SOLFL - Student of Life, for Life

(sohl-fuhl) Student of Life, for Life

Spiritual Earth Schools for the World
Our first location, SOLFL עץ חיים, now accepting applications!

Pillars of Sol

WALL-LESS INTEGRATED SPIRAL LEARNING

All subjects are connected through a central theme emanating from our Sol Practice. Spiritual practice permeates all learning as we explore literacy, mathematics, science, language, history and more. We embrace Wall-lessness in our indoor and outdoor living classrooms.

SOL PRACTICE

Central to all pedagogy at SOLFL is the belief that it is our duty to promote growth and learning in the spirit above all else. It is for this reason that all of our learning is based on a core spiritual practice which can be modified based on community.

WEB OF LIFE ECOLOGY

Through our Web of Life Curriculum, students learn, through nature immersion, about the local ecosystem they live in and are empowered to become environmental solutionists. Our learning village aims to facilitate as much outdoor learning as possible in our living classrooms. We focus on living sustainably in flow with nature.

Performing and Visual Arts

With an emphasis on performing arts- musical theatre, rock bands, and dance as well as Visual Arts in our Reggio inspired Atelier, empowerment of the creative spirit is central to all life at SOLFL.

IMPACT ENTREPRENEURSHIP & MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

We believe all children are gifted creators. We tailor mentorship programs to each child's superpowers and passions, partnering them with specialists in their respective fields. In our Jobs Program, children take part in the daily operations of the school from running our school coffee shop & retail store (shown here) to harvesting food, prepping lunch, and more. It takes a village!

PHYSICAL PRACTICE

In addition to morning yoga practice, children take part in cultivating a daily physical practice in areas like martial arts and dance. We believe the mind/body/spirit connection is best facilitated through daily practice in a physical art.

Leaders of sol

Rav DovBer Pinson

Spiritual Director

Rav Pinson is a world-renowned Rabbi, scholar, author, teacher and spiritual mentor. He has been hailed as one of the most important teachers of the generation, and is widely recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities on authentic Jewish wisdom. Through his books, lectures and seminars he has touched and inspired the lives of thousands the world over, and continues to serve as a mentor to many thousands of students across the globe. Rav Pinson has authored over 60 books, many of which have been translated into multiple languages, such as, Hebrew, German, Spanish, Russian and Portuguese. Rav Pinson is the Rosh Kolel of the IYYUN Yeshiva/Kolel, is the Marah D'asra of 84 Viola, Suffern, NY, and heads The Iyyun Center in Brownstone Brooklyn, NY.

ZACH & SHLOMO, ZUSHA

Artists in Residence

Zusha is a dynamic band that fuses traditional Jewish music with elements of soul and electronic rhythms, creating a unique sound that resonates with a diverse audience. Known for their soulful melodies and spiritually uplifting lyrics, Zusha has carved out a distinct niche in the contemporary music scene. The band members (Shlomo Gaisin and Zachariah Goldschmiedt) are also students of Rav Dovber Pinson, a renowned author and Kabbalist, whose teachings deeply influence their music and message. Through their art, Zusha seeks to inspire and connect people to their spiritual roots.

Cassandra Naidoo Ph.D

Head of Middle School
Head of Science & Ecology

After earning a Ph.D. in Cellular Biology and completing a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Molecular Biology, Dr. Cassandra Naidoo cultivated a global career spanning scientific research, sustainability analysis, and educational leadership. With over 15 years of international experience, she has served as a benchtop scientist, journal reviewer, curriculum innovator, and instructional leader across Africa, Asia, and North America.

Dr. Naidoo has taught and led academic programs across IB, A-Level, IGCSE, SACE, AP, and Montessori frameworks. She brings with her a unique ability to blend rigorous academic standards with holistic, inquiry-driven education. Her leadership has inspired countless young minds to pursue paths rooted in curiosity, integrity, and purpose.

Central to Dr. Naidoo’s approach to education is the nurturing of character, the fostering of critical thinking and ethical decision-making, and the development of usable knowledge and transferable skills. Her pedagogy is governed by a lifelong dedication to helping learners reach enlightened levels of consciousness - intellectually, spiritually, and socially. She believes that true education equips individuals not only to succeed in the world, but to meaningfully transform it.

Dr. Naidoo continues to champion interdisciplinary collaboration, individualized learning, and the design of values-centered academic systems that honor each student’s unique potential and humanity.

JC Gutierrez

Head of Impact Entrepreneurship
Head of Creative Arts

JC brings over ten years of experience as an arts leader, educator, director, and youth mentor, empowering children through art, creative entrepreneurship, and community. He is passionate about sharing his love of stage with aspiring performers through musical theatre. As an artistic director, he has developed productions that inspire and engage young learners and adult audiences alike.

