Posted on 04/18/21
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 18, 2021 - Just a few minutes ago, TA sent the following email:
Dear TA Parents and Friends,
It is with great excitement that after a thorough search process which began almost a year and a half ago, we proudly announce the appointment of Rabbi Dovid Sass as Menahel, and our own Rabbi Hillel Hexter as Associate Menahel of TA’s Lower School beginning this coming school year, 2021-2022.
Rabbi Sass is a talmid of Mir Yerushalyim where he learned under Harav Nissan Kaplan, shlit”a, and Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, where he learned and received semichah from Harav Ahron Shechter, shlit”a. For the past 15 years, Rabbi Sass has been based at Menorah Academy in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, first as a rebbi and Vice Principal, and for the last 7 years, serving as Head of School. He earned a Master’s of Education from Azrieli Institute at Yeshiva University, completed the Art of Leadership Institute at Harvard University, and received certification from the Principal Training Institute of the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools, as well as the New York City Leadership Academy. Rabbi Sass is highly regarded by peers and colleagues, and is well-known in chinuch circles across North America. We are confident that Rabbi Sass’ natural warmth and friendly personality, together with his professionalism, passion for chinuch, and leadership style, make him an excellent fit to follow in the footsteps of Rabbi Kahana, and assume the mantel of leadership in our Lower School.
As you know, Rabbi Hexter has been serving in the capacity of part-time Assistant Menahel of TA’s Lower School for several years, in addition to his role as a second grade rebbi. He has proven himself as a strong administrator whose keen understanding of talmidim, chinuch, school management and programming has added both qualitatively and quantitatively to the success of the Lower School. As full time Associate Menahel, Rabbi Hexter’s role and responsibilities will be expanded and enhanced, working alongside the rest of the leadership team of Rabbi Sass, Mrs. Berzon and Mrs. Rosen.
Throughout the search process, almost a dozen experienced and talented candidates from across North America were vetted and interviewed by the search committee. The appointment of Rabbi Sass as Menahel and Rabbi Hexter as Associate Menahel was made with the strong and unanimous recommendation of both the search committee and the Vaad Hachinuch. We look forward to introducing Rabbi Sass to the parent body in the near future.
Rabbi Kahana has been at the helm of our Lower School for over three decades, and his legacy will continue to live on in TA. His love, warmth, and concern for every single talmid under his care is legendary. The thousands of TA students who have passed through his care have been impacted for life, and we, together with the entire TA family are forever grateful. Rabbi Kahana will be available in an advisory and transitional role to ensure that the new administrative team can be as successful as possible.
We want to express our deep appreciation to the hard-working search committee members who saw this process through to the end. We would be remiss if we did not mention the contributions of Rebbetzin Dr. Aviva Weisbord, A”H, to the search process. While she was unfortunately not with us to the completion of the search, her wisdom and clarity remained a guiding force for the committee members who often contemplated what she would think and say during their deliberations.
We share with you our hopes and tefilos that this next era of TA, which builds upon the decades of success of our Yeshiva, continues to inspire and mold our talmidim into Bnei Torah and Erlicheh Yidden, who will iy”H take their proper place among and make great contributions to Klal Yisrael. May Hashem continue to bless our beloved TA and its leadership, administration, faculty members, students and families with Siyata Dishmaya and may we continue to see nachas from all of our talmidim.
Peretz Wertenteil
Chairman of the Board
Shlomo Spetner
Chairman, Vaad Hachinuch