About The Key to Kriah
Our Mission, Vision, Purpose, and Values
Mission Statement
Our mission is to empower and equip educators with gold-standard, research-based training in kriah and literacy instruction—including Hebrew decoding, comprehension, and Gemara—so that every child, including those with language-based learning differences, can achieve success in Hebrew literacy and fully access the richness of a Torah life.
Vision
We envision a world where every Jewish child—regardless of learning differences—can access the words of Torah and tefillah with clarity, confidence, and joy, cultivating a lifelong connection to Hashem through learning, davening, and living as proud Torah Jews.
Purpose
Being a Torah Jew means engaging deeply with the written words of Torah and Teffiah. By strengthening the skills of the educators, we ensure that all students can connect to Tefilah and Torah learning, experience their beauty, and live as proud, committed Torah Jews.
Values
- We are deeply rooted in our commitment to Klal Yisroel and following daas Torah.
- We are committed to continually updating our training and other products/services with the latest research and most effective methodologies.
- We uphold the highest standards of professionalism, fostering integrity, respect, and excellence in all our interactions with educators, students, and the broader community.
Meet the Team
Rabbi Avraham Cohn
M.Ed. A/OGA
Rabbi Avraham Cohn is the Judaic Studies Resource Room Coordinator at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland. He holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from Grand Canyon University and is a Certified Teacher through the Orton-Gillingham Academy. Rabbi Cohn trains and mentors Rebbeim, teachers, and interventionists in effective remedial methods for students with learning difficulties. He is also the co-developer of The Key to Kriah, a comprehensive Kriah training and mentoring program.
Rebecca Tolson
Ph.D., CALT-QI
Rebecca Tolson is the Director of the Center for Structured Literacy at the University of Akron and a national literacy/dyslexia consultant and speaker. She has a doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Akron and is a Certified Dyslexia Therapist and Qualified Instructor. Rebecca is an experienced educator with over three decades of teaching experience in the classroom and private tutoring using a Structured Literacy approach to teach students with learning differences. Rebecca served as Vice President of Literacy Initiatives at the Neuhaus Education Center, a national non-profit organization specializing in teacher professional development. She co-authored three Ohio laws related to dyslexia and was appointed to the Ohio Dyslexia Committee (ODC) in 2020. Rebecca serves as the current chair of the ODC, overseeing the implementation phase of the Ohio Dyslexia Guidebook. Rebecca is co-developer of a structured literacy Hebrew reading certificate program for Key to Kriah.
Rabbi YD Schwartz
Rabbi YD Schwartz lives in Cleveland and teaches 5th Grade at Fuchs Mizrachi School. He holds a degree from UCLA and Rabbinic Ordination from Rabbi Zalman Nechemiyah Goldberg. He is passionate about education and making sure it is enjoyable, accessible, and memorable for all students. He is excited in his operational role with Key to Kriah as he brings his 15 years of experience working in Jewish Education and with Jewish non-profits to help educators reach their potential.
Partnering Oragnizations
In memory of Pamela Kanfer A”H