Torah Academy is delighted to welcome Rabbi Yehoshua and Mrs. Batsheva Bratt to our school and community. The Bratts relocated from Lakewood, NJ, this summer with their three young children and quickly settled into Boston life, beginning the school year with energy and enthusiasm.
Rabbi Bratt: Sixth Grade Rebbe
Rabbi Bratt joins our faculty as the sixth-grade boys’ rebbi. A Brooklyn native, he learned at the Talmudic Academy of Philadelphia, spent a year in Israel, and continued at Beis Medresh Govoha in Lakewood for eight years. To prepare for the classroom, he completed Aish Dos, a Torah U’Mesorah program which empowers aspiring Rebbeim through a comprehensive six-month program designed to equip serious, passionate yungerleit with everything needed to enter chinuch. Additionally, Rabbi Bratt benefited from a virtual course by Rabbi Avrohom Anisfeld, a renowned mechanech and former principal, focusing on effective teaching and classroom management.
Though he jokingly refers to this as his “rookie year,” Rabbi Bratt feels strongly supported. “Rabbi Ochs, the menahel, was very giving of his time and connected me with experienced mentors. The rebbeim work together as a true team, learning from one another. There’s a real camaraderie.”
What excites him most about teaching sixth grade? “At this age, students are maturing into future members of the kehilla. They can push themselves and are starting to reason. It’s a pleasure to connect with them in meaningful ways.”
Mrs. Bratt: Teaching and Student Support
Mrs. Batsheva Bratt brings a decade of teaching experience from kindergarten through elementary school, in both limudei kodesh and general studies. Growing up in a home of renowned mechanchim, she always knew she wanted to be an educator. After earning her degree in education and a license in special education, she taught classes ranging from kindergarten through middle school.
At Torah Academy, she teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math, and also assists with kriyah support, using her special education background to help identify and address student needs. Over the summer, she worked with the preschool team to strengthen the kindergarten Aleph-Bais curriculum. “Awareness is key,” she explains. “Knowing what is underlying the behavior we are see, allows teachers to address it properly.”
Embracing Community Life
The Bratts have felt warmly welcomed in Boston. When moving day stretched late into the night, a family quickly opened their home so they could get a restful start. The family also received several home-cooked meals, including one thoughtfully timed for the first day of school. That spirit of community inspired Mrs. Bratt to host a neighborhood “Brachos Party” in memory of a loved one. The goodies were, in part, prepared by students, many of whom volunteered their time to help out. “We feel part of a bigger picture,” says Mrs. Bratt. “Boston is a great place to grow and raise our children.”
The school also helped ease the transition. As Rabbi Bratt noted, “The three biggest hurdles when moving are jobs, housing, and schools. Torah Academy helped us with all of that.” Both Rabbi and Mrs. Bratt are part of the TA staff; their family is settled in a home in the heart of the frum community thanks to the TA Housing Initiative, and their children are thriving in TA’s preschool and new daycare.
The Bratts are excited for the year ahead, grateful to be part of a school and community where, in their words, “everyone matters, and everyone makes a difference.”