Video: Jtube: Def Poetry Jam

Published: June 12, 2011

Did you ever have a teacher who really inspired you? Thank him or her in the comment section below.

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Visitor Comments: 11

(10) Esther major, April 27, 2012 12:03 AM

The teacher that inspired me and most and still continues to inspire me is my teacher Ms. Seidemann. She teaches me historia ( jewish history) in Bais Yaakov of denver colorado. she is an amazing teacher who i will never be able to pay back for all the good she has given me. she just amazing. shes someone who i am so lucky to have meet and in my life. she includes in her lessons things that i will remember for life!! Thank you so much Ms seidemann the school and i will never be the same because of the impression you have made on me and so many others!! We love you! Your student, Esther Major 10th grade

(9) Talya, August 17, 2011 7:55 PM

Love it!!

I'm a teacher and this is what I aspire to. Not there yet.. Mrs Fyffe my maths teacher.

(8) Duvi, June 15, 2011 2:35 AM

Mr. Kelly

Mr. Walter Kelly math teacher Lawrence Rd Junior High Uniondale NY. He was the teacher that refused to allow me to fail. He once said "you don't like me now because I'm hard on you. I make you work, but one day you'll say I was the best teacher you ever had". MR. Kelly you are the best teacher I ever had. May Hashem bless you where ever you are.

(7) EG Edelson, June 15, 2011 1:38 AM

Best teachers

4th grade science, Mrs. Gruber: "Doodle if you like, so long as it has to do with the lesson." I went on to draw a comic strip illustrating the decay of the Uranium atom that my 8th grade science teacher used in her curriculum for years. Thank you, Mrs. Gruber! 10th grade Hashkafa, Rabbi Rockove: "Keep a weekly journal of Hashgacha Pratis incidents throughout the year." I am now much more sensitive to the Hand of G-d n my daily life. Thank you, Rabbi Rockove! Seminary, Studies in Sefer Bereishis (Honors), Rabbi Hauer: "Can anyone raise any questions about these pesukim," and "Write an introduction to Sefer Bereishis," and "Develop an approach to understanding Akeidas Yitzchak." I reconnected to textual study through the medium of critical thinking. Thank you, Rabbi Hauer!

(6) Rhonda, June 15, 2011 1:31 AM

Thank you teachers, one of the hardest most important roles in a childs life

My 2nd grade hebrew teacher, Rabbi Gluck at Yeshiva Sharei Zedek in Coney Island in the 1960's was most special . The school does not exist anymore. But if I could find him now, I would tell him what a great impression he made on me. He made me want to do better, to learn more, to understand, to try. He gave from the heart. He was just a young mas then, probably 1st or 2nd yr of teaching but he had it all. Wish I could recall his first name and find him and let him know I still think of him all these years later and consider him my favorite teacher. I tell my son about him and wish a teacher like this for everyone. Thank you rabbi Gluck!

Philip Broomer, May 5, 2012 11:11 AM

Rabbi Sheinerman of yshiva Sharei Zedek

Rabbi Sheinerman of Yeshiva Sharei Zedek in Coney Island gave me a strong will to make the best of my difficult childhood. He taught me how important it is to do the right thing even through the hardest of times. That was a great Yeshiva with fantastic Rabbis and teachers.Would love to see any of them or classmates again. Class of 1966

(5) Barb, June 14, 2011 6:38 PM

John Mack...sharer of secrets

John Mack was the first oboist of the Cleveland Orchestra for many years. I met him at a conference where the top oboists in the country spoke and was instantly wowed by his zest for teaching. I wound up having the priviledge of studying with him for a year and a half. He was the ultimate teacher and you had the feeling that he was revealing his musicianship secrets without holding anything back. He's famous for saying you shouldn't take "no" from an inanimate object and he inspired many, many young and mature musicians. He passed away a few years ago, but I am sure he lives on in his teachings and in the hearts of all who came in contact with him.

(4) moshe, June 14, 2011 6:14 PM

that was fantastic

he must be a really good teacher

(3) SusanCD, June 14, 2011 4:54 PM

She helped me deal with the pain of not being "in"

Bella Tillis was a legend at Midwood HS in Brooklyn. When I attended, she was the beloved conductor of the Mixed Chorus, and was known as the inventor of high school "SING" competitions. During my senior year, I auditioned for, and got a role, in SING -- even though I was not a member of the "lyric committee" - comprised ot the more popular kids in the senior class, who had been the only ones entitled to have such parts in our sophomore and junior years. We won the competition that year; but when a friend and I arrived at the cast party, the "in" crowd once again treated us as if we were invisible. After an hour, we left. I was crushed -- since there seemed to be nothing I could do to make these teens treat me as if I were a person. I even thought of leaving school, four months shy of graduation. I went to see Mrs. Tillis the next morning, in tears. She pointed out that the kids in Mixed Chorus were my true friends, who cared about and respected me as a singer and a person; if the so-called "in crowd" couldn't see that, it was their loss. They had no right to make me feel that way about myself -- or consider becoming an honor student dropout? Besides, what was she going to do without an alto section leader and chorus librarian? I stuck it out, of course -- and learned a life-long lesson in what -- and who -- was important to me.

(2) DD, June 14, 2011 4:14 PM

I honor these and many more

I recognize these teachers especially, among the many others who gave me great gifts of learning: TO my 5th grade Hebrew teacher, Mrs. Schusterman Z"L who was patient with me, and then stretched me, and then ultimately gave me a "me" that I could believe in (Transforming me from a struggler to a class model for the rest of the bunch to catch up with); TO Mrs. B - my high school Social Studies teacher. Opening day:we sit down expecting to take notes on the usual boring drone of textbook-based facts and instead are treated to a reading about the French royal court from a novel about the French Revolution.We had vivid pictures in our minds. Facts took on context and reality. We were interested! She also taught us marvelous strategies for research papers that I have passed on to my kids and countless students; TO Rabbi Solnika Z"L (everybody:honk if you had Rabbi S.!!!). What a dynamo. He came in the first day and literally promised us we could forget about any past trauma or mental blocks we might have for Math. We would learn his material easily, master it effortlessly, and NEVER HAVE TO MEMORIZE A THING. What high school student doesn't admire a teacher who keeps a promise? He kept his - he was right. NO memorizing, just indelible pictures in our minds and flawless logic. Plus, he was a role model to admire. Speaking of Role Models, TO Rabbi Shraga Silverstein shlita, now at Michlala in Jerusalem. For his depth and for never teaching down to us. For raising the bar for our scholarship as much as for our relationship to Yiddishkeit. For taking my early attempts at creative writing so seriously that instead of grading them and tossing them he would take time out to guide me until my work reached perfection. Thank you Rabbi Silverstein, for giving my mom nachas by telling her, "Some people can write. Your daughter is a writer."...Thanks to all the teachers who gave us the mental imagery to help us learn with ease, and especially the images of ourselves at our best.

(1) Giddy, June 14, 2011 2:20 PM

DJ Foster

Mr. DJ Foster. Imparted a love of history in all of his students that I carry to this day. Thanks Mr. Foster!

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