HOPE LEVAV

Tell us something interesting about your family’s Jewish roots.
My parents, z'l, were both Shoah survivors, and my Hebrew birthday is the 27th of Nisan, Holocaust Remembrance Day.

What has been your most formative Jewish experience?
I was mostly impacted by the times I've lived in Israel: two years with my parents when I was 4-5 years old, one year on my own during college, and one year with my wife and children seven years ago.

Which elementary school teacher had the biggest impact on you and why?
I will never forget Tova Blum who taught me Hebrew and Judaics in grades 2, 5, and 6. She taught with her whole heart. She made us all work so hard, and we all cried at the end of the year. She nurtured a love for Israel and the Hebrew language in all of us. She could sing a million Hebrew songs- on demand. She made me feel so, so loved.

What brings you the most joy as a teacher?
I love seeing that “aha moment” in a student's eyes when they finally get something they've been working so hard to understand. I also love hearing from students years after they've left my class about the impact our time together has had on their lives.