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Chedvi and Miri the sisters behind Alef Bet Sensory. They believe children learn best by a multi-sensory approach to learning. Their tactile Alef - Bet products provide a multi-sensory way for the little ones to learn about the Alef - Bet. Gems: Allow children to learn and explore materials through play. Live with Judaism. Education is something that we have to do. Model the behavior we want our students to follow. We are the guides. Teacher-led learning, child exploration. Create an environment which makes the child curious. Teach through all of the senses. Incorporate different modalities in the classroom. Have fun! Live what you teach. Surround child with experiences. Celebrate the small things they do. They joy of learning is more important than the content. Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Parenting On Purpose This course will help you better understand your child and build a deeper connection. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Nechama Liba Backer expressed interest in Judaic studies, art, and working with people from a young age and has been involved ever since! She earned an Associates Degree in Fine Arts and a Bachelors in Judaic Studies after attending two years in seminary in Jerusalem, where she received a teachers certification. After teaching art for years privately and in several institutions in Baltimore, MD, Nechama Liba fulfilled her dream of moving to Israel where she currently resides. She now teaches Judaics and art mainly online to students of all ages and stages. Her philosophy is that learning, especially Torah, should be an experience of joy and connection. She uses body movement, art, dialogue, music, and journaling as channels to accomplish this goal.    Gems:  Connect with the child creativity within. Build a relationship with your students. Learn what appeals to each age group and each individual. The more you communicate with Hashem, the more comfortable you will feel doing it. Realize that we are part of the divine chain. Make Hashem and Judaism a reality in our lives. Familiarize students with the text. Education is a constant sharing back and forth between students and teacher. Every person is their own universe. Meet students where they are. Give students the respect they deserve. Incorporate different modalities in the classroom. Give over teaching in a clear and concise way. Be kind to yourself. Find a good mentor. Merge giving the content to students with your love and passion.  https://nechamalbacker.wixsite.com/nechamabackerartAmazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Parenting On Purpose This course will help you better understand your child and build a deeper connection. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Rabbi Daniel Korobkin is the Mara D’Atra of the BAYT (Beth Avraham Yosef of Toronto) in Thornhill, Ontari,o Canada, and honorary president of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA).  Gems: Inspiring teachers can help inspire their students. Look for opportunities to help people grow spiritually. G-d is the background of everything a Jewish educator has to discuss. It’s important to have clarity with what you believe. You don’t have to have all of the answers. Allow students to question. Education is the process whereby a student enhances their consciousness, and a teacher enhances their consciousness. There is a limit to understanding reality based on what our senses tell us. There is always more to learn. It is crucial to engage with our imagination. Understand that responsibility you have as an educator. You are the proud and the few who have chosen to light a fire within Jewish souls. Try to never lose your idealism. You are doing G-d’s holy work. https://www.bayt.ca/Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Parenting On Purpose This course will help you better understand your child and build a deeper connection. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Goldie Plotkin, a native New Yorker, is a Rebbetzin and Shlucha (Chabad emissary) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Together with her husband, Rabbi Avrohom Plotkin, they run a vibrant and successful Synagogue and Chabad House.  She has been the director of Torah Tots preschool for 35 years and is the Executive Director of Tamim Academy. Goldie presented the Keynote address at the Chabad Annual convention in NYC, the largest gathering of Jewish Women in the world. Goldie was also invited to address the Knesset on matters of Marriage Enrichment and coaching young couples in Israel.  Goldie sits on the board of the International Shluchos Convention. Goldie is on the Shluchos board since 1990 to coordinate the Kinus Hashluchos convention. Goldie has also been a presenter at the JLI Retreats held every summer for over 1,200 people. As a highly sought-after motivational speaker and lecturer, Goldie travels the world to motivate, inspire and share the joy of marriage, relationships, parenting and the beauty of our Jewish traditions. Gems:  Every Jew is loved, accepted, and welcomed. Labels are for clothing, not for Jews. Learn to see the wholesomeness and G-dliness in each human being. Each one of us has to celebrate who we are. Children are innately spiritual. Children naturally want to grow in their Yiddishkeit. Figure out what resonates with your students. Use all of the senses with teaching. When teachers internalize their own learning and teach with passion, students will be inspired to learn also. Look for those chinuch moments. Home and school must be on the same page. Bring Torah into your own life. Find a mentor. Be open to new things. Lead by example. Jewish education needs the support of the whole community. https://tamimacademy.org/Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Parenting On Purpose This course will help you better understand your child and build a deeper connection. