If we were to try to sketch a general profile of the Melton Master's students, it would be an impossible task. They come from vastly diverse contexts and follow very different paths. Although they share a passion for education and an interest in enhancing their professional training in this field, the reasons that bring each of them to study towards a Master's degree are varied, as is the impact of the experience in each of their lives.

Every year the Hebrew University of Jerusalem publishes a Dean's List of students who are recognized for excellence in their studies, based on their grades.  This year, 33 students enrolled in the School of Education were selected for this honor, twelve of them participants in the Master's program with a specialization in Jewish Education. Among those selected, one student is chosen to receive the Rector's Prize, and this year the recipient is Dikla Kafka. We interviewed her with a view to sharing her story and her interesting journey, which includes a variety of educational backgrounds and areas of interest, expertise and work.

Tell us about your journey so far and how it relates to Jewish education?

I grew up in Tel Aviv, Israel, in a very secular family: no synagogue, no prayers, nothing like that. I studied at an art school. My life’s aspiration was to be a musician, I played the violin; nothing related to Jewish Education or even education in general. Later on, in my twenties, my life’s journey changed direction a little when I became a journalist and an editor. I worked for Israeli newspapers for almost 10 years and had two kids.

And then, while I was a journalist for Haaretz newspaper, I was asked by a liberal Beit Midrash in Israel if I would like to study there. They were looking for influencers, journalists, attorneys, people who worked for the government and didn't have much access to Jewish texts to come and study with them. So they gave me a scholarship and I studied there for a few years. It was my first time exploring Jewish texts; the first time I was ever exposed to the Talmud.

By then, I had a Master’s degree from Tel Aviv University in Political Science. I was well educated, but with no access at all to Jewish Education.

In my early 30s, I moved to the US, to Seattle. I opened a yoga studio and joined an orchestra to play the violin. And what I found, after two years of living here (we are talking about more than 10 years ago), was that the thing I missed the most was opening a page of Talmud and studying with other people. I wasn't sure what to do with this lack, and I couldn't find any organization that did what I wanted to do, at least not here in Seattle.

So what I did was to open a Beit Midrash here for secular Israelis like myself, most of whom had never opened a Gemara. I started studying with them. I was the leader of the Beit Midrash, not because I had the knowledge, but just because I created it. So we started studying together. Since then I have taken on an official capacity in many of the educational activities I’m busy with. I'm working for a private Jewish school. I’m more involved in Jewish education projects. Nowadays, I’m a board member for Limmud Seattle organization.

You have had a very interesting journey so far, especially in terms of the variety of spaces that are part of your professional life, mostly not related specifically to Jewish education.

Yes! I’m still playing violin in the orchestra, I still have a yoga studio where I train teachers. And, by the way, I learned many skills and tools to educate teachers  through studying the courses. Because it is a Master’s in education, not only in Jewish Education. Many people may think that this program is oriented only to people who come from the field of Jewish Education, but that’s not the case. They integrate Jewish content.

Why did you choose the Melton Center to study towards your Master’s?

First of all, I chose it because the option of studying at a university like the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, which is an amazing institution, online, is a great opportunity. More specifically, I really loved the variety and the way we studied. I felt like it fit me. I think this program allowed me to explore different paths that I’m planning to engage in more deeply later on. For example, some of the courses helped me to teach at a book club for Israelis that live here.

What has the impact of this experience been in your life?

I always thought I only wanted to teach adults; I never believed I was able to teach kids, I didn’t think I had the tools. And after one of the courses we took at the Melton Center, where they took us step by step through teaching kids some specific content, I was asked by a private elementary school to teach Jewish texts. I’m confident to lead that now because of the course at the program. I am sad that it is going to end.

You have been recognized with the Rector’s Prize, so first of all, congratulations. Second, what do you think made you stand out as a Master’s student?

Just the love for the content we were studying. I never felt like I made an extra effort. I enjoyed it. Most of the time the articles and bibliography in general made me want to read more and deepen my knowledge about it. It really was a joy.