1) Could you share a particularly special BT memory, perhaps one that inspired your current work?
So many moments stand out. When Amir Tsemach and I skipped PE in 9th grade (sorry, Dr. Schorr) and thought we were "daredevils" or when I joined my older brother Chanan on the varsity in the end of 10th grade and we won Weiner tournament, and again the next year, we won the Weiner tournament my junior year when I was the starting PG. Or my senior year, when we made it to C conference championship and lost to Park (Grrr. that one still stings). But, I remember the feeling of community whenever we won or lost. That sense of community is something each person is looking for and in high school, that came to life.
I also remember the time we met with Dr. Schorr (then Mrs. Schorr) to make the Israel trip happen senior year. It was not going to happen due to safety concerns and the intifada, but as students, we were empowered to approach Mrs. Schorr directly about it, and it was remarkable to see our head of school listen to us, and then make the change based on our encouragement and passion. Whether or not she made the change based on what we said is less relevant to the fact that we certainly felt that way!
I learned that if you want things to change, you need to make that change. It's easy to complain; it's hard to solve, but with passion, hard work and open mentors and leaders, good things happen.
And, wow, that Israel trip was pretty awesome. Lots of memories there!
Fast forward a few years, I studied educational psychology at USC and wrote my dissertation on Israel education and Jewish identity. I now get to make content for the world on the story of Israel and the Jewish people.
2) Can you tell us a bit more about what you do, how it's improving BT students' connection with Israel, and how what you learned at BT helps you strive for excellence in your role?
I am the SVP of the leading Jewish and Israel education media company, called OpenDor Media. I lead our educational vision and content with the goal of ensuring each and every Jewish person can learn about the Jewish story with the click of a finger. We make films, videos,
podcasts, newsletters, all with the purpose of ensuring all Jews connect to Israel and their Judaism in a meaningful way.
While there are over 700 institutions that use our content, BT
is part of a special cohort of 50 schools from across the globe in seven countries using our website for educators (you can check out all the schools
here), called
Unpacked for Educators, which unpacks the history and culture of Israel and the Jewish people into bite sized ways and then provides educational resources to ask the tough questions and reflect on the important moments, driving home what it means personally to them. And I make sure to stay in close touch with their admin and teachers to make sure the learning experience is excellent for the students. From the beginning of my experience at BT, it was clear that connecting to Israel and feeling a strong sense of Jewish mission and purpose was at the center of one's life regardless of denomination or level of observance. Since I was a student in high school and I was the Principal of a high school, I learned that the number one thing people
care about is being cared about. I try to take that lesson with me everywhere I go and ensure it is part of every educational experience I engage in.
3) How do you stay connected with the BT alumni community?
While I live in LA, I still consider my high school friends the people who truly "get me" the most. It's a funny thing to say probably, and while I do not spend enough time speaking with the people I was closest to in high school, I feel a connection with them that is hard to explain. I would love to be more connected and hopefully I can make an even greater effort in these coming years. I do hope that I can engage the alumni community in learning experiences with the work I lead at OpenDor Media.
4) What would you tell other BT alumni who want to pursue a career in Jewish education, particularly now, when many are worried about growing anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment?
First, I would tell them that Judaism was not created to fight anti-semitism. Of course anti-semitism is a problem, but Judaism is the greatest gift and we should all remember that. We do not define ourselves by how others see us, but how we see ourselves. Second, I would tell them that while you may never "get rich" going into Jewish education and it should never be the goal of Jewish education to become the wealthiest person in the room, but there are many positions that are lucrative and one should strongly consider pursuing Jewish education if you are passionate about it.
The Jewish world knows how critical a good Jewish educational experience is. Lastly, Jewish education is such a broad field now. I thought I was always going to be a lawyer, but I first became a teacher, then a principal and then an exec at a media company. The point is that Jewish education can be so many different things - campus life, day schools, federation work, and yes, media!
5) Any other memorable stories/anecdotes that you'd like to share?
It's hard to pick one, but there was just a general feeling of warmth in the school. I came to the school from a modern orthodox background and graduated with an even stronger connection to modern orthodoxy, yet my social circle in the school was mostly not from that world and I think that aspect of the school has been the most important aspect of my Jewish identity today. It can for sure be confusing to teenagers to see so many types of Jews during high school, but here's a secret, there are so many types of Jews in the world! And, that's a good thing! Learning how to genuinely respect the other while retaining your own perspective is something the world struggles with, but I think I learned how to do that well first because of my family but also because of my high school. It has shaped how I think today and it therefore shapes how I make content for the Jewish world and beyond.