Mushky Rutman, First Grade Teacher (Judaic/Hebrew Studies)
BIO: Mushky was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY to a large family with warm parents who put great emphasis on Jewish education. This is her 12th year teaching in Mazel and my 15th year teaching overall. She received my MS from Mercy College majoring in Special Education and has experience working with all different age groups from preschool to middle school.
I became a teacher because… I grew up surrounded by children, being one of 12, which taught me great responsibility. In addition, I grew up in a home where education was part of our day to day lives. My father ran a high school for Russian Jewish immigrants as well as a Sunday school and also conducted weekly Shabatons. Watching my parents’ dedication to Jewish education and their loving kindness to each and every child and person that came across their path, had a great impact on me and made me choose the path of teaching and influencing little children in a positive way.
I love teaching the subjects that I do because… To me, teaching about the Jewish holidays and about our heritage is extra meaningful since we are continuing a chain from our forefathers and instilling the love for Judaism in our children. I feel very privileged to be able to provide the children with the necessary literacy foundations for the Hebrew language and for reading the Torah as well as other Jewish books. With this knowledge, the children will be able to expand their learning of the Torah and the Jewish history and connect with their inner core. The children will also be able to lead a Jewish home and know many of the customs and the mitzvot associated with Judaism.
My vision for our children is… For every child to reach their full potential as a human being and to contribute to society with their unique talents and expression. Most importantly, I encourage and promote good behavior and character traits that the children will grow up and be positive influences to those around them.
I joined Mazel because… Mazel fosters Jewish education in a loving and progressive setting, where each students’ needs are catered to on a personal level. The children are encouraged to think out of the box and ask questions. This makes Mazel a school for inquisitive learners.
My most favorite memory from being a student is… The love the teachers gave me as a student. In particular, my first grade teacher invested all her energy into making sure I was achieving and progressing in all areas. She made me feel like a star!
The difficult part of teaching is… When children don’t see their full potential and allow it to get in their way of reaching ultimate success.
If I could teach my students only thing, it would be... I would impress upon them their responsibility, being the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to continue their mission of sharing light and hope in the world by adding in good deeds and being kind to others. By this, they are continuing the chain started by our forefathers of making the world into a beautiful home for G‑d.
A trick I use in the classroom is... to constantly focus on the positive of the children. In addition, I try and keep the activities and lessons engaging so the children will be enthusiastic about the learning.
If I would not have become a teacher I would... Being that I feel strongly for education, if I were not to be a teacher I would have another position in the education field.
Outside of school I like to... spend my time with my family. In addition, I enjoy reading, baking and physical activity.