The Joseph Markovitz High School prides itself on helping each student reach their full potential. Every student is awarded the opportunity to be themselves and feel good about who they are. Our students form a community of bnei and bnot Torah, embodying Torah values that we hope will guide them in making good decisions both today and into their adult years. We offer an individualized schedule for each student that allows them to take courses of interest, at their level, and with unparalleled faculty instruction.
“Mevakshim” means to “ask for more” — it is a track for our students who are most eager to learn Torah beyond the limits of our regular curriculum. Mevakshim students commit to learning in one of our three learning locations (Miami Beach, Surfside and North Miami Beach) twice a week, outside of regular school hours, and participate in weekly “lunch-and-learns” of their choosing during our lunch breaks. Mevakshim get other perks as well like a yearly Mevakshim Shabbaton in New York, special Mevakshim catered lunches, and Mevakshim Swag.
RISE has become a key effort in our broader campaign at Hebrew Academy to raise the level of respectful, connective communication between students-and-students through student conceived and run programs for peers to think about and talk about how they communicate on- and off-line.
Each year, 9th to 12th-grade students can join our Student Government program by applying and campaigning for class representative roles. They learn about the election process and the value of listening to constituents. Throughout the year, Student Government members collaborate with the Activities Director to organize school events, holiday programs, fundraisers, and community service activities.
Giving back is a cornerstone of life at Hebrew Academy. Throughout high school, students participate in meaningful chesed opportunities, including volunteering with Friendship Circle, visiting children in the hospital, serving at local shelters, and preparing Mishloach Manot for families in need. These experiences inspire compassion, strengthen our community, and help students develop a lifelong commitment to helping others.
YUNMUN gives students the opportunity to develop leadership, diplomacy, and public speaking skills through Model United Nations. Working together to research global issues, represent countries, and debate real-world challenges, students learn to think critically, collaborate effectively, and confidently engage with complex international topics while competing alongside students from schools around the world.
The “Friday Tisch ” is a way of bringing in the Shabbat ruach early into Hebrew Academy with singing, insightful divrei Torah presented by a rotating cast of teachers and students, and a pre-Shabbos cholent to add the perfect finishing touch to the celebration.
In the fall of 10th grade, boys and girls split up for our popular separate gender “Glamping” trips (where the girls’ trip is more “Glam” than “Camping”). It’s an opportunity for bonding that can’t be achieved in the hustle and bustle of Miami in the routine of school.
The Senior Send-Off Trip is our way to finish high school on a high note of class unity, spirituality, and fun. In the past, Senior Send-Off has taken the graduating class to Montana and Peru to help provide the soon-to-be graduates with a broader perspective on Torah, the world and themselves while they are still together with their rabbis, teachers, and friends they grew up with.
The 11th Grade Israel Journey is an opportunity for the whole class to get an upgrade, a social upgrade to make new friends in the class, an educational upgrade to better understand the history, ideology, and politics of Zionism and the Jewish State, and a spiritual upgrade to experience what Israel means to Judaism and what Judaism means to Israel. The trip is intentionally placed at the beginning of 11th grade to formally introduce the idea of taking a gap year in Israel to study in yeshiva and seminary or serve in the army. Part of the trip is a “Yeshiva & Seminary Day” that includes visits to some of the most popular yeshivas and seminaries that our alumni attend.
The 9th and 11th Grade Shabbatons are vital opportunities for Warriors to forge new friendships, get off campus and be in nature, and participate in team building while learning and growing through the kedusha of Shabbat.
The Warrior Word is an online newspaper entirely run by high school students. Each week, our team of passionate student journalists writes and publishes new articles, covering a variety of topics that matter to our school community. From school events and student accomplishments to broader issues and creative works, Warrior Word provides a platform for student voices to be heard.
Mrs. Kaltman has more than 14 years of experience in a broad range of educational leadership positions, including those of assistant principal, principal, and business administrator. Most recently, Mrs. Kaltman has served as the School Business Administrator and Assistant Principal at North Atlanta High School in the Atlanta, Georgia public school system. Mrs. Kaltman has a Master of Arts degree in Educational Studies from Emory University, a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Florida, and completed the Educational Leadership Endorsement Program at Kennesaw State University. In addition, she is completing an additional certification in Educational Leadership by the State of Florida.
Rabbi Jack Cohen will collaborate closely with the Judaic faculty of the Upper School, and will be a source of outreach to the community at large.
Previosuly, Rabbi Cohen served as the Director of Education for Olami in North America, training new teachers, coaching and consulting for veteran educators, writing curriculums and overseeing the development and deployment of innovative educational technologies. Prior to this, he was the Director of Education and Senior Educator for Meor Manhattan, teaching large and small groups, and overseeing an ecosystem of transformative educational programs for young people living in the city. Rabbi Cohen is also the co-author of Nurture their Nature: The Torah’s Essential Guidance for Parents and Teachers published in 2021 by Mosaic Press.
Rabbi Cohen’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was honored with the graduation address in front of 13,000 in attendance. Rabbi Cohen then spent six years learning in Israel in Machon Yaakov, Nesivos Aharon, Mir Yeshiva, and Yad Saadia Kollel. He became a close student of Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld, founder and director of Meor, and prolific author and speaker, Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein. He received his Semicha from Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg zt”l. Rabbi Cohen also completed a Master’s Degree in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Reena Rabovsky serves as the Director of Student Support at Hebrew Academy, where she is dedicated to helping every child reach their academic and social emotional potential. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Judaic Studies from Hebrew Theological College and her Master’s degree in School Psychology from Queens College.
Reena began her career at Hebrew Academy as the Elementary School Psychologist, working closely with students, parents, and teachers to foster students’ social-emotional growth and overall well-being. Her passion for supporting children and collaborating with families and educators led her to her current role as Director of Student Support. Today, Reena oversees the school’s academic support services and social-emotional programs, ensuring that each student receives the individualized support they need to thrive. She is passionate about creating an inclusive learning environment where every child feels valued, supported, and empowered to achieve success.
