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Birth!
Every journey starts somewhere! -
Yitzchak is born
Ugh, a brother. -
Started Preschool
My first little footsteps into Jewish Education, at Ramah Hebrew School (no relation to the camp). -
Junior Congregation
More than just childcare, Junior Congregation helped to begin my praying experience. I learned a lot of basic skills and some of the tunes. It also prepared me to go back into the sanctuary and feel like part of the service. -
Meir is born
Ugh, another brother. But really, both of my brothers have been important parts of the my journey, because they have been with me every step of the way, experiencing many of the same things. -
Started Grade 1
Moving to a different part of the Ramah building (still not related to the camp)! -
Chagigat HaSiddur
At the end of grade 1, celebrating our siddurim, for which we designed covers. My mom sewed my design for me. -
School Merger
My school, Ramah, the other Jewish elementary school, and the Jewish high school, merged into one school, the Gray Academy. The merger took place to coincide with the construction of a new Jewish Community Campus building.
Also, I got to go to school in the same building as my mom! -
Chagigat HaTorah
At the end of grade 2, celebrating our Torah learning from the year. -
Began Pre-Bar Mitzvah Lessons
While a couple years before my Bar Mitzvah, these classes weren't just about learning the skills for my Bar Mitzvah day, but also how to lead and run a shul service in general. They have been a continuing influence on my life. -
After School Classes
My dad began organizing after school Jewish education for me, my brothers, and a group of friends, who weren't satisfied with the quantity of Jewish content in our school. Taught by the two wonderful Chabad rabbis, and incentivized by cookies, we began with Chumash and Rashi, and then later added Mishnah (and some Gemara) as well. -
Bar Mitzvah!
Beware the Ides of March? -
NCSY Conclave
NCSY was a large part of my Jewish life in my teens, and the highlight of the year was always the Winter Conclave, when all of the chapters in the Midwest region would meet in Chicago. -
First Visit to Israel
This visit was impactful in many ways, but in retrospect, one of the most impactful ways was that it contained my first visit to Shira Chadasha, and first exposure to a Partnership Minyan, which has been a big part of mine and my family's spiritual life ever after. -
First time taking classes with Professor Matt Gibbs
Matt Gibbs is a Classics and History professor at the University of Winnipeg, with whom I took many classes. He was one of the few professors I have encountered who really cares about educating, and cares about teaching his students skill and abilities, not just material. He cares about his individual students and invests in them to make sure they understand everything. I developed a special bond with him, and would randomly drop in to his office and just talk with him for hours. -
Conversation with Rory Paul
Rory Paul was the head of school of Gray Academy while I was there. When I was thinking about applying to education programs, my mom suggested that I speak with him, learn a bit about the field and the lay of the land. It was during that conversation that I decided to going into Jewish education. -
Began York University Jewish Educators Program
My first steps into the field of Jewish education are a key part of how I've gotten to where I am today. -
Bubbie Lily's Passing
My Bubbie was almost like a second mother to me. She was the matriarch of our family, and the model for all of us. She is the inspiration for so much of what I do and how I act, and much of that without me even realizing it.
Her passing was an impactful event in my life, and inspired to try to live up to the ideals she set for me, to an even greater extent, and more actively than before. -
Started at Pardes
