Before coming to the JCA in 2020, our JI Assistant Director, Jewish Education Rachel Sandler was an elementary school teacher for 16 years. Through her volunteer work with PJ Library and The Temple, Rachel has become an active member of our Jewish community in Jacksonville.

Originally from New York, Rachel met her husband, Dan at the University of Florida during a Hillel campus barbeque. Rachel holds her bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Florida. 

Rachel’s organizes and plans our Clergy in a Circle program, the Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning classes, Hebrew classes, Jewish Spirituality programs, Joys of Yiddish class, and a variety of engaging and educational Jewish holiday programs. Rachel thoroughly enjoys organizing the JCA’s annual Jewish Cultural Arts Festival and serving as a mentor and supervisor with the JCA’s Community Shlichim program which is funded by the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida.

When Rachel is not busy planning our incredible Jewish and Family programs at the JCA, she loves spending time with her family, reading, cooking and traveling.