The Teacher He Never Had

Disappointed with his own education of well-meaning but distant and formal teachers—many of whom had survived the Holocaust—Rabbi Kurz decided he would become the teacher he wished he had.

In 2018, he was already a full-time rabbi when he was hired at a yeshiva for boys in Queens, to teach math and science to seventh and eighth graders.

“When I interviewed there, they asked me, ‘Why would you want to be a seventh grade rebbe/teacher? You know you have to go to every Bar Mitzvah,’” Rabbi Kurz recalls, laughing. “I told them, ’That’s exactly what I want. I want to be an active participant in these students’ lives.’” He happily dances and speaks at some 30 Bar Mitzvahs every year. “I have a relationship with these kids,” he says. “It’s beautiful.”

During COVID, Rabbi Kurz decided the way to become an even better teacher was to once again become a student.

He was accepted to Touro’s Graduate School of Education, where he learned mentorship and leadership, with classes on organization and communication.

“I learned how to properly structure a lesson for all the students. I was able to transmit these skills to the teachers through our professional development classes. I learned a bit about educational psychology, and how to better understand students and identify their specific needs. I am now able to work with students who are struggling in class behaviorally or educationally. I can guide them to reach their goals and potential,” says Rabbi Kurz.

He took most of the classes online and appreciated the flexibility—as well as the kindness and expertise of his teachers. He learned the latest teaching methods and was thrilled to find that his way of teaching lined up the educational theories and practices.

One professor taught students how to manage a classroom full of students. In another, Rabbi Kurz learned to make new teaching tools, including designing websites, taking photos and putting them online.

One unforgettable moment came when an assistant professor of Jewish Childhood Education and Special Education brought his grown son, who has Tourette syndrome and is now married with children, to class. “It showed that kids who struggle with education can succeed and be amazing at everything they do,” recalls a clearly moved Rabbi Kurz.

He also gained knowledge into helping special needs and neurodivergent students. “In my classroom, every year, at least two students have ADHD,” he says. “I can now diversify my lessons for those kids without having to just send them to the resource room or write them off.”

Upon graduation in 2024, Rabbi Kurz received quite a career boost. He is now the Secular Studies principal at a private Jewish high school in Kew Gardens, Queens. He has created a curriculum for the students that ensures they receive college credits for their classes.

“I never would have been able to become a principal without my degree from Touro, since a master’s degree is a prerequisite for this position and besides, what I learned in the program prepared me for this leadership role,” Rabbi Kurz says.

No matter the job, Rabbi Kurz believes that a great education can be had only with an interpersonal touch. “In the long run, if you come out of school happy, you’re going to be functional and want to learn more,” he says. “A kid who feels good, does good!”