Hillary Guttin
Shalom Temple Torat Yisrael families,
I am incredibly excited to be your new Director of Education for the Cohen Religious School! Hailing from South Florida, I grew up loving going to Junior Congregation and Hebrew School (even though I wasn't a traditional learner). I am a product of Camp Ramah Darom in Clayton, GA, attending there as a camper for all 8 summers, and spending three summers on staff. I also spent a summer on staff at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. I also spent a summer attending the BIMA Arts program at Brandeis University. It was through these Jewish camping experiences that I really solidified my Jewish identity with Jewish music and a love of finding alternative ways to connect to my Judaism. I spent all four years of my undergraduate career at Brandeis University, where I became incredibly involved with Hillel and Jewish a capella.
After graduation, I began working at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island as a development associate and fell in love with Rhode Island. I also accepted a teaching position at Temple Torat Yisrael, where I taught Jewish ethics and Hebrew. It was then that I realized how much I missed teaching and then began working at the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island as a Judaic Studies teacher for the upper grades. This year will be my 8th year there. While teaching there, I continued my studies with the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, where I learned how to design and develop curricula.
My philosophy in Jewish education stems from the fact that one's connection to Judaism as a whole is personal. There are many ways to connect, and it is up to us as educators and guides to help the next generation find their Jewish niche.
I look forward to working together with all of you to create an enriching experience at the Cohen School. I hope to bring in members of the global Jewish community that have found their Jewish connections in various ways other than education and rabbinical studies. I aim to shed light on the entire spectrum of Judaism and help our students foster a love and excitement about being Jewish.
I also hope to bring a love of the natural world into our school. Since moving to our family farm in North Scituate, I have connected deeply with the idea of self-sustainability. I have participated in the TEVA program at the Isabella Freedman Retreat Center, and during the COVID years have helped recreate a TEVA-esque experience for students both at Torat Yisrael and at my own homestead. I hope to bring more programs around gardening into the classroom, and bring the classroom outside as well.
I am excited to start school on September 10th, and look forward to meeting all of you and our fabulous students!
B’kavod,
Hillary Guttin