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Meet MAT - JDS/DeLeT Students & Graduates

DeLeT MAT students bring diverse experiences to their studies, yet all share a passion for Jewish education. The 2008-09 cohort of DeLet students, Cohort VII, hails from all corners of the United States and Canada. Please meet them:

Stephanie Cohen

Stephanie Cohen received a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a minor in religious studies from Allegheny College, where she served as the Hillel social and cultural chair. She has worked as a fifth-grade Hebrew teacher and a senior youth group adviser at Temple Beth El in Pittsburgh and as a fourth-grade Hebrew teacher at Temple Anshe Hesed in Erie, Pa. “Teaching is not about having all the answers all the time, and it’s not for those who already know everything," she said. "Teaching is about asking the right questions, seeking answers in places they may be found, helping students reach their full potential and understanding that learning ultimately takes a lifetime, because life is about learning."

Julia Gilbert

Julia Gilbert received a bachelor's degree in general studies with a minor in English and Middle Eastern education from the University of Toronto. She also received a diploma in book editing and design from Centennial College. Julia studied at Hebrew University for a year while in college. For the past two years, she has been working towards a certificate in early-childhood Jewish education at Hebrew College. She taught preschool for eight years, taught Sunday school at Temple Beth Avodah and worked as an art specialist at Ramah Family Camp. "I'd like to become a teacher who enjoys teaching, who enjoys her students and someone who transmits this joy into positive and successful teaching and learning," she says.

Samara Danit Shachar Hendin

Samara Danit Shachar Hendin holds a bachelor of fine arts degree in music from Boston University. She attended Jewish day school for nine years and spent her summers as a camper and counselor in Jewish camps. She was a sixth-grade and kindergarten teacher at Temple Emanuel Religious School. Samara places great value in the Jewish day-school experience. "A student at a Jewish day school can walk away with knowledge in her mind paired with a set of values in her heart," she says.

Ziva Reimer

Ziva Reimer, who will study in the Brandeis Secondary MAT-Tanakh Program in 2008-09, graduated cum laude from New York University. She spent her junior year studying Hebrew and politics at the University of Jerusalem. After graduating from NYU, she spent two years learning Bible at Pardes in Israel. She also taught in the Genesis program at Brandeis for the past two summers. Ziva is interested in preparing to teach Bible in middle school and high school. "When you ask questions and make decisions in the Bible, you will continue to do so when you leave the classroom," she says. "If you become aware that there is more than one way to read the text on your desk, you cannot help but find that there is also more than one way to read the 'texts' of our lives." She adds, "In my classroom, I hope to teach breadth, depth and meaning. I truly believe a compassionate, committed, critical education can change an individual person's life and our society as a whole."

David Roth

David Roth, a native of Indiana, studied mathematics, computer science and Jewish studies at Indiana University. For several years, he studied Jewish texts in Jerusalem at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies; he recently received rabbinic ordination. David was on the Pardes faculty for the past two years. Though he has an interest in almost every Jewish text, his two loves are Talmud and Tanakh. As a teacher, David aspires to make Jewish texts accessible, in terms of both skills and ideas, in order to allow the richness of Jewish thought to impact on us today. This year David will be doing his internship at Gann Academy.

Anna Salomon

Anna Salomon earned an associate of arts degree in early childhood education from Casper College and a bachelor of arts degree in early-childhood studies from Union Institute and University. She is completing a master of arts in Jewish studies with a certificate in Jewish nonprofit management from Gratz College. Anna has taught preschool, prekindergarten and religious school to first- and second-graders. She has also served as the children, youth and camp services director at the Jewish Educational Alliance in Savannah, Ga. A recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award for The Temple in Atlanta, Anna believes that “Jewish day schools are vital to the continuation of American Judaism. It allows for a deeper understanding of their faith, a solid secular education and, most importantly, a pride in being Jewish."

Inspired Educators

Brandeis MAT-DeLeT alumni are serving as inspired educators and active teacher-leaders in Jewish day schools throughout the United States, making an impact on Jewish education that is disproportionate to their numbers.

Some of the schools in which DeLeT alumni have taught:

• Alperin Schechter (Providence, R.I.)
• Cohen Hillel Academy (Marblehead, Mass.)
• Davis Academy (Atlanta)
• Heschel High School (New York City)
• Jewish Community Day School (Watertown, Mass.)
• Kesher Newton (Newton, Mass.)
• Kesher School (Cambridge, Mass.)
• Krieger Schechter School (Baltimore)
• Metrowest Jewish Day School (Framingham, Mass.)
• Ramaz (New York City)
• The Rashi School (Newton, Mass.)
• Solomon Schechter Day School (Bergen County, N.J.)
• Solomon Schechter Day School (Haverhill, Mass.)
• Solomon Schechter High School (New York City)
• South Area Solomon Schechter Day School (Stoughton, Mass.)
• Striar Hebrew Academy (Sharon, Mass.)