Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a native of Ontario, Canada. She studied Tanach at Midreshet Lindenbaum before participating in York University’s Jewish Teacher Education Program. Aliza also has an ALM in Math for Teaching from Harvard University. Aliza taught Tanach and math at the Maimonides School in Brookline, MA from 2005-2016, where she particularly enjoyed designing and implementing interdisciplinary lessons. Since 2016, Aliza has taught at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. She lives in Aspen Hill, MD with her husband and children.
 

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With gratitude to Hashem Yitbarach for creating me in the Divine image and sharing Torah with the world.

 

Many people have been sources of strength, inspiration and support in my Torah journey. My teachers and Chidon coaches at Netivot HaTorah and Ulpanat Orot, especially Dr. Reuven Gellman, z”l, and Mrs. Esther Friedman nurtured my love of Torah and made me want to teach it. 

 

At Midreshet Lindenbaum, I had the opportunity to learn texts I had not previously had access to. Mrs. Tova Rhein, Rav Brown, Rav Kaplan, Rav Schreier, Rav Berger, Rav Brofsky, Rav Alex, Rav Klitsner and Rav Leibtag taught me more than I had ever learned before and made me commit to making Torah a part of my daily routine as a serious learner. 

 

The faculty at York University’s Jewish Teacher Education Program nurtured my passion for Jewish Education and gave me the tools to be a classroom teacher. Rabbi Dr. Marty Lockshin pushed me to read Torah more closely and view the world more critically. My 17-year teaching career is a testament to the way York prepared me to teach.

 

My colleagues at the Maimonides School and the Charles E Smith Jewish Day School are too numerous to name, but I want to thank Stephanie Samuels and Reuben Silberman for their mentorship, Dr. Malka Simkovich, R. Avi Bossewitch, R. Dov Huff, R. Yaakov Jaffe, Ken Rosenstein and Mike Schockett for their friendship and for sharing their wisdom. I am supported daily by my wonderful CESJDS crew: Cassandra, John, Tori, Reuben, Robbie, Karen, Maddie, Rachel and Joyce. I’m the luckiest person in the world to get to come work with you all every day. The CESJDS administration encouraged my studies and made many adjustments to make it possible for me to come to YM.  

 

Before she was my fellow musmechet, Atara Lindenbaum was my professional colleague, and her email to me in January 2019 got me to consider joining Maharat. I can’t imagine where I would be today if Atara had not sent me that email.

  

During my three years at Yeshivat Maharat, the world turned upside down. Rav Jeff, Rabbanit Devorah and Rabbi Mintz were constant presences on my Zoom screen. The constancy of Torah was a comfort in a scary world. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn with such wonderful teachers. My Gemara chavrutot Rabbanit Liz and Miriam and my halacha chavruta Adina learned with me at all hours from various continents. Thank you for sharing your Torah with me. Rav Avi and Rabba Sara - none of this would have been possible if you had not built it. I will forever be in your debt.

 

For the past six years, my home community, Kehilat Pardes - the Rock Creek Synagogue, has supported my family and made us feel valued, appreciated and needed. Rav Uri and Dahlia, your leadership has sustained us as individuals and built a community of Ahavat Torah and Kavod Ha’Briot. We are so lucky to live in Aspen Hill. 

 

So many friends have supported me through the ups and downs of life. Some I’ve known forever: Aviva, Ronit, Rebecca, Sara - your friendships have sustained me for decades. Shanna and Julian - some friends are like family. Thank you for teaching me that.

 

My grandparents Benny, z”l, and Faigie Libman and Ruth and Manny Berlove, z”l, taught me the importance of showing up for family and conducting oneself in an upright manner. They created a loving environment full of aunts, uncles and cousins, who are an ongoing source of joy in my life. I love and appreciate you all.

 

My LibSibs Rachel, Nehama and Avi: thank you for the love, the reality checks, the hilarious memes, for being the club no one else can join. (Gerald and Rachel S: Thanks for joining anyways.) 

 

My in-laws Jerry and Devora Baronofsky did me many great favors when they raised a wonderful feminist son. My sibs-in-law Hyim, Elana, Dani, Shosh, Shifra and Ellie are a cherished part of my life. 

 

My parents gave me life and instilled in me Yir’at Shamayim with an understanding that Torah lives in the real world. Thank you for everything. All the deeds I do and the Torah I learn builds on the foundation you gave me.

 

Thank you to my husband Ari: you once told me you would follow me anywhere - except New York. We’re both lucky Maharat does Zoom. For me to work all day and learn in the evenings, you had to step up a lot. Thanks for being my Ezer K’negda and for never objecting when I wanted to leave the kids with you and go learn Torah all night. To my wonderful children Rena and Rivka - you are my daily Chavrutot, my impetus to do good in the world, and the best two decisions I’ve ever made. I love you more than anything.