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Dedicated to preparing committed, motivated and engaging Jewish educators, the Ethel and Adolph Beren Educators Institute is working to meet the pressing need for quality teachers in Diaspora schools and college campuses, sending graduates to cities across North and South America, Europe and Australia.

Rabbi Gabi Snir: Connecting children to Jewish life

It’s unusual for someone to be named “Teacher of the Year” after just one year on the job. And yet, that’s exactly what happened to Beren-Amiel Program graduate Rabbi Gabi Snir, a Jewish Studies teacher at the Hillel School in Boca- Raton, Florida.

The honor came in recognition of Snir’s trademark warmth and creativity, which have made him a popular and effective teacher. From building a sukkah inside the classroom to teach about the festival of Tabernacles to creating an Israel café in the school auditorium on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Snir’s unique initiatives are inspiring and engaging even the most indifferent pupils.

Dedicated to the Community at Large

The dynamic teacher tends to play down his natural talents, claiming, “Ninety percent of my achievements are the result of my training in the Beren-Amiel program.” Indeed, Snir credits Beren-Amiel for providing him with pedagogical technique, classroom management skills and an appreciation of the mindset of Diaspora children from a variety of religious backgrounds.

Although his work is based in the Hillel School, Snir is dedicated to the community at large and remains on constant lookout for new ways in which to connect the children to Jewish life. When he saw that his students were spending their Shabbat mornings sitting aimlessly outside the synagogue, he went out to talk to them about their questions and interests. The result was the establishment of a special children’s service, which proved so successful that it quickly evolved into a small Mishna Club of over 50 participants. The Mishna Club, in turn, developed into Snir’s newest initiative: an “Avot Ubanim” program in which parents and their children study together select Torah texts and their relevance to contemporary life.

Snir has an additional explanation for the success he has been enjoying. “My teachers at Beren-Amiel are in constant contact with me, and I know that I can count on them for support and encouragement. In addition, when Rabbi Riskin visits, I treasure the opportunity to spend some time with him and get his insights into reaching out more effectively to my students,” he says. “I feel very privileged.”

“The Best Preparation Possible”

Making Jewish learning exciting: Rabbi Avi Shushan

Across the Atlantic Ocean in England, another Beren-Amiel program graduate is also putting into practice what he learned to engage young British pupils. “I’ve gained many skills from courses on teaching techniques and relating to different kinds of students,” says Rabbi Avi Shushan, who in addition to serving as Rosh Yeshiva of Manchester’s Yavneh College is also teaching in the city’s King David School.

“I got the best preparation possible for this work in the Beren-Amiel program,” declares Shushan. “The training I received proves useful to me on a day-to-day basis.” The synthesis of Shushan’s own experience, knowledge and abilities with the skills necessary for successful teaching overseas have proven to be a winning combination. Students in England, for example, lack the native linguistic skills for studying Hebrew texts that his former Israeli pupils had. It is a testament to Rabbi Shushan that he has managed nonetheless to entice the senior students to come to school an hour early and to leave an hour late to enhance their study of Tanach and halacha. These same seniors have been so motivated by Rabbi Shushan’s enthusiasm that they joined forces with him to coordinate a Shabbaton in Wales for over 30 of the school’s younger pupils. 

“The excitement my own teachers had for Torah education has in turn inspired me to get others excited about Jewish learning,” says Rabbi Shushan, who is unstinting in his admiration for the program’s director, Rabbi Eliahu Birnbaum, and training and placement coordinator, Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein. “The support I continue to get from them is simply invaluable,” he asserts.

Creativity on Campus

Rabbi Mordy Friedman, who also studied in the Beren-Amiel program, is applying the skills he learned to a slightly older student body. As educators on the University of Pennsylvannia campus, he and his wife, Limor, are providing classes, study opportunities, Shabbat service and special programming for Jewish students of all backgrounds.

Rabbi Mordy Friedman (l) is visited by Beren-Amiel director of training and placements, Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein

Like Rabbis Snir and Shushan, Friedman is synthesizing his own unique talents and creativity with the training he received at Beren-Amiel, with outstanding results. And like his former fellow-students, Friedman credits the Beren-Amiel program and its faculty for preparing him for the wide range of issues that he would face on the college campus. “I never would have been exposed to the demographics, the kashrut questions or the navigation of Jewish communal politics without the Beren program,” he maintains.

Friedman and his wife recently surprised the U Penn students with a directive uncharacteristic of Jewish educators: “Get a manicure!”

“We really wanted to do something fun that would educate the community and raise money for an important cause,” relates Limor. The couple came up with ’Manicure for the Cure’ day, bringing 13 local manicurists to campus to pamper the students and support breast-cancer research. Each participant received a 20-minute manicure, gifts of nail polish and moisturizer, breast cancer awareness bracelet and an informational pamphlet. “Throughout the day, there were lectures about breast cancer, opportunities for people to undergo cancer screening and ask any questions that they have about the disease,” she says. “And of course, all of the profits went to breast cancer research.”

“Some of the most positive features of Judaism are often overlooked. This event not only raised funds for a very worthy cause, it showcased those positive elements,” explains Friedman. “We showed that Jews are actively involved in the world, in fields like medical research, and illustrated that Judaism directs us to care about the welfare of others.”

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