For many years, Ida taught preschool at the Yeshivah of North Jersey in Bergen County—the same school her children attended. “Spending time with the preschoolers gave me many years of satisfaction,” she shares. After her children graduated and the pandemic brought new changes, she decided it was time for a new chapter.

Rediscovering a Passion for Jewish Studies

Jewish learning had always been part of Ida’s life, but her true passion—Jewish history—resurfaced in mid-life. “When I was contemplating leaving preschool teaching, I began considering a Master’s in Holocaust Studies,” she recalls. “It was a big step after being out of school for 25 years.” She took the plunge and graduated in May 2023 with a master’s degree in Holocaust Studies.

After completing her graduate degree, Ida realized she wanted to continue learning. The accessibility of Zoom made joining Touro’s Graduate School of Jewish Studies (GSJS) an easy and meaningful choice.

“Touro’s GSJS is a high-caliber program with professors who are genuine scholars and lovely human beings,” she says. “They’re passionate about their subjects, and that motivates me even more to come to class. The readings are fascinating, the lectures engaging—the school is truly a gem that I feel lucky to have discovered.”

Most of Ida’s courses have focused on Jewish history, though she has also explored Jewish philosophy. “I especially enjoyed Dean Sokol’s course on Medieval Jewish Philosophy,” she notes. “It was enlightening to see how Maimonides was such an innovative thinker compared to both Jewish and non-Jewish scholars of his era.”

She also credits Professor Sherman’s courses on American Jewish History and Professor Natalya Aleksium’s class on The Holocaust in Local Jewish Communities with deepening her understanding of Jewish life across time and place. “It was eye-opening to learn how the Nazis’ methods, while mostly similar, were still customized to the specific Jewish populations in different towns.”

For Ida, choosing Touro was about more than academics—it was about alignment with her values. “At Touro, I don’t have to compromise on quality or values. The professors live what they teach—Judaism isn’t just a subject, it’s their life.”

She adds that the warmth she remembered from her undergraduate days still permeates the institution: “Even though Touro has grown by leaps and bounds, it’s still a warm and inviting place.”

With a smile, Ida jokes, “Can I say I’ve been at Touro since 1989?” After all, she began her undergraduate studies that year and returned in 2023 to continue her learning journey. “As long as Touro keeps offering stimulating courses—and they don’t kick me out—I plan to hang around. It’s a happy, intellectually inspiring place to be.”

An Unforgettable Experience Abroad

In 2024, Ida and her husband joined a Touro study abroad course to Northern Italy—a trip she describes as “the experience of a lifetime.”

“We traveled with about 90 other Touro students and faculty, exploring Jewish history across Italy, visiting beautiful towns, and even seeing general sites like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We enjoyed amazing lectures, meaningful Shabbos experiences, and wonderful food. Thinking about it still brings a huge smile to my face. Thank you, Touro!”