Lifelong Learning and My Jewish Journey
I am a product of the traditional American Jewish educational path. I attended Hebrew School as a child, Hebrew High School as a teen, and was actively involved in my synagogue youth group, USY. Like many others, I took the expected teen tour to Israel in high school—but that trip was anything but ordinary for me. It changed my life.
I decided during that trip that I would study in Israel during college. I spent my junior year in Jerusalem at the Hebrew University’s One Year Program for international students. It was there that I felt called to become a teacher. I realized that I could teach anywhere—Israel or the US—and share my love of learning with others.
My year at Hebrew University was transformational. I studied Zionism, Tanach, Israeli politics and literature, and even hiked the country from north to south. I learned with passionate professors and connected deeply with the land and people. I returned home committed to a life of education and Jewish engagement.
I earned my master’s in elementary education and began teaching in public schools while also working in synagogue Hebrew Schools and Jewish summer camps. After having my daughters, I joined the faculty at a Solomon Schechter Day School, where my children were also students. Teaching in a Jewish environment allowed me to integrate Jewish values into everything—from literature to history to moral development. I taught the Holocaust through age-appropriate stories and built character education into my curriculum with mussar and lessons on how to be a mensch.
My passion extended beyond the classroom. Through Hadassah, I led study groups and programs exploring the organization’s over 100 year impact on Israel. I found deep alignment between Hadassah’s mission and my personal values—Zionism, feminism, and tzedakah. I ran discussions on Jewish Peoplehood through Federation, speaking across my community about our shared heritage and collective identity.
After the pandemic began, I craved a personal and professional reset. I wanted to deepen my Jewish knowledge and explore our history and Jewish Peoplehood more intentionally. That’s when I discovered Hebrew University’s Melton Centre Master’s in Jewish Education program. Returning to the university that had already shaped me once felt like coming home.
The program offered a perfect fit: synchronous and asynchronous remote learning, a summer seminar in Jerusalem, and a flexible structure for working professionals. Its global student body—Jewish and non-Jewish, from North America, South America, Europe, and Asia—reflected the diversity of today’s Jewish world.
Through this program, I strengthened my expertise in Zionism, Tanach, Israel education, and Jewish history. More importantly, I built a network of inspiring educators from across the globe—including in my own community. Our shared learning continues beyond the classroom, fueling my teaching and activism.
This program solidified my role as a Jewish and Israel educator. I’ve since taught both adults and teens and remain committed to lifelong learning. I encourage anyone passionate about Jewish education to explore this opportunity.
Learn more at https://masterjewishprogram.huji.ac.il. It expanded my world—and it may do the same for you.
