Oakland Hebrew Day School has appointed Rabbi Ari Leubitz as its next head of school, starting in August. Leubitz will replace Rabbi Yehudah Potok, who served since 2009.
Winner of a Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education, Leubitz currently serves as principal of the Shalhevet School, a Modern Orthodox high school in Los Angeles. He previously served as an assistant rabbi at B’nai David-Judea Congregation in west Los Angeles.
A 20-year-old Modern Orthodox K-8 school that has been located in the Oakland Hills for nine years, Oakland Hebrew Day School is accredited with the California Association of Indep-endent Schools and was recently awarded a Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education Challenge Award.
“This is a huge opportunity for the school,” said Dan Cohen, president of the OHDS board. “We have a proven track record of excellence … a nationally-recognized art program … [and] a strong financial foundation to build upon … And now we have a talented leader to take us into our third decade.”