Comments and Feedback: What others are saying...
Educator Seminars
"It is no small feat to keep an audience of mechanchim hanging on to your every word for over an hour. We congratulate you and thank you for presenting an engaging, enlightening and entertaining session at our recent Torah Umesorah National Leadership convention. Your presentation reflected a great deal of preparation on your part, and a wealth of expertise in your field, which you so poignantly and successfully conveyed to your audience."
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Rabbi Joshua Fishman, Executive Vice President, Torah Umesorah, and Rabbi Shea Ryback, National Leadership Convention Coordinator, following a session relating to methodology in teaching Jewish History at the Torah Umesorah 2003 National Leadership Convention, Catskill, NY |
"It was a pleasure working with Rabbi Hoff. He enthusiastically entered into discussions on how to integrate his interests and abilities into the overall program, was generous with his time and energy, and eager to have his workshops assessed. I look forward to future opportunities to include him as a member of a CAJE Conference faculty."
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Mr. David Frank, Director of Conferences, CAJE, New York City, commenting on my involvement at the CAJE 2005 Day School Conference |
“Your web resources presentation at the CAJE day school conference in June 2005 was thoroughly researched, well structured, and rich in internet resources and educational links. I learned a lot about how educators can engage—and challenge—students with computer based lessons, webquests, and other online resources. You are passionate about the benefits of using the web but clear-eyed and realistic about its pitfalls and limitations. Thank you for giving us such a balanced view of the online world.”
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Ms. Terry Kaye, Vice President and Director of Educational Services, Behrman House Publishers, Inc, Springfield, New Jersey, following a session on utilizing web resources for Limudei Kodesh instruction at the CAJE 2005 Day School Conference |
"I wanted to thank you again for all the web presentations you've done for the Center over the years. Besides being informative and very articulate, you presented innovative ideas and approaches to deal with real classroom challenges. It is very difficult to keep participants engaged when using an online platform, but the educators thoroughly enjoyed your sessions, found them valuable and were eager to implement your suggestions"
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Ms. Chana German, Lookstein.org executive coordinator, following a series of internet sessions given on behalf of the Lookstein Resource Center of Bar Ilan University |
"Your oral testing presentation was informative, illustrative, and well-articulated. You "walked" us through the process, step-by-step, providing insights and challenges that are relevant at any given stage. The sound educational and methodological basis of the innovative program as an additional modality of testing student achievement and comprehension was firmly established."
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Rabbi Shmuel Kurtz, Talmud Department Chair, Ida Crown Jewish Academy, commenting on an oral testing presentation delivered to the ICJA faculty, December 2003 |
"I very much enjoyed hearing your ideas about teaching Jewish history and integrating computer technology into the curriculum. I examined the online material which you created and must compliment you on your effort - I am overwhelmed! Wishing much success!"
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Rabbi Shlomo Rosen, Educator, Ida Crown Jewish Academy, Chicago, IL |
"On behalf of the JWIT team I thank you for a wonderful, informative and upbeat presentation today at the JWIT. The participants all enjoyed it and were inspired by your work. I think you made a good case for how important it is for them to continue using their new skills as soon as they ‘graduate’ from JWIT so that they do not lose the wealth of resources and skills they are acquiring here daily."
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Mrs. Tamar Friedman, Associate Director, Judaic Web Institute for Teachers, Chicago, IL in response to a session delivered at JWIT, Chicago, IL, June 2005 |
“Thank you so much. The feedback we got was terrific, and your professionalism is greatly appreciated.”
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Rabbi Menachem Linzer, Assistant Principal, Judaic Studies, SAR Academy, Riverdale, NY, in reference to a session on utilizing web resources for Limudei Kodesh instruction for SAR Judaic and general studies teachers |
"Thank you for presenting at the (BJE) in-service conference... The high quality of your presentations insured that every participant had a meaningful and worthwhile experience. We greatly appreciate your contribution to the success of the day."
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Rabbi Ellis Bloch, Director, Department of Yeshivot and Day Schools, BJE of Greater New York, commenting on sessions offered for the BJE at its December 2005 in-service |
"Just a note to let that your workshop certainly sparked the interest of our staff members who, already on the next day, were implementing the ideas you discussed in their classrooms. It is also interesting to note that at our faculty meeting in February the issues you discussed were very prominent on our agenda... What's important is that the excitement does not stop there, and that fresh ideas continue to be part of a teacher's planning throughout the year. Thank you so much for sharing so many wonderful tips with our faculty. Hatzlacha!"
