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Student Profile: Marc Leventhal, Master of Arts in Jewish Studies
Marc Leventhal loves to study about Judaism. His route to formalized Jewish education at the graduate level may have been circuitous, but he is quite pleased with the experience. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and law degree from New York University, Marc practiced law for 22 years, both in the United States and Israel. While he was in Israel, in addition to practicing law, he was a part-time law professor. “While I was relatively proud of and satisfied by my accomplishments, remaining based in the legal establishment was never satisfying enough,” he says. When Marc moved to Jacksonville, Florida, he continued to teach law on the university level. Marc found his calling, though, when he began to teach Bible, Talmud and Hebrew to adults and youth in the Jacksonville area. His depth of insight into Judaism, acquired through his passionate pursuit of lifelong learning, opened the doors to a very satisfying second career as a Judaic studies teacher – an obvious choice for someone passionate about both Judaism and teaching. Marc’s level of Jewish knowledge was so advanced that he did not need another credential to gain a position as a Jewish educator. He has taught in a number of Jewish educational venues: Solomon Schechter Day School, the community Hebrew high school, a congregational religious school, as well as teaching informal adult education classes. He shares with his students his knowledge of Talmud, Bible, Hebrew language, liturgy, Jewish history, Holocaust studies and Jewish values. “I feel the need among our Jewish youth so strongly… that I know I am now doing what I was always meant to be doing,” says Marc. Marc brings many talents to his teaching including fluent Hebrew and a delight for transmitting Jewish values. He has soaked up Jewish knowledge throughout his life. Formal graduate education in Jewish Studies was “the logical and almost imperative next step” for this lifelong learner. As a candidate for the Master of Arts degree in Jewish Studies at Gratz Online, Marc could not be happier. “As far as Gratz is concerned, I have received everything in terms of Jewish education and socialization I had hoped for: top flight instructors who are thoroughly committed and caring online courses in which we have to reveal more of our thought processes than in any other kind of course…the intensity of such concentrated focus provides an interaction among students and professor which is previously unknown in my education.” Marc is not quite sure where his path will lead next. “As far as future plans, I never thought I would be saying this as a 56-year-old student and grandfather, but as I near the end of my studies for my master’s, I have begun to harbor thoughts of a Ph.D. in Jewish studies, for which I await for someone to talk me out of such fantasy.“ |
