Inspiring Jewish Studies Teacher Hagit Dekel Receives Prestigious Award

We are proud to share that our Senior Division Jewish Studies teacher and Mechanechet, Hagit Dekel, has been recognized by Hebrew at the Center with the Outstanding Hebrew Teacher Award!

After reviewing more than 40 nominations from North America (including Canada and Latin America), a broad advisory committee of Jewish education leaders selected Hagit as the Hebrew teacher award recipient.

This international award recognizes one outstanding Hebrew teacher in the Diaspora who exemplifies excellence, leadership and impact.

Bialik’s social media post about Hagit’s award “went viral” with wonderful praise and congratulations from colleagues, parents and students.

For over 20 years, Hagit has poured her heart, expertise and unwavering dedication into Hebrew education at Bialik. She has inspired countless students to develop strong Hebrew language skills, deepen their connection to Israel, and strengthen their Jewish identity. Her warmth, passion for teaching and belief in each child make her classroom a place where learning is joyful and meaningful.

Enjoy this short video where Hagit reflects on the honour and joy of receiving the award.

The Bialik family that nominated Hagit shared the many ways that her impact extends far beyond the classroom: “Our son became so inspired by Hagit and her contagious excitement for the Hebrew language that he often walks around our house insisting on only speaking Hebrew. He’s even written letters home from sleepover camp in Hebrew! He frequently talks about how much her influence sparked in him a love of our Jewish traditions. This is a testament to her role as a gifted educator.”

They describe Hagit as providing her students with unique opportunities for intellectual growth while also fostering a supportive and nurturing environment in which students are deeply motivated to rise to the challenge. “Her ability to achieve such a fine balance of both discipline and empathy empowers her students to strive for academic success through the desire to achieve in her class through self-motivation, rather than fear of failure.”

As we see exemplified by Hagit’s teaching, Hebrew brings Israel, our culture and history to life for our students. Exceptional Hebrew teachers and intentional, dedicated leadership in developing strong Hebrew programs have the power to cultivate a lifelong transformative love for, and connection to, our Jewish community.

Mazal Tov to Hagit on this well-deserved recognition! We are grateful for her dedication, passion and impact on our students each and every day.