My name is Abba Brodt. I'm a Jewish Day School Principal and Educator.It is hoped that this site will serve a number of purposes - to share interesting information, best practices, and new ideas in Jewish Education. In addition to this website, I also speak and present publicly on the following topics:
a) Authentic activity as the primary mode of teaching Judaism in a community day school; b) Integrating multimedia and technology with Jewish education; and c) Jewish Family Education - How best to engage families in their children's Jewish learning. d) The mitzvah of Ahavat Yisrael (the mitzvah to love your fellow as yourself) - Using key teachings of Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook, the Tzemach Tzedek and Rebbe Nachman, learn how to work on judging every Jew favourably, regardless of denomination or affiliation. I hope that you will enjoy this slightly irreverent website. Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts and comments. |
A little bit about me...
When I was 17, and trying to figure out what to do in university, I casually mentioned to my father that I was interested in teaching. A teacher himself, and my father to boot, he objected to my choice, and provided me with all the usual (and entirely valid) reasons why I shouldn't go into teaching. I listened to him, and shelved the idea. Instead, I became a community worker, and I was involved in the not-for profit sector for nearly a decade, serving a variety of positions: Planning Director, community organizer, counsellor, teen outreach worker, planner, fundraiser and campaigner. In addition to my academic background as a social worker, I also trained as a computer animator and graphic designer.
In 2008, I began to teach on the side, as an instructor for the Florence Melton Adult Mini School - I would come home after an hour of teaching, feeling as if my soul was on fire... what I got (and gave) in an hour of teaching, I could not get in a year of community work. The Great Recession of 2008 and accompanying job loss solved my dilemma for me - I became a Jewish educator, a teacher... I became what I wanted to be 20 years earlier. Life is funny that way, and I wouldn't change a moment of it. It was hard, and I worked my way up teaching in local day schools. I was also very fortunate to be able to go back to school and complete a Masters in Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University's Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at the same time.
Today I work as a Principal in a wonderful Jewish Day School in Western Canada. I am passionate about Jewish Identity and Jewish Learning. I believe that the Torah still has something to say to Jewish youth, and I am working tirelessly to explore how to provide the best model of Jewish education that combines skills and content, to students today.
You can find me on twitter @abbabrodt and on LinkedIn at http://ca.linkedin.com/in/abbabrodt
In 2008, I began to teach on the side, as an instructor for the Florence Melton Adult Mini School - I would come home after an hour of teaching, feeling as if my soul was on fire... what I got (and gave) in an hour of teaching, I could not get in a year of community work. The Great Recession of 2008 and accompanying job loss solved my dilemma for me - I became a Jewish educator, a teacher... I became what I wanted to be 20 years earlier. Life is funny that way, and I wouldn't change a moment of it. It was hard, and I worked my way up teaching in local day schools. I was also very fortunate to be able to go back to school and complete a Masters in Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University's Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at the same time.
Today I work as a Principal in a wonderful Jewish Day School in Western Canada. I am passionate about Jewish Identity and Jewish Learning. I believe that the Torah still has something to say to Jewish youth, and I am working tirelessly to explore how to provide the best model of Jewish education that combines skills and content, to students today.
You can find me on twitter @abbabrodt and on LinkedIn at http://ca.linkedin.com/in/abbabrodt