Lemaala High School for Girls' mission is to elevate young women and provide them with a conducive environment that enables them to reach their highest potential — academically, personally, and spiritually. Lemaala integrates a dual curriculum of rigorous college-preparatory general studies aligned with A-G requirements, together with meaningful and appropriate Judaic studies, preparing students for higher education and lives of meaning and purpose.
Our motto, befitting our name, is: “Rising Above, Living with Purpose.”
We believe that women are the foundation of the continuity and strength of Judaism. Therefore, we empower our students to recognize their true self-worth, strengths, and talents, and to utilize them in leading meaningful lives guided by higher purpose as future female leaders of the community.
Our students gain the tools necessary to become successful and accomplished women in the workplace, devoted wives and mothers, and resilient, compassionate individuals who lead with strength, dignity, purpose, and unwavering pride in their heritage.
Lemaala is led by educators and community leaders with a combined legacy of over six decades of Jewish education and outreach.
Rabbi Yosef Khakshoor is the founder and director of Kol Torah Center, a thriving community organization dedicated to inspiring Jewish pride, identity, and connection among youth and families throughout Los Angeles. For over two decades, he has devoted his life to Jewish education, outreach, and community leadership.
Ordained at Yeshivat Ner Israel Rabbinical College of Baltimore, Rabbi Khakshoor is also a certified Mohel, Sofer, and Shohet. Through his outreach work on public high school campuses and his warm, passionate teaching style, he has inspired countless students and families. Under his leadership, Kol Torah Center has become a vibrant center for learning, youth engagement, and spiritual growth rooted in strong Jewish values and purpose.
Mrs. Devorah Khakshoor has dedicated over 20 years to Jewish education, mentorship, and outreach, inspiring young women and families through her warmth, wisdom, and leadership. A UCLA graduate with a B.A. in Psychology, she has delivered classes and parenting lectures focused on self-worth, relationships, and Jewish values.
Mrs. Khakshoor plays an active role in Kol Torah Center's programming, helping develop Sunday School curriculum and creating engaging educational programs for teens. Passionate about empowering young women, she is devoted to instilling confidence, purpose, and strong Jewish identity in her students, guiding them to become compassionate and successful future leaders.
Dr. Batsheva Isaac, Ed.D., is an educational consultant and instructional leader with nearly 30 years of experience in education and more than 15 years in school leadership. Since entering the educational field in 1996, she has worked extensively in curriculum development, instructional leadership, teacher mentoring, and school improvement. From 2001 through 2014, she served as principal of two girls' high schools in Los Angeles, where she led instructional programs, faculty development, and schoolwide academic initiatives.
As Director of Education and Programs at SOS Education, Dr. Isaac specializes in private school support services, instructional coaching, WASC accreditation, and federally funded Title programs for nonpublic schools. She has extensive experience working with schools throughout Los Angeles in data analysis, intervention programs, professional development, and continuous improvement planning. Her work focuses on helping schools strengthen instructional practices, improve student outcomes, and build sustainable systems for long-term growth and accreditation success.
In addition to her professional work, Dr. Isaac is the mother of eight children who were educated in Jewish private schools and have gone on to successful careers including medicine, education, social work, and business. Her personal and professional experiences provide her with a deep understanding of the academic, social, and values-based priorities important to private school communities.