Ellen Geller Kamaras
“I want every student to leave Magen David Yeshivah High School knowing that an adult believed in them, took their ideas seriously, and saw greatness in them. I want every teacher to feel that same belief from us. All of us, students and teachers alike, grow when someone believes in us.” – Audrey
Please meet Audrey Abade, nee Nasar, an educator from our very own Brooklyn community. Born in New Jersey and raised in Brooklyn, Audrey is the associate principal at Magen David Yeshivah High School. Referring to herself as “a product of this community through and through,” she is grateful for and is in awe of her community and she feels privileged to work with its remarkable spiritual and academic leaders.
Audrey describes herself as determined, curious, passionate, and warm. She is also modest, giving, dedicated, and caring. Extending warmth and support are important to Audrey in both her professional and personal life.
Her Core
Audrey was educated at MDY from nursery through high school, and those fourteen years shaped her deeply, both personally and professionally. When asked what kind of child and student she was, she gave the credit to her teachers. She was very fortunate, she said, to have teachers who noticed her. They handed her books they thought she would love, asked what she was interested in, and took her answers seriously. “A child feels it when an adult believes in her, and I felt it again and again.”
One teacher stood out. Mrs. Muller, Audrey’s high school English teacher, read her papers endlessly, commenting, editing, and discussing them with her. “It wasn’t just about the grammar,” Audrey said. Mrs. Muller was genuinely interested in Audrey’s arguments and what she had to say. Mrs. Muller became Audrey’s model as a teacher and as a principal. Audrey believes, “Every child deserves a Mrs. Muller.”
Falling in Love with History
After high school, Audrey earned a bachelor’s degree in Jewish History at NYU, where she fell in love with the field. In her studies, she turned to her own community, learning about first- and second-generation Syrian and Egyptian women.
Syrian Jewish immigrants began to settle in the U.S. in 1907 and many of them eventually found a home in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. It’s no coincidence that MDY was founded there in 1946, as the first Syrian Jewish day school to serve the growing Sephardic community.
Audrey researched what her community looked like during World War II by delving into the Victory Bulletin, a monthly newsletter published by the Girls Junior League, a club for young Syrian Jewish women aged 16 to 25. As the community’s young men, including Audrey’s grandfathers, shipped off to war, the Syrian Jewish women of Bensonhurst sprang into action. They printed letters from soldiers, wrote about civilian defense projects, encouraged participation in the war effort, and promoted American values. In October 1943, the Bulletin proudly reported that the Syrian Jewish community of Brooklyn had purchased a twin-engine Mitchell bomber for the U.S. Army Air Forces for $300,000, funded through the sale of war bonds and stamps.
Audrey sat with Egyptian Jewish women, including her grandmother, and recorded their stories: life in Egypt, the uprooting, and building a new life in the United States. These women’s testimony is included in the anthology A Jewish Feminine Mystique?: Jewish Women in Postwar America, published by Rutgers University Press. “Their resilience and dignity floored me. I wanted every child in our community to feel that same awe about where they come from.”
Audrey went on to earn a master’s degree at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University.
Why Teaching?
Audrey’s decision to teach grew directly from her love of history. Once she understood how extraordinary her community’s story was, she wanted children to know that they descend from people of enormous courage and faith. “I couldn’t think of a better place to do that than MDY. The Yeshivah did exactly that for me, and its own history is an integral part of our community’s story.”
In 2009, Audrey received the Grinspoon Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education, which recognizes outstanding Jewish educators. She continued to refine her skills at MDY and through professional development, becoming Jewish history chair, then chief academic officer in 2017, assistant principal in 2019, and associate principal in 2022. Audrey is proud to have been an MDY faculty member for 20 years. She is now working toward her doctorate in educational leadership.
Her Educational Philosophy
At the heart of Audrey’s approach is warmth with high expectations. High expectations are a form of respect, because they tell a student, “I believe you can do this.” Warmth is what makes a student willing to try.
Audrey also believes in taking kids’ ideas seriously, which is exactly what Mrs. Muller gave her. Students don’t just need correction. They need an adult who is genuinely curious about what they think.
Teachers are role models whether they intend to be or not. Kids observe how their teachers handle a hard question, how they treat one another, and how they live their values. That is a big part of Audrey’s doctoral research, and it is why her main role as associate principal is helping the faculty do their best work.
“If teachers are the role models, then investing in them is how we reach every child. The same principles apply to the adults: warmth, high expectations, and genuine interest in their ideas. Teachers who feel supported and believed in pass that on to their students. I love seeing a teacher exhilarated by a lesson that landed or an initiative that went even better than expected. The best part is working with a team of committed, dedicated, and brilliant educators.
“I also try to model learning, and I try to be real. Kids, and teachers too, can tell immediately whether someone is authentic. Finally, roots give confidence. When students know where they come from, they stand taller.”
Marriage and Work-Life Balance
Audrey met her naseeb through mutual family friends. The couple has three children, and live in Brooklyn. “My husband is my biggest cheerleader. Whenever I take on something new, he’s genuinely excited for me to grow, learn, and feel that spark.” He takes over with the kids when Audrey attends Azrieli for a full week each semester. She could not have pursued her doctorate without his help.
Audrey says, “There’s no such thing as work-life balance for me. It’s something I figure out every single day.” Some days work takes priority, other days, family does. “It’s never perfect. But when you have strong support, it can be incredibly meaningful. My parents are a huge part of that for us, and so is my husband. I couldn’t do what I do without them.” As a night owl, Audrey completes her graduate work after the kids are asleep.
Proudest Achievement
Her family is her proudest personal achievement. “My children are my inspiration, my first priority, and my greatest source of pride.” All three attend MDY’s elementary school. “They are invested in what I do and proudly share that I work at their school.” Audrey takes their education seriously, and she makes sure to read together with them and to discuss ideas. Family time is her number one hobby: whenever there’s free time, it’s theirs.
You can connect with Audrey at [email protected].
Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach. Her coaching specialties include life, career, and dating coaching. A former President of Congregation Bnai Avraham, Ellen has been a patient representative volunteer at NYP Hospital since 2012. She can be contacted at [email protected] (www.lifecoachellen.com).