Principal of Jewish Studies

Asher Barnea

 

Bruchim Ha’Baim!

I am so proud to be able to share with you my vision of what Ahavat Israel means at Bialik, and some of the creative ways that the love of and connection to Israel is instilled in our students.

 

As the principal of Jewish studies, I have the privilege of creating the best and most natural environment for our students to study the language of our heritage- Hebrew. Our approach of Ivrit b’Ivrit, teaching Hebrew in Hebrew, helps to create this environment. In keeping with Bialik’s commitment to exposing our students to 21st century learning and technology, one of the many ways students awarded an opportunity to practice this is through video conferencing with Israeli children, which helps to further develop their Jewish identity and their love of Israel.

 

A great deal of time is devoted to updating our Jewish studies curriculum on a regular basis to keep it relevant and exciting. I believe that our rich program and our unique Israel Interactive Centre challenge Bialik students to think critically about our past, present and future. Students’ achievements in this area are evident when studying Israel and interpreting modern and old (or classic) Jewish texts. One should always remember where he came from to know where he is heading; this saying guides us in teaching our students about being a Mentch.

 

Visiting classrooms to see our students in action while rehearsing for school plays, performing Kabbalat Shabbat celebrations or conversing in Hebrew is always a real treat. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly our students learn to read and speak Hebrew. Parents are always impressed when the knowledge their children garner at Bialik allows them to become guides for their families on trips to Israel.

 

I am excited to continue working in Jewish education and especially here at Bialik. I see the school as second home, and I know that it feels the same to many of our teachers and families, especially those from Israel who feel that Bialik is an authentic duplication of what they are used to. I look forward to meeting many of you, and your children.

 

Sincerely,

Asher Barnea

abarnea@bialik.ca