Ever since its founding nearly three decades ago, Israel has been near the heart and soul of the Denver Academy of Torah, the Lowry-based K-12 Jewish day school that has always described itself as “religious Zionist.”
For the school’s current and next school terms the connection with Israel is much more than an academic abstraction: Israel is quite literally part and parcel of the school’s fabric in the form of five teachers, all Israeli educators, who have become an integral part of the faculty.
Through the World Zionist Organization’s teacher emissary program (Morim Shlichim), the teachers have joined DAT’s Judaic studies department, instructing students in the elementary, middle school and high school in a variety of subject areas.
Although this is not the day school’s first experience with Israeli faculty — in its early years, DAT regularly engaged with educators from the Jewish state — it has been at least a decade since it has done so, according to Rabbi Dani Rockoff, Judaic studies principal.
“Denver Academy of Torah has been blessed to have stellar Judaic studies and Ivrit [Hebrew language] teachers on our faculty, who have brought a love of Torah and Israel to our school for many years,” Rockoff told the Intermountain Jewish News in a recent virtual interview.
“The shlichim [emissaries] support and extend the excellent foundation that our faculty members have created over the past three decades of our school’s existence. Our shlichim have created age-appropriate Jewish programs for our elementary, middle and high school students that celebrate the holidays and significant dates in Israel’s history.”
In addition to their regular classes, the teachers help middle and high school students with monthly Shabbat prayers and expose their pupils to Jewish popular culture and philosophy.
Perhaps most important, Rockoff adds: “Our shlichim are role models to our students.”
DAT’s roster of new Israeli teachers include: Daniel Levian of Jeru-salem. He is an alumnus of Yeshivat Har Etzion in Alon Shvut, Israel. He earned his undergraduate degrees in teaching Jewish law and special education from Herzog College and his graduate degree in the management and organization of educational systems from Michlalah College in Jerusalem.
Tal Levian of Jerusalem.
She earned her undergraduate degrees in political science and communication from The Hebrew University and her graduate degrees in political science and communication from Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan.
Eli Lifschitz of Tel Aviv.
He is an alumnus of Yeshivat Ma’ale Gilboa in Ma’ale Gilboa. He earned his undergraduate degree in international relations and French literature from The Hebrew University and his graduate degree in European affairs from Lund University in Sweden. “Eli strives to live his life by the Golden Rule,” Rockoff says. “He is fascinated by 20th century history and is a passionate skier.”
As an additional bonus for the school, Eli’s wife, Sophia Lifschitz, teaches an art elective course for DAT high school students as she continues to work remotely as the assistant curator of modern art at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.
Shimi Perl of Lod.
He is an alumnus of chesder yeshivot in Ma’alot and Hebron. He earned his undergraduate degree in education from Lifshitz College of Education in Jerusalem and his graduate degree in business management from the Jerusalem College of Technology.
Tzipi Perl of Lod.
She earned her undergraduate degree in musicology from Bar-Ilan University. She has taught in Ramle and Ra’anana, including at a school for special needs children. “Morah Tzipi is passionate about music education and Judaic studies,” Rockoff says.
Rockoff adds that an “understated element” of the shlichut program is the fact that since the teachers have brought their families to Denver, “we gained nine youth emissaries in their children.”
Seven of the children are enrolled at DAT, in grades 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9, and two are toddlers, “beloved by the children of DAT,” Rockoff says.
“The children of the shlichim are as much emissaries for the Israeli people as their parents — teaching their classmates Ivrit slang and songs and a good deal of ‘football.’”
“These youths are full and beloved members of our school community.”
Learning Hebrew is a fundamental objective of DAT’s educational mission, Rockoff says by way of explaining one of the advantages of adding Israeli educators to the school’s faculty.
That orientation is in line with the philosophy of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, the progenitor of modern Hebrew who said, “Without two essential components, the Jews can never revive as a nation and they are: the land and the language;” and with the conviction of David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, that “only through Hebrew can Jews understand the full meaning of Jewishness.”
Rockoff is in full agreement. “Hebrew is the universal language of the Jewish people and serves as the cornerstone of the modern Jewish state and nation.
“Our students are prepared to visit or move to Israel and be comfortable with the language, as well as be able to converse with Jews from around the world wherever our students may choose to travel.
“Our shlichim are our conduits for our students to the land, the language and the religion.”
“Two of our shlichim directly teach Ivrit as a language course as the others infuse Ivrit into their Judaic studies classes. In fact, one of our shlichim teaches seventh and eighth grade Talmud entirely in Ivrit and one of our shlichim teaches 12th grade Tanach (Bible) entirely in Ivrit — and our students understand and respond well to the material.”
The teachers’ contributions are no less valuable in the realm of religion.
The Israeli teachers are helping teach a new course at DAT, “Jewish Life,” which “engages students in the ethical questions of Jewish living, while also teaching about developing healthy relationships based on Jewish values.”
The Judaic studies principal hopes that teaching at DAT and living in Denver will also be of value to the teachers themselves, even though they are paying a personal price for that.
“To be a shaliach requires extraordinary sacrifice,” Rockoff says. “Our teachers said goodbye to their families, pulled their children out of their schools and away from their friends, moved out of their homes and came to a city halfway around the world to live and work with people who don’t speak the same primary language.
“Why do they do so? It’s because they are heeding a call. It’s a religious call and a nationalist call. Our shlichim came to share with our faculty and students a bit of Israel’s special spirit, to renew our passion for and dedication toward the State of Israel, and to motivate us to foster a deeper connection toward the Jewish faith and people.”
These teachers aren’t just teachers, Rockoff emphasizes. “They are the State of Israel’s ambassadors to our school. Religious Zionism is a central component to Denver Academy of Torah’s educational philosophy and practice. This means that we embrace the Land of Israel as G-d-given and the State of Israel as a fulfillment of Biblical promises.”
Many of DAT’s high school graduates spent at least one “gap year” in Israel while some choose to attend Israeli universities; some ultimately opt to make aliyah, to move to Israel permanently.
“The shlichim advance that mission,” Rockoff says. “They teach our students a values system — about the importance of service and living a Torah-oriented life in the modern world.
“We can’t possibly begin to quantify the benefits of the shlichim program. There’s no way to measure the excitement that our students feel in coming to school and learning Gemara with Rav Daniel, enjoying a tisch with HaMoreh Eli, singing with Morah Tzipi, gaining life advice from Morah Tal, and playing hoops with Moreh Shimi. There is an excitement in the air and our shlichim have a lot to do with that.”
Speaking of excitement, Rockoff is asked what role the Israeli teachers were likely to play as Israel Independence Day, Yom Ha’atzmaut — observed this year on May 4-5 — approached.
He was unwilling to divulge the details.
“Our students, on a K-12 level, have been working with the shlichim to create a special Yom Ha’atzmaut surprise for the Colorado Jewish community,” Rockoff replied.
“We wish we could tell your readers more, but they’ll just have to wait to find out what we have in store!”
Chris Leppek may be reached at IJNEWS@aol.com.
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