Please introduce yourself:
I teach Kita Aleph at Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch of Montreal, Canada, and I have been teaching for 14 years.
Did you always want to be a teacher?
Not at all. While living in Crown Heights shortly after my wedding, I took the MEF teacher training course by chance. At the time, I didn’t know teaching was something I wanted or that I had a knack for. But I’ve always been eager to learn new things, so I went for it. Then, through complete hashgacha protis, an opportunity to become a rebbi in Montreal came up, and here I am 14 years later. Baruch Hashem!
Can you share a memorable moment or experience?
It’s so powerful when parents come back to thank me for teaching their children the truth, even if the lessons didn’t align with their current level of observance. They appreciate that their children were taught authentic values, and that means a lot to me.
What keeps you inspired to continue teaching?
When I think about the nearly 200 talmidim I’ve taught, knowing that every time they learn a posuk or daven, I have a part in that—that’s what keeps me going. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
What advice would you give to new teachers just starting out in Chinuch?
When I was getting ready to teach, I was given 2 pieces of advice that still ring true:
- Always look at your talmidim from their perspective. Sit in their seats, see what they see, feel what they feel, and understand that there’s a background to every issue that comes your way. Get to know the family as much as possible, because knowing the parents helps create a team effort in being mechanech their children.
- Know who your biggest competition is. There’s a lot out there in the world, especially in technology or cyberspace. We need to make Torah and Yiddishkeit so exciting that our talmidim want more. Always come up with fun, creative ways to make learning more intriguing than the distractions around them.
The brachos that come with being mechanech the Rebbe’s children are immeasurable. I’ve personally seen so many open brachos, and it’s these children who will lead us toward Moshiach, b’karov mamash!