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Mrs. Susha Alperowitz, Principal, Judaic Studies, Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy, Orange, CT, following joint faculty sessions on the topics of differentiated instruction and strategies for student success, delivered January 2006 |
"Just a little note to thank you for the class. It was an eye opener into the many ways of testing. I also had no real knowledge of rubrics before, which I now hope to use in designing my tests. Have a kesiva v'chasima tova."
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Rabbi Daniel Lapp, participant, Torah Umesorah School of Jewish Education course on assessments, Brooklyn, NY, summer 2007 |
"Your presentation was both interesting and full of valuable information for the classroom teacher. The amount of time you must have put into the preparation was evident. Thank you!"
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Mrs. Rivka Schecter, Teacher, Yeshiva Shearis Yisroel, Chicago, IL, following a November 2007 faculty in-service on the topic of multiple intelligences |
"Rabbi Hoff, it was a pleasure to meet and work with you. First, I want to thank you for contributing to a wonderful afternoon. We had extremely positive feedback for your sessions and I appreciate and applaud you for meeting our many and various educational needs. Thank you very much for all your preparations; the handouts, the concrete strategies and examples, and your comprehensive and thorough presentations. The second session especially received all excellent reviews! Congratulations on a job well done."
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Mrs. Ellen Maiseloff, Associate Director, Special Education, Alliance for Jewish Education, Detroit, MI, regarding sessions delivered in November 2007 on the topics of strategies for student success and cooperative learning |
Delivered Lectures
"I wanted to thank you for addressing the young men and women at our Yarchei Kallah. The Torah that you shared had a tremendous impact, and they wrote in their evaluations how much they appreciated it... Thanks again for participating."
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Rabbi Micah Greenland, Regional Director, NCSY Midwest Mesorah Region, commenting on a talk given at the Winter Yarchei Kallah in February 2004, in Lincolnwood, IL |
"I wanted to thank and commend you for the outstanding presentation you made for our 7th and 8th grades. You wealth of knowledge and information, your enthusiasm, your clear delivery, your amazing conclusions and applications of Jewish history lessons to our own reality—were all communicated clearly to the students, and even though it was a high-school level shiur, you managed to raise their thinking, engage and captivate them. May you continue to enrich young Jewish people with lessons and treasures of old and increase their Jewish scholarship and commitment."
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Mrs. Tamar Friedman, Judaic Studies Principal, Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School, Skokie, IL, after a presentation to Hillel Torah students in March 2005 |
"I want to thank you so much for your insightful and inspiring presentation during our Rashi Night... Your presentation was a true tribute to Rashi's style. It was intriguing, informative and concise, and all done with an intellectual flourish... In addition, the passion you carry for Torah and Jewish learning was evident in your words and in your delivery... May you continue to make your trademark, deep impact on audiences everywhere, and may you continue to spread the love of Torah among K'lal Yisrael."
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Rabbi Yaacov Dvorin, Principal, Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School, Skokie, IL, writing in appreciation of a lecture entitled "The Purpose and Methods of Rashi's Commentaries", delivered at Hillel Torah's "Rashi Night", November 2005 |
"A special twilight program on Rashi's commentaries was offered by Rabbi Naphtali Hoff of Chicago, whose visit to New York gave us an opportunity to offer docents a unique educational experience. Even though they were notified only a few days in advance, docents and their guests filled every seat in the chapel at the Center for Jewish History. Rabbi Hoff’s program on Rashi was outstanding."
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From the Fall 2007 newsletter of the Yeshiva University Museum, following a July 2007 presentation to museum directors and docents |
"Thank you very much for giving the lecture. The feedback was tremendous. I am sorry I was not able to attend, but I learned a lot just from reading the source sheet. We will certainly be in touch."
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Dr. Noam Stadlan, Educational Coordinator, Congregation Or Torah, Skokie, IL, following an adult lecture entitled, "Taking Purim Out of the Box", delivered March 2008 |
On Webquests
"I tip my kipah to you and your boundless energy. The webquest is a thing of beauty and I can't figure out how you got it together so well so fast."
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Rabbi Daniel Isaacs, Educator, ASHAR, Monsey, NY |