Beth Am Temple Taps Longtime Educator for Principal's Role

Karen Herskowitz and teaching go hand-in-hand. Proof of that is her tenure of more than 20 years at Beth Am Temple’s Religious School and the start of her 31st year in the Clarkstown School District in September.

“Teaching is my passion,” says Herskowitz. “I absolutely love it! The expression of a student understanding something or making a connection for the first time is truly priceless.”

Rabbi Daniel Pernick says her attitude made her an obvious choice to take on the dual role of Religious School teacher and principal.

“The Religious School Committee felt having someone as intimately connected with our school as a long-time teacher would be beneficial in helping to rebuild our enrollment,” he explains. “Karen Herskowitz brings the warmth and the wisdom that we want in the person who will run our school.”

The West Nyack resident has taught first, second, third, fourth, and seventh graders over the years at the Reform temple in Pearl River. With enrollment for pre-k through Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Hebrew high school still in progress, she has not determined what grade she will teach when classes begin on September 12th.

At Felix Festa Middle School in West Nyack, she currently teaches sixth grade English. Previously, Herskowitz taught kindergarten, first, second, fourth, and fifth grades at two of the district’s elementary schools.

She welcomes the addition of the principal’s duties and will divide her time between teaching and overseeing the school’s operation. Herskowitz will continue to follow the teaching philosophy of her predecessor that learning should be fun. It will be her guide along with the education program’s goal of preparing children to be Jewish adults filled with a love and pride of being Jewish.

Herskowitz, who has been a member of Beth Am Temple for more than two decades, finds the atmosphere in the building welcoming and comforting, and wants students to feel the same way.

“Our Religious School is a place for them to ask questions, learn a great deal and forge new Jewish friendships,” she emphasizes.

Herskowitz plans for each grade to lead two Shabbat services a year. These services will be in addition to the two all-grades Shabbat services currently held during the school year. One of her goals is to see the Religious School expand its student enrollment.

Herskowitz and her husband, Michael, also a teacher, have two children, Jacob and Sara. When not teaching or with her family, the avid runner can be found jogging along the streets of her hometown.

A brand new scholarship program will enable the first 20 religious school students enrolled in first, second and third grade to receive a scholarship equal to half of the member's tuition rate, whether or not the family is a Beth Am Temple member. Third grade students are also eligible; however, Temple membership is required. The kindergarten class is free.

Religious school begins on Wednesday, September 12. More information about registration is available online at http://www.bethamtemple.org/religious-school-k-8/, by calling 845-735-5858, ext. 105 or emailing: info@bethamtemple.org.

Beth Am Temple is a Reform temple, which embraces tradition and draws its congregation from throughout Rockland County and northern Bergen County, NJ. It is located at 60 East Madison Ave in Pearl River, NY. Its website is www.bethamtemple.org.