Tamar Andrews spent her teen years at Temple Isaiah as a high school student attending YULA HS, whose classes were held at here. A graduate of CSLA and CSUN, Tamar holds a BA degree in Psychology and an MA in Child Development. She is completing her Ph.D. in Education at USC. Tamar began her tenure as our Preschool Director in 2003. She is also on the faculty of Cal State Los Angeles Department of Child and Family Studies and UCLA. Tamar works closely with the National Association for the Education of Young Children as a validator for their accreditation program.

The most important reason a family should choose Temple Isaiah Preschool is because they want to join something bigger than themselves. To participate in and feel the joy of being part of a really wonderful community. The best feelings come from sharing: sharing meals at a Shabbat dinner, sharing your home with a friend over for a play date, sharing a lunch when your friend forgot his, sharing a smile, a tear, an important event, and sharing our lives with one another. All of this helps to create children that are true mensches.

Tamar lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Edward, and their four children, Kaila and Shaina, Shalhevet High School students, and Daniel and Joshua who attend Pressman Academy.

Joshua Mason-Barkin, MAJE/MAJCS is Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Isaiah, where he oversees the religious school, as well as family and adult education.

He grew up in the Los Angeles area, where he attended Valley Beth Shalom Day School, Milken Community High School, and El Camino Real High School.

Prior to joining the team at Isaiah, Josh was Director of School Services at Torah Aura Productions where his job involved training teachers and working rabbis and educators to enable continued success in their schools.

Josh is the author of two books, God: Jewish Choices for Struggling With the Ultimate and Artzeinu: An Israel Encounter (with Joel Grishaver), and he has been part of the editorial team for countless others.

He received Master of Arts degrees from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in Jewish education and Jewish communal service in June 2007, and has a BA from Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin. Josh has worked at the World Union of Progressive Judaism in Jerusalem, the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Los Angeles, and a number of L.A.-area congregations. He has already served as a faculty member, staff trainer, and curriculum consultant at URJ Camp Newman. Josh is an active member of the National Association of Temple Educators and the Jewish Educators Association. He is married to Rabbi Sara Mason-Barkin, Congregational Educator at Temple Emmanuel of Beverly Hills.

In his free time, Josh enjoys cooking, traveling, writing, and closely following his beloved Dodgers, Lakers, and Chicago Bears. His favorite Beatle is George.