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Rabbi Howard Finkelstein is the former rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel, Kingston, Ontario, Canada and Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Beit Tikvah, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He was the founding rabbi and Judaic principal of Yitzhak Rabin High School (full day school high school) Ottawa, Ontario. He is also the Jewish Studies Head Emeritus of the Ottawa Jewish Community School. Rabbi Finkelstein earned a B.A. in Political Science, M.S. in Jewish Secondary Education and his Semicha from Yeshiva University. He earned a secondary Master’s in Education from NYU. He has a certificate of educational leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard University. He is the winner of the Steinhardt Grinspoon Award for Jewish Education. Rabbi Finkelstein is also a licensed teacher and principal from Board of Jewish Education- New York City.  Gems: Create an opportunity for children to learn and relate to G-d through the Torah text. Concentrate on what G-d expects from us. Allow students to question. Enable students to see relevancy in the texts. Explore ways that the texts connect with situations in their lives. We have a responsibility to educate a child according to his/her way. Show students the sources, discuss, and analyze. Challenge your students’ minds. Are students thinking for themselves? The teacher is the role model that students will want to emulate. Education is an ongoing process and must consider whether the student has learned. Jewish education never ends. There must be a collaboration between home, schools, and synagogues. Continue to study, improve, and grow, and remember what the main goal of education. We have the ability to save Jewish lives! Examine what happens every day and work through what went right and what went wrong. Spread the knowledge of Torah. Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Parenting On Purpose This course will help you better understand your child and build a deeper connection. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Nechamy Segal is the Founder and Lead English & Hebrew Specialist of Scenic Route Literacy and Hebrew Scouts. Drawing on her experiences and professional training as a classroom teacher, special education coordinator, clinical interventionist, graduate-level professor of reading, and mom of six, Nechamy provides a perfect blend of academic structure with a nurturing sensitivity.  Nechamy loves long nature walks in Prospect Park (the source of inspiration for the name Scenic Route Literacy). She is passionate about reading and literacy, and her idea of bliss is when there’s a book in everyone’s hand.   Gems:  Never feel like you’re done learning your craft. The way we learn English is similar to how children also learn Hebrew: through hearing and speaking first. Your struggles can be the door for helping your students. Find out how to develop the emotional and spiritual connection to Torah and Hashem. Teach children that the Torah is in Lashon HaKodesh (holy language), and we learn it step-by-step. Integrate Hebrew vocabulary into teaching about the Parsha. Children are born with an internal compass and sense of why they’re here. Provide children with the rich environment to explore. Create real life experiences so that children become intrinsically motivated. The more you’re learning, the happier you’ll be, and the better you’ll teach. Stretch yourself. Lamed is the tallest letter, like a teacher. Give your students the tools for them to learn.  https://hebrewscouts.com/Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Parenting On Purpose This course will help you better understand your child and build a deeper connection. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Batsheva Frankel worked in the film industry for many years but decided to leave it for a more meaningful career in education. Using her creativity, she taught in various school settings, and is now an educational consultant. Batsheva teaches professional development workshops and courses through New Lens Ed. She has a Masters of Arts in Teaching from The American Jewish University and a Bachelor’s Degree in drama from NYU which prepared her for creating a podcast called Overthrowing Education (available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google and other platforms). More recently, Batsheva has partnered with Dr. Sandra Lilienthal and Sari Kopitnikoff (you may listen to each of their interviews featured in previous episodes of our podcast) to create Dor L’Dor Delivery, a Jewish innovative approach to professional development and adult learning.  https://www.newlensed.comhttps://dorldordelivery.com/ Gems: Show students how interactive and amazing education can be. Use your background to your advantage. Take big ideas and teach them in a way that’s creative, interactive, and student-centered. Family education is extremely important. We never stop learning. Meet people where they’re at. Encourage your students to get involved in the conversation about G-d. Transmit Jewish wisdom and texts to students. Teach students how think critically and open their minds. Judaic studies ought to be taught totally differently than secular studies. Help people find, relevance, meaning, and connection with Jewish wisdom. Be open to growth. Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Parenting On Purpose This course will help you better understand your child and build a deeper connection. