Itzik Eshel, Director of Education, is celebrating his twenty-third year as a Jewish educational director. Before coming to Temple Emanuel in 2000, he served as a teacher, head teacher, and principal in day schools, supplementary schools, and synagogue-based educational settings nationwide. 

Educated in both Israel and the United States, Itzik started his career as a geographer, urban planner, and transportation specialist. After a few years in the United States, however, he fell in love  with Jewish education and hasn’t looked back since.  At Temple Emanuel, his primary goal is to create a vibrant community of learners and he has initiated cutting-edge programs that reach out to the community at large.

Itzik is also very involved in regional and national Jewish communities. Itzik was elected to the board of the National Association of Temple Educators (NATE), the primary organization for Jewish educational directors nationwide. At NATE, he is in charge of assessing new member applications and establishing qualifications for membership.

Along with his work in Jewish education, Itzik has authored and edited many books, mostly on the geography of Israel and the Middle East. He recently worked with Behrman House on a series of textbooks about Israel, and is currently coordinating all the maps in a book about Jewish history by eminent historian Dr. Jonathan Sarna.

Itzik is married to Ronit, a school psychologist, and is the proud father of Neir, a medical student, and Inbal, a speech therapist. 

E-mail: Itzik.Eshel@TempleEmanuelmd.org