SHAI LEVY

Tell us something interesting about your family’s Jewish roots.
I come from a mixed Ashkenazi-Sephardi family. On my Sephardi side, my great-grandfather was Bulgarian and spoke Ladino, which led him to emigrate to Mexico City, where my father grew up and much of my family still remains.

What has been your most formative Jewish experience?
In college, I lived in a communal Jewish food co-op with 29 other students. We shared meals, shabbosim, holidays, and so much more.

What was the best class you took in college?
I took a number of queer theory classes in college that were quite meaningful both personally and intellectually.
Who or what inspired you to be a teacher?
Throughout my time in school, I had many teachers who made me feel cared for and encouraged to pursue my own interests, teachers who made me feel seen and appreciated. That care and impact inspired me to be a teacher.