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The celebration of my Bar Mitzvah
While this marked the culmination of the learning I did in order to lead services and teach Torah as a Bar Mitzvah, it also marked the beginning of a more serious phase in my life of learning and teaching. When i entered into 8th grade the following week, i had a renewed sense of responsibility to my day school community. -
8th grade trip to Israel
While I had previously been to Israel (and lived here) with my family, this trip with my 8th grade class was definitely where i started to build and develop my own memories and questions having to do with the places and topics that I encountered and would continue to. -
Began Tutoring and Teaching B'nei Mitzvah lessons
This may have been one of the most important points in my personal Jewish growth. When i first started tutoring is when i started to get an idea that I wanted to go into Jewish Education more fulltime and that education in general was something that I would be continued to be interested in. -
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High School
It made a very big impact on my and my Jewish life and learning when I graduated the Schechter school i had attended and went to a non-Jewish Prep school. THis new experience definitely was a big change but because it exposed me to so many different people and cultures, it helped me to at the same time find time for Jewish learning and activities outside of school. -
Nesiya Israel summer experience
The decision to follow in my older sister's footsteps and do the Nesiya summer program is something that I think about a lot. mostly it was my next trip to Israel and in a more serious and involved way than the last trip i had experienced. This was a major turning point both in my Hebrew and in my friendships with Israelis (many of whom i am still in touch with today). -
Began my studies at Muhlenberg College
Leaving home to go to college was an important step in my education, Jewish educaiton and everything else that went along with it. being away from home for the first extended period of time was a enw and exciting experience and becoming a part of a new Jewish Community was also crucial. -
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Muhlenberg College
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Began teaching Hebrew School
This was my first classroom experience and my first time education more than one or two students at a time. I was amazed at how much these students looked up to me and how much I enjoyed learning with them. At this point while education was a major interest of mine, Jewish Education began to climb up my list of interests because of this positive experience. -
Started working as a "full time" Jewish educator
Upon graduating college I took a number of part time teaching jobs and would spend a year working in the community i grew up in, teaching, tutoring and programming. -
JNF Greeks Build Israel
Having not been back in Israel (except for a few brief family trips) since the summer that I spent here in high-school, this experience of doing community service projects with other college students as an alternative winter break was what solidified my need to return to Israel for a (much) longer period of time. -
Moved to Israel
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Lived on Kibbutz Yahel
Moved to Israel and lived on Kibbutz Yahel for two full seasons. This made me realize how much i missed the classroom and wanted to go back and continue teaching. During a short trip back to the states in between seasons, i did a little substitute teaching and came to the conclusion that I was ready to committ to Jewish Education and would begin the process of going back to school. -
Moved to Jerusalem, Started Pardes Educators Program
Continued my Jewish Education by enrolling in the Pardes Educators Program in Jerusalem!