Forgive Us Our Trespasses tells your personal story as the only Jewish person teaching in a Catholic school and shares memorable moments as well as your experiences with anti-Semitism. Why was this an important book for you to write?

Originally, I wasn’t going to try to have the book published. It was just going to be a documentation of my experiences to pass down to my children. I was encouraged by the publisher, the main student in the book, and my husband to share the story on a widespread basis. I believe that it is a story people from all walks of life can learn from. And it sends a positive message about diversity and inclusion in the world.

What is a common misconception you feel people have about teachers and teaching?

A common misconception I think people have about teachers and teaching is that they don’t realize the incredible amount of hours teachers put in to the job that they most likely aren’t even getting paid for. Most teachers teach because they love our children and want to make a difference in their lives. Instead, parents are often at odds with the teacher and don’t realize the teacher has the child’s best interest at heart. When I meet with any of my children’s teachers, I always say to them, “Thank you for teaching my child.”

I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?

I hope one thing the reader takes away from the book is that we should not hold preconceived notions about any person or group of people. Instead, we should get to know them. And we should educate our children to do the same.

What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you first started teaching?

The one piece of advice someone could have given me when I first started teaching was to make sure that I carve out time for myself because it’s easy to work around the clock and become all-consumed with your work.

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