels, bringing both expertise and warmth to every class.
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