RTA’s New Educational Research Implementation Specialist and Coach and Ivrit and Judaic Studies Education

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Michal Junger to RTA–Richmond Hebrew Day School!

Dr. Junger brings a remarkable breadth of experience in education, research, and leadership across Israel and the Jewish world. Concurrent with her role at RTA, she is conducting research at Brandeis University on second language acquisition in Hebrew.

She will also be supporting professional development and peer coaching as part of our school’s strategic plan.

Q: Can you share a brief overview of your professional background and areas of expertise?

 As a multidisciplinary professional, I’ve worked in a wide range of roles and systems. In recent years, I’ve focused on my greatest passion—bridging research and practice in innovative education, Jewish education, and the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora.

I’ve taught in formal settings in Israel, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong, and over the past six years, I’ve provided pedagogical guidance for innovative teaching in dozens of schools in Israel. My research centers on Jewish education and agency of change among teachers.

Q: What is your philosophy of education, and how do you see it shaping your work at RTA?

I believe education must come from passion and love—passion for inquiry and knowledge, and love for the Jewish people, the Land of Israel, and our shared culture and identity. I see our role as educators as helping students prepare for a changing world through skills-based learning that emphasizes creative thinking, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration.

I value multidisciplinary work and team teaching, and I believe that education should deeply connect students to their Jewish identity through culture, values, and historical memory. These beliefs will guide both my classroom teaching and informal educational work at RTA.

Q: What is your vision for Ivrit and Jewish History instruction at RTA?

Jewish history should be a transformative force—strengthening identity and connecting students to the incredible story of our people. I teach the full arc of Jewish history, beginning with Abraham and continuing through the Exodus from Egypt, the revelation at Mount Sinai, the settlement in the Land of Israel, the construction and destruction of the Temples, the exile, and the flourishing of Jewish thought during the medieval period in both Sephardic and Ashkenazi communities.

This comprehensive approach continues through the revolutionary movements of the Haskalah and Hasidism, the birth of Zionism through Herzl's vision, the tragedy of the Holocaust, the miraculous establishment of the State of Israel, and contemporary Jewish life.

Rather than approaching history as merely an academic subject, I view it as essential for building pride, belonging, and unbreakable bonds to the Jewish people, the Land of Israel, and our heritage. Working specifically with middle school students, I recognize that at this pivotal age, connection to our collective story becomes essential for developing a stable, confident Jewish identity that can sustain them throughout their lives.

Through engaging storytelling, interactive discussions, and meaningful exploration of our shared heritage, students discover how they are part of an unbroken chain of Jewish experience that stretches across continents and centuries. My goal is to graduate students who don't just know Jewish history, but who see themselves as active, proud participants in its ongoing story.

My Hebrew language instruction complements this foundation by using immersive Hebrew-in-Hebrew methodology that bridges biblical and modern Hebrew. Students experience Hebrew as a living language, discovering how the same language of King David is still spoken in modern Israel.

Through systematic yet experiential lessons that progress from basic communication to textual analysis, students develop fluency while engaging with Jewish texts and Israeli literature—making Hebrew their key to accessing both ancient wisdom and modern Jewish life.

Q: Tell us a little about your family and what drew you to this shlichut.

 I’m married to Shmuel, and we have four children—Naveh (12), Tal (9), Avigail (8), and Nitzan (6). We’re all looking forward to joining the warm and welcoming Richmond community. We’re excited to bring the spirit of Israel and to learn from the rich history and experience that the community has to offer.

We’re eager to grow together with the RTA family.