Teacher Memories
I graduated HANC high school in 2002 and was amazed to see how many of the teachers that I had, are still teaching. I credit many of the teachers listed here with helping me develop my love of Torah study and commitment to Jewish life.
Rabbi Yisroel Chesir - I sat next to Rabbi Chesir for two years at morning minyan and was in his Gemara class at the same time. He was saying Kaddish one of those years and frequently davened for the Amud. As the son of the cantor, I could tell that he was the only person who led Minyan who had musicality and an idea of Nusach and I so appreciated his davening. Later, when I had the opportunity to study Jewish liturgical music, it was his voice that I heard when I learned about weekday Shacharit and, to this day, I include little phrases in my davening that I learned by listening to him. For several years, I drove past Monsey regularly and always fondly remembered Shabbatons at his house and football in the snow in his backyard.
Rabbi Shimon Chrein - Rabbi Chrein began as a substitute teacher when I was in middle school, but became a full time teacher by the time I was in high school. While my memories of him as a sub include a rather violent chalk fight that broke out in the class, my more serious memories include his teaching of Chumash. I can picture him teaching out of a MIkraot Gedolot and introducing me to some less common Mefarshim like the Ha'amek Davar.
Rabbi Aharon Friedler - Rabbi Friedler was my first Gemara teacher in seventh and eighth grade. It was my first time opening a Gemara and I was determined to prove myself. In seventh grade, we studied the tenth chapter of Pesachim and the first question I asked was if a person needed to fast on Erev Pesach if he was sick. He kindly explained that health concerns take priority. A Gemara is a daunting book to open, but his nightly worksheets that broke the Sugya down into phrases taught me so much about the structure of the text.
Rabbi Avraham Ismach - Rabbi Ismach was my Gemara teacher for my one year in BMP. I blame him for my lifelong fear of Masechet Sukkah, but he should know that I teach about Lulav HaGazul when I want to teach about the intersection of Halakha and ethics.
Rabbi Daniel Mezei - Rabbi Mezei was one of the kindest teachers I ever had, whether it was for Chumash or Gemara. I remember that his dedication to teaching his students was so deep that he taught one class hunched over while suffering with kidney stones. I enjoyed the chance to visit him on the Lower East Side and was so moved by the small Sefer Torah that he explained his ancestor had brought with him when he escaped Europe.
Mrs. Marie Palaia - I missed the chance to have Mrs. P for biology in 9th grade and heard so many good things about her that I decided to take AP biology as a senior even though I was a weak science student. It was worth it. She was a great teacher and I enjoyed spending most lunchtimes in her classroom during my senior year and seeing her friendship with other teachers and students.
Mrs. Rhonda Boley - I had a bad experience in my first year of Spanish in 9th grade and came into her class lacking confidence that I could learn the language. With her kindness and guidance over the course of two years, I ended up scoring a 98 on the Spanish Regents exam.
Rabbi Eliyahu Alpert - Although what I remember most about Rabbi Alpert was his antics on the basketball court and stories he attempted to tell that went off the rails, he was an excellent Dinim teacher who helped me feel comfortable with the Mishnah Berurah..
Thank you for the opportunity to share about these teachers who helped shape my experience at HANC and my life.
Regards,
Michael Wolk
Rabbi, Temple Israel of Charlotte, NC
HANC Jr. High Class of 1998
HANC High School Class of 2002
As HANC proudly celebrates its 70th anniversary, I reflect on the remarkable journey shaped by the unwavering dedication of our esteemed faculty. With a legacy spanning seven decades, our institution stands as a testament to the commitment and professionalism of our educators. For over thirty-one years, I have been privileged to witness the transformative impact of our faculty’s tireless efforts firsthand. As an educator myself, and as the Associate Principal, I have seen directly how our faculty members tirelessly strive to nurture and inspire each student entrusted to our care.
Throughout the years, our faculty has remained steadfast in their commitment to academic excellence and student success. Their passion for teaching extends beyond the confines of the classroom, as they continuously seek innovative ways to engage, inspire and empower our students. Whether through personalized instruction or extracurricular activities, our faculty members go above and beyond to foster a nurturing learning environment where every student can thrive. As we commemorate seventy years of educational excellence, we celebrate not only the milestones achieved but also the profound impact of our dedicated faculty in shaping the minds and futures of generations to come.
Mrs. Marie Palaia
Associate Principal
HANC High School