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Chanie Kirschner is the director of Gesher Judaic Studies Program, an afternoon Judaic studies program for children in grades K-6. She holds a Masters in Jewish Education and has over 20 years of experience both in formal and informal Jewish education. She created Gesher to provide an affordable, yet comprehensive Judaic studies program for elementary-age students not in Jewish day school in Boca Raton, FL. Gesher has now solidified its’ presence in the national Jewish community and has expanded course offerings to meet the needs of more students.  Chanie is passionate about education, bringing Jewish studies to life, and connecting with her students. After teaching in the classroom in Modern Orthodox day schools in New Jersey and in Florida for many years, she and her husband decided to homeschool their 4 children, and appreciates the opportunity to do so and still be able to educate other Jewish children as well. You can find out more info about Gesher at www.gesherprogram.com and read her blog about homeschooling at www.mamaneedsrecess.com. Gems: Pay attention to the needs of your students. The days are long, but the years are very short. Homeschool is like tutoring which is one-on-one education for your children. Never take time for granted. You don’t have to be a teacher to homeschool. We learn from our students while they learn from us. Education is a life-long endeavor. We are teachers, but also students. There are opportunities for education all around. Bridge the connection between what children are learning and make it personal for them. Make Torah personal and come alive for yourself and your students. Talk about G-d/Hashem every day. Don’t give up! The core of Jewish living is at home. Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Parenting On Purpose This course will help you better understand your child and build a deeper connection. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Sara Stave Beckerman is a Jewish educator, curriculum writer and consultant.  Educated and inspired by her studies at JTS's Davidson School of Jewish Education, Sara earned her MA in Jewish Studies with a concentration in informal Education in 2004.  She has been making an impact in the world of Hebrew schools and Jewish camps for over 20 years, serving as teacher, edTech consultant and Rosh Hinuch at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires.  Sara has taught in the day school setting for 18 years, focusing most recently on Rabbinic texts, Tefillah and Israel Advocacy.  She is also the founder and CEO of Sababa Books, a company that creates, publishes and sells creative Iyun Tefillah materials to schools and camps.  Sara is currently serving in 2 roles- teacher at the Schechter School of Long Island and Director of Hebrew Home Page, an online tutoring program under the auspices of the JCC of Manhattan's Jewish Journey Project.  Gems: Inspire your students to do their own personal Tefillah (prayer). Everything is the classroom. Capture the special moments with your students. Children shift their learning from the concrete to abstract. Be open to the students’ visions and concepts. Help students understand that G-d is making the world work. Help students connect with G-d. Create a safe space to talk about G-d. Share the big ideas of Torah. The goal is to help students understand the big ideas and how they relate to life. Each student is a work in progress. Home and school need to be in sync. Take time to learn. https://www.sabababooks.com/Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Parenting On Purpose This course will help you better understand your child and build a deeper connection. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Dr. Sandra Lilienthal is a sought-after speaker who is known for drawing adult audiences into the relevant wisdom and inspiring potential of Jewish texts. Born and raised in Brazil, and currently residing in Florida, Dr. Lilienthal has taught diverse audiences all over the world. She is a faculty member of the Hebrew University's Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, an adjunct professor at Gratz College, and a member of JNF's Speakers Bureau. Dr. Lilienthal has served as the Education Director of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's Global Day of Jewish Learning, and she is on the boards of Limmud North America and NewCAJE. She was the 2015 recipient of the prestigious Covenant Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. Dr. Lilienthal is the author of the Living Wisdom and the Pillars of Judaism series of curricula for adults. Throughout her career, she has worked in every capacity of Jewish education and with every age, from Religious School teacher, to B’ Mitzvah tutor, to Director of Education and Director of Lifelong Learning. Since 2005, her focus has been teaching adults. Dr. Lilienthal has partnered with two other Jewish educators to create Dor L’Dor Delivery, which offers learning opportunities for both Jewish educators and adult learners.  Gems: When you’re teaching, you’re inspiring through the heart, not through the intellect. Education is opening pathways to connection. Know your limits. Reframe their vision of G-d. Encourage your students to begin their journey of coming closer to G-d. Talk to G-d. Begin with the Torah text because it is our foundation. Encourage your students to think. There is something there that speaks to them. Torah is for all of us! It is our responsibility to show Judaism as it actually is. Our life experiences help us interpret the text. Be comfortable with not knowing everything. Successful Jewish education is when your students come to you with life questions. Search for educators who have been in the field. Continue learning. Family education is very important. Be open to share everything that you have. Encourage your students to explore more.  