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January 7, 2005/Tevet 26 5765, Vol. 57, No. 19
Pardes hires rabbi as new director
STEPHANIE HENSCHEL
Staff Writer
Pardes Jewish Day School recently hired Rabbi Erica Burech as the new assistant head of school and director of Jewish life.
Burech comes with a long list of accomplishments, including a three-year stint at Temple Beth Israel as director of religious education and pulpit work at Beth El Congregation in Phoenix and Temple Emanuel of Tempe, as well as other synagogues in Montana and California.
The board of the Jewish school had been thinking of bringing on a full-time rabbi to head the religious curriculum for some time. When Burech approached the school, the timing seemed to be right.
"Pardes Jewish Day School has a very strong program in Hebrew and Judaic education," said board president Ron Korn. The time had come to take the program up a level, he said.
Informal discussions began about three months ago regarding the hiring of Burech, Korn said. The formal decision was made in early December.
"I've always been intrigued with Jewish day schools," said Burech, particularly with the idea of immersion in the Jewish culture.
"The hiring of Rabbi Erica Burech as assistant head of school and director of Jewish life to oversee all aspects of the Judaic and Hebrew curriculum will strengthen the educational experience for all of the students at Pardes Jewish Day School," Jill Kessler, head of school, said in a press release issued Dec. 29. "Our students will have a wonderful role model in which to see the world through Jewish eyes."
Burech will continue her work at Temple Beth Israel until the end of the school year. She will then go to Israel for vacation before assuming her duties at Pardes on July 18.
"I'm sad that I'll be leaving Temple Beth Israel," Burech said, "but I'm happy I'm not going very far."
Pardes Jewish Day School is a partnership of five Valley synagogues: Temple Solel, Temple Chai, Temple Kol Ami, Temple Emanuel of Tempe and Temple Beth Israel.
The day school is located on the Temple Beth Israel campus at 10460 N. 56th St., Scottsdale. Call 480-991-9141.
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