When Gerald Barkan spent six months in Israel as a college student in 1968, he met retired Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and was impressed by his articulate vision of the state.
Now, as the new head of campus at Brandeis-Hillel Day School in Marin, Barkan has an opportunity to carry out his vision for Jewish education.
“The day school is one of the key players helping to define what issues of Judaism have meaning in an everyday context. If the ’80s proved that materialism was not sufficient, in the ’90s how do we find meaning in Judaism?” he asked.
To answer that question, Barkan, who began Aug. 3, wants to place more emphasis on Jewish ethics as a guideline for private and public life. The school is working on a program to teach what is appropriate speech and how one deals with issues of gossip.
“Jews have a unique way of framing the debate on ethics,” said Barkan, 50. “When students are told there are core values our sages have been working on for nearly 4,000 years, it is a bit stronger of an argument than what someone thought of last Tuesday.”
Barkan will be replacing Kaki Tusler, who served as interim head for two years.
Having worked for more than 17 years in public schools, Barkan has a solid background on the role education plays in the community. Brandeis Hillel, which also has a campus in San Francisco, attracted him because “it is integrally tied to community, which means it’s part of something bigger,” he said.
Located on the Jewish community campus in San Rafael, the Marin day school serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. When school opens Monday, Barkan expects an enrollment of about 170 students. The middle-school students begin the year with a three-day retreat at Camp Cazadero in Sonoma County.
He hopes to strengthen the school’s math and science program as well as educational opportunities for students with special learning needs. He also stressed that the school should be best in those subjects it is uniquely qualified to teach, Hebrew and Judaic studies.
Becoming part of a successfully run school, Barkan said that “one of the joys is in thinking about how to focus. We do not need a major overhaul. I’m here to bring in additional perspective, experience and expertise and make sure things go smoothly.”
Henry Schreibman, head of school for the two Brandeis Hillel Day Schools, said he was was struck by Barkan’s resume and personality. “He has an incredible background in general and Jewish studies. He is quite an accomplished educator for children with learning-style differences. He has a joy for learning and long and good experience in Jewish day schools.”
Born in Tucson, Ariz., Barkan spent 38 years there growing up, then as a student and finally as an education professional. For 10 years, he headed the gifted and talented program for Tucson’s public schools. Two years ago, he moved to Southern California to become principal of Tarbut V’Torah, a sixth- to 12th grade school in Irvine.
Barkan, who now lives in San Rafael, sees his new appointment as “a marriage of two of my passions. I am an educator because I want to be, and I’m passionately Jewish,” he said.
“It is absolutely wonderful to me to be working in the Jewish world. It is also nice not to have to apologize why I’m taking off Jewish holidays.”
While “hands-on” learning is a hot topic in schools, according to Barkan, such tangible, personal teaching styles are old traditions in Jewish education.
“You talk about holistic learning — Judaism has always appealed on an emotional level,” he said. “Our school should teach the significance of that and make that come alive so the kids see the world through a broader vision.”
Barkan is not the only new face at the day school. Rachel Jacoby-Rosenfield joined this month as the new head of Judaic studies.
The day school also has six new board members: Barry Cohn, Barbara Freeman, Dan Lavin, Rabbi Sydney Mintz, Dr. Monica Penner and Linda Valenzuela-Schireson.