18/19 July 2025, 23 Tamuz 5785

Joshua ben Perahiah used to say: get yourself a teacher, find yourself a friend and judge all persons with the scale weighted in their favour.

This line from Pirkei Avot is often quoted with good reason. One needs all three things. Someone who embodies these is John Rubinstein. I met John teaching Gideon Leibowitz his Bar Mitzvah portion. Gillian and David had spotted something in him and Gideon, after Jonty, was his first B’nei Mitzvah family. After this, he said he wouldn’t do any more; he was saving himself for his oldest grandson, Jacob, and teaching him his Torah. But I managed to persuade John. He taught Ruben (in fact all my children) and so far, there have been 80 B’nei Mitzvah who have passed through the school of John. This school involved rigorous Hebrew learning, which is permeated with discussions about football, athletics, Ancient Egypt – actually, anything the young person is interested in. When I listened to Rafael’s lessons, there was 70% sport and philosophy chat and 30% Torah but John still ensured he was utterly prepared because this special teacher has the agility to be interested too and to draw out every single child into the most special of friendships.

From B’nei Mitzvah tutoring, John agreed to lead on Hebrew teaching at Ivriah. For ten years, John has delighted the children with engaging lessons and copious Oreo cookies. He has become a legend of warmth, rigour and general brilliance for his pupils and fellow students. As he retires from Ivriah this Shabbat, he will be honoured and thanked as the legendary teacher that he is.

This week’s portion fits John’s legacy at FPS too. The daughters of Zelophechad are introduced in Parashat Pinchas. Their father has died, there are no male relatives and they don’t want everything to be lost. They petition Moses to inherit both the name and the possessions of inheritance. He is moved by the claim of the five sisters Machla, Noa, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah and so Hebrew law changes to one of [semi] equality around inheritance. John’s fierce and proud egalitarian principles have ensured there is utter parity, not only in learning, but in his connection with all his students. It has been a joy to behold.

Finally at the end of the parasha, Moses is anticipating his retirement. He wonders who will replace him so ‘God’s community may not be like sheep that have no shepherd’. We are working on John’s replacement at Ivriah and we will be as creative and mindful as we can as we fill his place.

Communities continue to grow and develop through cycles of leadership and so will we.

Chazak, Chazak, v’NitChazeik.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rebecca