Mentors & Educators
Strategic Advisors On-Site Within the Sanctuary
The same dedicated specialists who guide our children and youth through education, life skills, and vocational training also serve as our on-the-ground strategic advisors, weaving their expertise into the daily rhythm of sanctuary life.
Mother Rivka
Director of Youth Development & Education
Orthodox Nun & Former Professional Athlete
Brazilian-born and a former professional soccer player, Mother Rivka brings a unique blend of discipline and devotion to the farm.
Fluent in seven languages, she spent two decades in Serbian monasteries and monasteries in Belarus. She is a specialist in youth survival skills and academic programming, having founded the “Eagles Club” and managed large-scale summer camps in Belarus.
She will oversee our educational initiatives and character-building programs.
Rifka Ghaly
Culinary Arts Mentor & Vocational Instructor
Executive Chef & Founder of Rifka's Catering
Imagine entering a kitchen filled with the light, sweet aromas of honey and warm cinnamon, where Rifka shares her love with warmth and intention long before the sun comes up to create a sanctuary of flavor and belonging. These vocational baking and cooking programs give our children something that stays with them forever.
The confidence of pulling golden baklava from the oven. The quiet gratitude of watching someone close their eyes on the first bite of something you made. The understanding that feeding people is one of the most powerful things a person can do.
This journey is a beautiful expansion beyond recipes. It is about discipline, hospitality, and nurturing the path for our children to flourish and care for their community through the art of cooking and baking for others.
Nurturing Future Leaders
Our mentors combine academic excellence with practical life skills, ensuring every child at Rifka's House develops the character, discipline, and capabilities to thrive in the world.
Academic Programs
Comprehensive education with personalized attention
Life Skills Training
Survival skills, character building, and leadership
Vocational Arts
Culinary training, hospitality, and craftsmanship