Websites: Dr. Sandra LilienthalDor L'Dor DeliveryAmazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Parenting On Purpose This course will help you better understand your child and build a deeper connection. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Rabbi Aaron Frank who comes from a family of educators, is currently Head of School at the Kinneret Day School in Riverdale, NY. Prior to coming to Kinneret, Rabbi Frank was the Associate Principal at SAR High School. Before moving to New York, he worked at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School in Baltimore, MD for twelve years, serving as Lower School and then as High School Principal. A graduate of the Jerusalem Fellows program at the Mandel Leadership Institute in Jerusalem as well as of the Principals’ Center at Harvard Graduate School of Education, Rabbi Frank serves on the board of the International Rabbinic Fellowship and on the Rabbinic Advisory Board of Yeshivat Maharat.  He served as Associate Rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale under the mentorship of Rabbi Avi Weiss from 1996 until 2000 and was a founding member of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Baltimore.  Gems: Just be yourself. Hold yourself to high standards. Find mentors. Be honest and real. The human desire to make meaning of life is timeless. Increase the spiritual thirst of your students. Torah is the way to find meaning in life. Education gives you the path. Educators make a difference. Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Parenting On Purpose This course will help you better understand your child and build a deeper connection. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Sarah Rudolph is a freelance educator, writer, and editor with a passion for learning and sharing Torah. Among other things, she directs Torah Tutors and serves on the editorial committee of Tradition, an Orthodox Jewish academic journal. Sarah is privileged to learn with students all over the world. Gems: Develop as a learner yourself. Focus on who you can help. Spend time observing other classes. There’s a lot you can do with students of different ages if you frame it right. Help your students develop a deeper appreciation for diving into Torah texts. Education must be individualized according to the student. Help your students find ways to connect with Torah. Get your students involved in the learning process. Remember you’re making an impact. Become an educator only if you really love it. Look for a school where you will be supported. Build a culture of learners.  www.TorahTutors.orgAmazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Rabbi Jonny Solomon is an educator, scholar, editor, and “Virtual Rabbi” who provides online spiritual coaching, Halachic consultations, and one-to-one learning for those who need a Rabbi.   Gems:  Through the art of teaching, we can change lives! Teachers who invest time in trying to educate as best as they can, will change their own lives as well. Teachers need teachers. Important to have someone who is a Rabbinic influence in addition to teachers.  Teachers are there to push you in the way you should be going. Our relationship with G-d is personal and emotional. Speak about your own relationship with G-d. Education is a dedication to help people who are unfamiliar with a series of ideas develop a connection to those ideas and explore them further. It’s important to be passionate about what you’re teaching. We need to teach our students how to survive Jewishly. Be clear about what is the learning outcome. Teach students that the Torah is theirs. The Jews in Israel and in the Diaspora need to learn from each other. Education matters! When teachers forget, students don’t. Educators can shape lives or break lives. Being a real teacher means bringing your whole self. We can grow through learning. Education is a work of heart. What you do matters. Teach from a place of knowledge, not fear. Education is figuring out how to make facts meaningful. Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Marie Rosenthal is passionate about helping parents choose and find the best path for their children's education that helps create a happy, healthy creative child and a calm confident parent. After more than 20 years as a homeschool mom and teaching at informal day schools and afterschool programs she now offers consulting services and tutoring. Morah Marie offers private or group zoom sessions and in person sessions when feasible. She has training and experience in special education and currently works as a Kriah specialist in a local school. Morah Marie also offers free half hour Consulting sessions.  Gems: Each child is their own person with their own way of thinking. Evolve your teaching to each students’ needs. We are creating young Jewish people who will become adults. The question is what does this child need to learn to be a happy, educated Jewish child? Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Our students have to know that we care about our Jewishness. Connect every lesson to our students’ lives. Important to teach about G-d in an honest and developmentally appropriate way. Once a child is able to understand things that are abstract, dive into deeper discussions. Don’t teach what your child will have to unlearn later. Shy away from things that cause stress for children. Incorporate Hebrew words in your speech. Use your time efficiently. What are the most important things for our students to learn to be a proud, connected Jew. Education is a learning process. Look at the big picture. Continue learning and growing. Take care of yourself also. Contact Marie: morahmarie@gmail.comAmazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Rabbi Dovid Osofsky is born and raised in Baltimore, MD. He is currently Second Grade Assistant rebbe in Ohr Chadash Academy, Baltimore, MD. He attended Mechinas Ner Yisroel for high school and Yehshivas Meor Yitzchok in Monsey for 3 years after high school. He has tutored elementary school, middle school and high school boys for several years, some of whom have been diagnosed with disabilities including ADHD/ADD, language processing disorders as well as one student with Down's Syndrome. Rabbi Osofsky shadowed and privately taught a high-schooler with physical and learning disabilities for two years. He also founded a groundbreaking program to teach adult Baalei Teshuva the skills to read and translate chumash and the siddur independently. Rabbi Osofsky is working to develop and expand this program.   Gems: Observe other educators. Find your niche in education. Be flexible. Allow your students to take charge of their education. Each student is their own person. Be genuine about your relationship with G-d. Children really see their teachers as role models. Share only what you know. Each child has the responsibility to become the best person that G-d made them to be. Learn by experience. Be authentic and real. Take advantage of the resources that are available. Learning should become alive. Find a mentor. Continue reading. Focus on your successes. Start working in small groups. Contact Rabbi Osofsky: dcosofsky@gmail.com or Cell: 443-415-7905 Today You Will Learn by Rabbi Binyomin GinsbergAmazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Melissa Perl is the Assistant Principal at Katz Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton, FL.  Prior to that she was the Director of Limudei Kodesh at Kohelet Yeshiva High School and the PK-12th grade Assistant Principal at the Margolin Hebrew Academy in Memphis, TN.  Melissa earned her Bachelor's degree from Stern College for Women in both Judaic Studies and Psychology, she holds a Master’s Degree in Bible from Yeshiva University, certificates in Teacher Mentoring, Student Support, Differentiated Instruction, and Educational Technology, and has completed all but her dissertation for her Doctorate of Education. Gems: Don’t be afraid to alter your path. Recognize your strengths. We have the power to effect change in the world. When we look at the text of Torah and try to discover the themes and big ideas that’s when we can relate on a deep, meaningful, and personal way. Begin with the end in mind. Make the most of the time you have. The more we are learning, our students will see that. We give our students a sense of calm when we admit that there are things we don’t understand. G-d is the foundation of everything. Education is about giving students the tools of self-discovery. To really connect to Torah requires some discomfort, stillness, and requires delayed gratification. Shabbat is a window into what spirituality can be. There is wisdom in Judaism. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Education is a process. Be willing to grow and learn about people. Find a mentor. The more you’re willing to engage and reflect, the quicker you’ll grow. Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Dr. Zipora Schorr comes from a family of Jewish educators. She is the Director of Education at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School in Baltimore, MD. Prior to coming to Beth Tfiloh, Dr. Schorr was the principal of Beth Shalom Nursery and Hebrew School in Potomac, MD. While serving as principal, Dr. Schorr developed the curriculum and recruited staff and students. She received the 2003 Covenant Foundation Award for Exceptional Jewish Educators, was also named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, and has received the Governor’s Citation in recognition of her life’s work. She was awarded Outstanding Educator in the Diaspora by Michlelet Lifshitz of the Israel Ministry of Education in 2012. She chairs the Baltimore Jewish Day Schools Principals’ Association and is a member of the IAAM Board of Governors. She serves as Treasurer of the Dahan Foundation and has served as a member of the board of The Associated and RAVSAK. Dr. Schorr remains committed to “Klal Yisrael” and works to promote unity among all branches of Judaism. Gems: We are contributing to eternity. Gather small groups to learn together. Teach your students Bitachon and faith in G-d.  Add a mantra “I love Hashem and Hashem loves me.” Talk about your relationship with G-d. Encourage your students to have a personal relationship with G-d. Model Derech Eretz for your students. Help Torah speak to students. Show your students what a privilege and a joy it is to be Jewish. Sincerity speaks loudly to children. Help your students grow. Chinuch is a way of life. Our role is not just to teach them Torah, but also teach them to be the best they can be. The moment we stop learning is the moment we stop growing and the moment we stop truly living. Our job is to foster ongoing connection to Judaism. We are not just educating children, we’re educating families. Find a mentor and the right environment that will support you. Book: Our Morah in Uniform: Biography of Rebbetzin Sara MurikAmazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Chavi Abramson, born and raised in Baltimore, MD, is a middle school Judaics teacher at Ohr Chadash Academy in Baltimore. She has been in education for 15 years. Chavi has a Masters in Negotiations and Conflict Management. Throughout her career in education, she has taught high school Judaics, kindergarten general studies, and more recently began teaching middle school Judaics. Chavi is involved as a lay leader in Baltimore's Associated and currently CO-chair their Young Leadership Council.   