In addition to his educational and artistic roles, JC serves on several nonprofit boards and is a playwright, oratory coach, and marketing director. His goal is to inspire future storytellers and entrepreneurs through exploration and creation.

Melissa Horenstein

Head of Admissions & Communications

Melissa joins SOLFL as the Head of Admissions and Communications. She brings a deep commitment to connection, clarity, and conscious education. A native New Yorker, Melissa studied English at NYU. She is also an intuitive energy healer with over twenty years of experience in the holistic arts. Having searched for many years for the right learning environment for her own children, experiencing both homeschool and traditional Jewish schools, she is passionate about sharing SOLFL's integrated and conscious approach to Torah education.

Yehuda Heller

Co-Head of Living Torah
Head of Farm-to-Table & Wellbeing

Yehuda Heller brings over a decade of experience weaving together education, mental health, and nature-based learning. He supports students through experiential farm education, mindfulness practices, and youth athletics, creating spaces that foster growth, resilience, and connection.

Amy Attias

Co-Head of Living Torah

With over forty years dedicated to inspiring children to connect with their spirits, Amy joins the SOLFL team as a very bright light committed to the practice of living Torah. She has a very special gift of nurturing a love of HaShem and is excited to share this in an environment of living classrooms where learners can experience the interconnectedness of all things.

Viviana Castellisi

Head of Elementary Learning
Head of Operations

With over 17 years of experience in Montessori education, Viviana Castellisi brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and heartfelt dedication to her role as Head of Elementary Learning. Her journey has spanned from serving as a Lead Guide in the classroom to Head of School, and later overseeing more than 18 Montessori schools as a Regional Manager. Throughout her career, she has remained deeply committed to creating environments where children—from infancy through high school—feel inspired, nurtured, and eager to learn.

Viviana is not only a seasoned educator and mentor to countless teachers and families but also a proud mother of four. Her personal journey as a parent enriches her understanding of the meaningful partnership between home and school. She believes that education is a shared experience, and she works tirelessly to ensure every family, student and teacher feels supported, heard, and welcomed in the school community.

Outside of her professional life, Viviana enjoys traveling, staying active, reading, and finding creative ways to make lasting memories with her children. Her leadership is grounded in warmth, integrity, and a lifelong passion for the Montessori philosophy.

Kelsey & Kuani

Musical Directors

Previously Musical Directors at WeGrow, Kelsey and Juan are partners in life and in music. Their passion is giving children the tools to access the music that dwells within in order to connect with others, raising the vibration of the world one song at a time.

A multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Kelsey has worked with children of all ages across the globe (Cuba, India, Kenya, and Brazil) and in Miami and NYC. She has taught music in classrooms, living rooms (and virtual rooms) for the past 10 years.

Juan attended jazz school in Bogotá, Colombia and refined his percussion skills in Havana, Cuba and Salvador, Brazil. He also served as the musical director for the School of Rock in Brooklyn, NY.

Anna Miorelli

Atelierista

Anna Miorelli is an educator, artist, and lifelong learner. As an Atelierista at SOLFL, she is dedicated to nurturing each child’s authentic voice and innate creative spirit. Drawing inspiration from Reggio Emilia philosophies and over a decade of experience in the arts, architecture, and cultural fields, Anna seeks to cultivate the creative and human potential within every student—helping them grow in a loving, healing, and inspiring environment. She holds master’s degrees in Anthropology and Landscape Architecture and finds joy in guiding children to explore beauty, connection, and curiosity through art and nature.

Karen Nagar

Director of Hebrew Studies

With over 10 years of experience teaching Hebrew, Karen brings a unique blend of expertise as both a speech pathologist and an educator. She was a lead Hebrew teacher at Ramaz with training in the *Tal Am* and *Chalav u'Dvash* programs. Karen is dedicated to creating an engaging language-learning environment. Whether focusing on phonetics, grammar, or everyday communication, her purpose is to tailor lessons to meet the needs of each student, fostering both linguistic confidence and cultural connection.

Rochie Pinson

Women’s Learning

Rochie Pinson is a Rebbetzin, designer, challah master and author of two challah cookbooks. Her first cookbook RISING is an international bestseller, already in its 5th printing.

As a Rebbetzin, educator, and inspirational speaker, Rochie travels around the the globe inspiring Jewish women to embrace their uniquely feminine power, through the wisdom of Torah and its deepest mystical teachings. Rochie also teaches all the tips, tricks and techniques of making magnificent challah, sharing her decades of experience with women around the world, and encouraging them to bring this delicious mitzvah into their lives!