Amy Newman teaches middle school Jewish Studies at Schechter Boston in Newton, Massachusetts, where she also coaches teachers and coordinates the Jewish Studies curriculum. Previously, Amy taught at Gann Academy: The New Jewish High School of Greater Boston, and at The Ramaz School. During her 16 years teaching in Jewish day schools, Amy has taught every grade from kindergarten through twelfth. A native of Toronto, Amy has a BA in Jewish Studies from McGill University, an EdM in Learning and Teaching from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and is a graduate of the Drisha Scholars Circle.
 

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מֵאֵת ה' הָיְתָה זֹּאת הִיא נִפְלָאת בְּעֵינֵינוּ׃ זֶה־הַיּוֹם עָשָׂה ה' נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בוֹ׃

This is God’s doing; it is marvelous in our sight. This is the day that God has made - let us exult and rejoice on it.

 

I feel overcome by the abundant kindness and goodness that have brought me to this moment, and I am endlessly grateful to the many people who made it possible:

 

My beloved grandparents - all of blessed memory - Morris and Marion Newman, Rabbi Kurt and Esther Klappholz. I wish I could know what each of them would say if they were here with us. 

 

My first teachers - my extraordinary parents and siblings. They are the most enthusiastic cheerleaders and the most reliable safety net I can imagine. They have all devoted their lives to the work of teaching and learning, and they inspired me to choose that path. 

 

My amazing extended family. 

 

My in-laws, who are models of devotion to family and abundant generosity. 

 

My rabbis at Yeshivat Maharat, who were also my teachers before YM existed: Rav Avi, Rabba Sara, Reb Jeff, Rabbanit Devorah, Rabba Wendy. They are my heroes, and I am so lucky to be a student of their brave, wise, sensitive Torah. 

 

My teachers at Drisha, where I started on this path almost 20 years ago.

 

My community of friends, hevrutot, teachers, and students in Boston, and the other communities I have called home in New York, Montreal, and Toronto. 

 

My colleagues and students at my current professional home, Schechter Boston, and previously at Gann Academy and Ramaz. 

 

My children: passionate, thoughtful, creative Ezra; deep, funny, humble Jesse; and confident, determined, generous Daniella. I wonder what their world will look like when they are adults, God willing, looking back on the day when their mom was ordained as a rabbi. 

 

And finally, David, the hardest-working and most patient person I know, who cares for and cares about everyone who crosses his path - at work, at home, and truly everywhere. He is going to be the greatest rebbetzin. 

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you.