-
Born outside of Washington DC
I grew up in a secular Jewish family, living in the suburbs of major cities all over the US. -
Moved to Shaker Heights Ohio (near Cleveland)
-
Moved to Foster City, CA (near San Francisco)
-
Moved to Worthington, OH (near Columbus)
This was really in the bible belt, lots of proselytizing from my Christian classmates. -
I'm going to hell
This was not a finite event, but one that occured many many times over the course of my middle school and high school career. It did have a lasting impact on my identity as friends continued to share their deep concern over my immortal soul. -
The Cost Benefit Analysis
As I began to consider the words of my well-meaning Christian friends, I started to put together a cost-benefit analysis of what it would mean to believe in G-d. I will never forget the conversation I had with my parents about this topic in which we had our first major philosophical parting of ways. -
Joined NFTY Youth Group
I was attending a huge mid-western high school in the bible belt and was totally lost. A student I didn't know approached me and said, "I heard you were Jewish, you should come to our youth group event." I went to that event and never left... -
Memorable Teacher
My first Jewish teacher was the Reform Rabbi at a Temple in Worthington, OH. He taught our Confirmation class, which was my first real experience in Jewish learning. He loved classic rock and used to connect our classes to old rock songs. I knew less about classic rock than I did about even Judaism at the time, but his approachability, human-ness, and interest in us connected with me. This Tree of Life perspective was great for teenagers and helped students see that Judaism could be relaxed and -
NFTY's Kutz Camp
-
Started teaching Sunday School
I started teaching Sunday School as soon as I got my driver's license (becuase my parents didn't want to get up on Sundays to drive me). I would read the books and workbooks meant for my first and second grade students, ask other teachers about it, and then teach it. It was my fisrt experience with Jewish learning. -
Moved to Radnor, PA (near Philadelphia)
-
AMHSI
I went to Israel for the first time with Alexander Muss High School in Israel. This was a major turning point for me. Because I had no Jewish education, I didn't know that there was a relationship between Israel and the Jewish People. I became a serious zionist, enrolled in a Hebrew class and tried to get back to Israel every chance I could. -
Bat Mitzvah
I graduated from high school the same week I had my Bat Mitzvah. By this point, I was no longer interested only in the Reform movement's flavor of Judaism and was shopping all the different kinds of Jewish experiences available. I had my Bat Mitzvah jointly with my sister, who was 16 at the time. -
Kefiada
I spent a summer in Holon, living with an Israeli family and teaching Israeli children English with only one year of Hebrew language instruction under my belt. It was a powerful experience in both Israel and education. -
Period: to
Junior Year Abroad - Grenoble, France & Haifa, Israel
I lived with an Orthodox family in Grenoble. This was my first real experience with living a religious lifestyle. I learned everything about keeping kosher, shabbat observance and hakhnasat orechim from them.
I left France to spend two months at kibbutz Gezer where I was enrolled in an ulpan prior to a semester at the University of Haifa. Here, I was once again, the only religious person in my program. However, having spent the time in France, I now knew how to go about it. -
Junior Year Abroad: France & Israel
I lived with an Orthodox family in Grenoble. This was my first real experience with living a religious lifestyle. I learned everything about keeping kosher, shabbat observance and hakhnasat orechim from them.
I left France to spend two months at kibbutz Gezer where I was enrolled in an ulpan prior to a semester at the University of Haifa. Here, I was once again, the only religious person in my program. However, having spent the time in France, I now knew how to go about it. -
Israeli Folk Dancing
I was a gymanst, dancer, and cheerleader throughout my youth and this was an area of comfort and joy for me. So, as part of my Jewish/Israeli self-education (which had been going on since I was in middle school) I began Israeli folk dancing. After returning from my year abroad, I continued to find places to folk dance, most memorably at the JCC in West Hartford CT, where I met my Israeli-American, folk dancing husband. -
Period: to
Yeshivat Nishmat
I left my boyfriend (now husband) and family after college graduation to spend a year learning in yeshiva. I had thought this would cement my learning and place in the orthodox world, but it left me with more questions than answers. -
College 1993-1997
I tried to keep shabbat but was foiled by my non-Jewish suitemates at Bryn Mawr College. I didn't find the Jewish life there robust enough and so after one year, I transferred to Wesleyan University in CT. -
Period: to
Taught English to Israeli Adults
While in yeshiva, I taught English to Israeli adults. This teaching experience was enriching and gave me a lot of positive energy during a time that was spiritually difficult. I loved working with my students and helping them; but in the end, I learned way more from them than they ever got from me. -
Got Married!
I returned from Israel to marry Jonathan Siegel and begin our pluralistic life together. We married in Philadelphia, near my parents, but moved to Brookline, MA right after the ceremony. -
Period: to
Director of Student Activities Boston University Hillel House
My first professional experience was as the Director of Student Activities at Boston University's Hillel House. Here I got my first chance to do event planning, recruitment, volunteer managment, education and counseling to the Jewish student population at BU. I also led the first Birthright trip in January 2000. -
Period: to
Gann Academy - College Counselor
Gann AcademyAt Gann Academy, I got to be part of an inspirational project in pluralistic education. While my main responsibilities were in college counseling, I also taught a few classes and advised students. Hearing each family's story through college advising gave me an excellent insight into the important role that Jewish education plays in the lives of students and their families and how it can affect their life's trajectory. -
Coby is Born!!!
Our first child, Coby was born. Becoming a Jewish parent, with all the attendant responsibilities, hopes and fears was a transformation for me as a woman and a Jew. -
Dalia is Born!!!
Our second child was a beautiful baby girl! -
Period: to
Coby is sick
Cyclic Vomiting SyndromeOur oldest became very ill for a period of about two and half years. I had been living an orthodox lifestlyle since 1997, but living in the hospital for extended periods of time truly challenged the way I dressed, what I ate, and how I kept shabbat. Furthermore, my feelings about G-d, faith and community were constantly challenged during this difficult period. I can honestly say that my life before Coby's illness and after are very different and that my personal observance has never recovered. -
Meital is Born!!!
Meital was born during our time in the hospital and spent her first few months living in a bassinet beside her brother's bedside. I think her positive attitude about the world and flexibility must have been ingrained in her from birth. -
Period: to
Teach Middle School at New Jewish Academy
I spent a year as a full time teacher for middle school students at a community Jewish day school. Here, I learned how much I have to learn as an educator, how much I love my students, and how important colleagues can be. I taught English, Social Studies, Humash and Mishnah, but had to spend the most time prepping my Mishah classes becuase I am not an expert in that area. I still dream of becoming a more competent Jewish scholar/teacher. -
Return to Gann Academy & Enroll Coby at JCDS
I returned to Gann as the Director of Admissions and enrolled Coby at JCDS Boston. This return to amazing pluralistic schools was important for me as I needed a safe place (personally and professionally) in which to explore and experiment with my evolving Jewish identity. Furthermore, both school communities have incredible Jewish professionals and resources from whom I could learn. -
Period: to
Join JCDS Boston as Director of Admissions
JCDSHaving the incredible honor of working in my own children's school has been so important to my identity. As a mother who has always dreamed of being actively involved in my children's lives, I saw that slipping away as I tried to manage a full-time position with long hours away from them. Now, while the hours are still long, I am engaged in their daily lives, on top of their education, and able to help guide them. I don't see a significant difference between parenting and teaching, -
Aryeh is Born!!!
Our last little guy joins the family!
