Meet Mrs. Reiss
We welcomed several new teachers to the Academy this year, all of whom have already made a tremendous impact on their students and fellow faculty members this semester. Among them is Mrs. Mindy Reiss who is teaching 9th grade Nach. She comes to us from New York, along with her husband, Rabbi Yona Reiss, who is the new Av Beis Din of the Chicago Rabbinical Council. Mrs. Reiss holds a masters in Jewish education, has taught Judaic studies for 20 years and is a doctoral candidate in Jewish Education and Administration at Azrieli, Yeshiva University.
How has your adjustment been to the Academy?
Wonderful. I moved a year and a half ago from NY and Rabbi Matanky was one of the main people who recruited us. The teachers and Academic Services staff are professional and caring. They have been helpful to me, and I appreciate the collaborative, generous team I am privileged to work with.
Wonderful. I moved a year and a half ago from NY and Rabbi Matanky was one of the main people who recruited us. The teachers and Academic Services staff are professional and caring. They have been helpful to me, and I appreciate the collaborative, generous team I am privileged to work with.
What do you like best about teaching?
I learn so much from my students and of course daven that I am contributing positively to their growth in Torah knowledge, observance and self esteem in realizing the potential HKBH gave them. The books of Nach I am teaching are rich with our Jewish history including our stake in the Land of Israel and our place and purpose in the world as Jews, as well as personal lessons for our daily lives.
I learn so much from my students and of course daven that I am contributing positively to their growth in Torah knowledge, observance and self esteem in realizing the potential HKBH gave them. The books of Nach I am teaching are rich with our Jewish history including our stake in the Land of Israel and our place and purpose in the world as Jews, as well as personal lessons for our daily lives.
What are your goals for this year?
My goals are to motivate the students to learn at their highest level, to give them the textual skills and background that feed their Jewish literacy and mostly to enhance their appreciation for these sefarim (Yehoshua, Shoftim, Esther and Ruth) and love of learning.
My goals are to motivate the students to learn at their highest level, to give them the textual skills and background that feed their Jewish literacy and mostly to enhance their appreciation for these sefarim (Yehoshua, Shoftim, Esther and Ruth) and love of learning.
What do you like doing when you’re not teaching?
When I’m not in school I am managing a family with five boys and a girl, ages 4-14. I give shiurim to adults throughout the community on a regular basis. I am a kallah teacher who studied under Mrs. Miriam Jaffe. I also try to set up singles in the community.
When I’m not in school I am managing a family with five boys and a girl, ages 4-14. I give shiurim to adults throughout the community on a regular basis. I am a kallah teacher who studied under Mrs. Miriam Jaffe. I also try to set up singles in the community.