“I came to Pardes in a roundabout way. I taking classes and student-teaching at the Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan where, for the first time since leaving Winnipeg, I was immersed in a Jewish community. I absolutely loved it! The feeling of connectedness and being able to share a love for Judaism with my students was incredibly strong and meaningful.
“When I left Winnipeg and moved to New York, I experienced a lot of rejection from the Jewish community. I was constantly questioned about my “Jewishness”, insulted, and felt rejected. As a response, I only engaged with Judaism for the High Holidays. When I was accepted into the Pardes Educators program, this fear of rejection made me extremely nervous. I started to question whether or not I belonged at Pardes and whether I would belong. One of my most meaningful experiences at Pardes was the day I walked into the Beit Midrash and was no longer afraid of not belonging. ‘These books belong to all of you’, a refrain that I heard many times at Pardes, began to sink in. When I walk in on a daily basis I feel that I am taking ownership over my tradition and heritage. Being able to live in Israel, learn from renowned teachers about Judaism, engage in prayer, contribute to my community, and have fun is the reason I am so happy at Pardes. I love the freedom to explore, ask questions and to challenge myself as I continue on this journey.”
Dammara Kovnats Hall is from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and received a BA in English and History from the University of Winnipeg and a BS in Childhood Education from the City College of New York. She has student taught at ten schools in the New York City area, including the Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan. Last year, she student taught at the Rodeph Sholom School in Manhattan. She was most recently a madricha for NFTY in Israel and is an active Moishe House Without Walls host. She is currently in her second year of the Pardes Educators Program pursuing a Masters in Jewish Education from the Hebrew College of Boston.