Gems: Don’t be afraid to teach different grade levels. Build relationships with your students. Look for different ways to challenge your brain. Figure out how to bring Torah to life. A teacher who has a strong, trusting, and mutually respectful relationship with their students will be able to create a classroom that is conducive to learning. Learn from the best teachers and use their ideas. Hold students to very high standards. Transform your classroom so that it aligns with the standards you’re trying to teach. Make your classroom more interactive. Give your students autonomy over their learning. If we believe in the potential of our students, they will strive to reach that level. Be willing to change. Set the tone from the beginning. Ask questions. Validate your students. Highlight the things that are joyful and enjoyable within Judaism. When we look for Hashem, we’ll see him more. The little things matter. Admit when you don’t know the answer. We’re all on our own journey. Become a master at what the students are interested in.    https://ronclarkacademy.com/   Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Rabbi Evan Weiner is the Judaic Studies Instructional Coach at Ohr Chadash Academy in Baltimore, MD. Rabbi Weiner holds a BA in Jewish, Islamic, and Near Eastern Studies from Washington University in St. Louis, MO as well as a Masters of Jewish Education from Yeshiva University’s Azrieli School of Jewish Education. He also serves as the Educational Director of NCSY Camp Sports. Through his involvement with JNTP (The Jewish New Teacher Project), he mentors other Jewish educators. In his teaching and his work as educational director, Rabbi Weiner has demonstrated a strong sense of leadership with a track record of inspiring both students and fellow teachers to perform on the highest level.             Gems: What students are taught and how they’re taught has tremendous impacts on our students’ identity. Invest in professional growth. Embrace the challenge and work around it.  There’s more than one way to do things. Expect the best from your students, but also recognize what they need. Think deeply about the choices you make as an educator. Teach your students that we can have a deep relationship with G-d. Speak about G-d. Talk about our own relationship with G-d. Davening/prayer can become a conduit for developing mindfulness and fostering connection with G-d. Foster a sense of dedication to learning Torah. The lessons taught will be applied to their lives. Mentorship is so important. Find a mentor who can help you explore the things deep inside of you. Reflect on your experiences. Every day can be the first day of the rest of the year. You can always reset. Remember that we work with other educators and administrators to teach students. Involve your students. Foster greater commitment and Jewish identity. Empower your students the skills to deeply and meaningfully engage with Judaism. Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

Rabbi David Wolpe, named The Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World by The Jerusalem Post, and twice named one of the 500 Most Influential People in Los Angeles Business Journal, is the Max Webb Senior Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, CA. Rabbi Wolpe previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in NY, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. A weekly columnist for The New York Jewish Week and weekly Torah columnist for The Jerusalem Post, Rabbi Wolpe published and profiled in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, The Atlantic and many more. He has been featured on The Today Show, Face the Nation, ABC This Morning, and CBS This Morning. In addition, Rabbi Wolpe has appeared prominently in series on PBS, A&E, History Channel, and Discovery Channel, and has engaged in widely watched public debates with Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker and many others about religion and its place in the world. Rabbi Wolpe, who has spoken in seminars, public and scholarly forums and scholar in residence appearances hundreds of times all over the world from Israel to India, is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times (Riverhead). His new book is titled David, the Divided Heart (Yale U Press). It was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Awards, and has been optioned for a movie by Warner Bros.         Gems: Most of the things we say in a long compass can be said more briefly and will hold people’s attention more fully. Speak in about G-d in the language that your students will understand. G-d is not invisible, G-d is intangible. Teaching is like being a quarterback, teach a little beyond where they are, so that they have room to grow into the concepts. In order to convey Jewish concepts authentically, we must speak in our language. Education is learning that which changes us both inside and outside. Use history to give us perspective on current events. Learn with someone else who is honest with you. Learning involves being pushed and pushing yourself. While reading books, write inside them. Books are to be absorbed, to live with and understood. We all have something to teach. Give life lessons from the Torah. Start from where people are. Make it evident to students how much our tradition has to teach them about their lives? Effective Jewish leadership helps cultivate Jews. The more we teach Torah the better it will be. Think about your blessings. Be grateful for the life we’ve been given. You have to love other Jews. Find home on Facebook or Twitter- @RabbiWolpe. Amazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show