Marion Hirschmann

Rhythms, Dilemmas
Boca Raton, Florida

Driven to Teach by Her Own Thirst for Knowledge

Marion with her husband Ezra
Marion with her daughters Nical (left) and Gabi (right)

If Marion Hirschmann could be granted just one wish it would be to interview Maimonides. "He was a man who had such an incredibly broad and profound range of study and intelligence that I am awed by his knowledge and wisdom," she says.

Describing herself as a "lifelong learner," Marion originally contacted the Mini-School director in Boca Raton to find out more about participating as a student. However, with a background that included a Masters degree in Hebrew Literature and Judaic Studies she was offered the opportunity to teach instead. So, having previously taught Jewish teenagers, she made the jump to adult Jewish education and has been teaching at the Mini-School for the last eight years.

"I wanted to be involved in Jewish learning and teaching as a way of life and I thought that the Mini-School curriculum was really wonderful. It is accessible to prospective students who have varying degrees of knowledge and is capable of accommodating them all," she explains. Usually, the Boca Raton Mini-School also includes a significant number of senior citizens who come to Florida for the winter and who have already spent time learning at the Mini-School in their home town.

Marion finds that teaching a diverse student population keeps her on her toes. "The greatest challenge is ensuring that I allow the students the dignity of making up their own minds in relation to text interpretation and understanding of topics. It is OK for them to disagree with me or their fellow students, or, indeed, with the texts, " she says.

In addition to her Melton responsibilities, Marion is also currently Chairperson of the Adult Education Commission of South Palm Beach County, an agency of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County and teaches adult education classes in Hebrew reading and ulpan, as well as numerous Elderhostel classes.

Boca Raton Mini-School Director Mimi Selzer describes Marion as the consummate Melton instructor. "She has a unique ability to bond with adult students of all ages as she imparts her wisdom and life experience. Her teaching goes beyond the classroom as she communicates with her students on a regular basis via e-mail, sending them witticisms and answering their many questions," she says.

In fact, one of Marion's teaching tricks is to inject a little humor into the classroom. "It often gives them a 'hook' to hang onto when recalling or retrieving learnt material," she says of her students. Silence is another tool. "Sometimes when I pose a challenging question to the class and do not get a response, I allow the silence to let them process their thoughts."

The daughter of European Jews who were deeply affected by the Holocaust, Marion grew up in a traditionally Orthodox Jewish home in South Africa and Zimbabwe. As an adult, she also lived in Israel and London. She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Ezra, for 30 years and they have two daughters, the elder of whom is following in her mother's footsteps as a Jewish educator. Florence Melton, who spends the winter months in Boca Raton, was among the guests at her wedding in February. "We were blessed that Florence Melton was able to join in the wedding festivities," says Marion.

One source of great satisfaction for Marion is watching her students grow through their experience in the classroom. "One of the most remarkable ways that they change is in their commitment to Jewish life. I am delighted to see how involved our students have become and the delight that they have in sharing these experiences with their friends and family," she says.

"Teaching adults gives rise to a marvelous dynamic which enables the student to apply his or her past life experience to a vast range of related topics and issues. The interaction is often a learning experience for me, the teacher," she explains.

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