On February 23, RPRY President Tova Renna announced that after a months-long search process, which involved a well regarded search firm and numerous opportunities for public input, the school’s board of governors had selected Rabbi Michael Ribalt as the new head of school.

Renna’s email outlined the rabbi’s impressive range of experience: “Rabbi Ribalt has been at the Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) since 2016, where he is assistant principal of Judaic studies, heading
the elementary division grades 1-5, and focusing on curriculum planning in grades K-8. Among his accomplishments at YCQ, Rabbi Ribalt increased the ruach in the school with weekly lunch ruach programs, introduced exciting trips and programs, and instituted Shabbat table parsha contests. He also coached and mentored many faculty members and created a Kriah Department focusing on constructing individualized experiences for students to improve their fluency and reading accuracy.

“Prior to working at YCQ, Rabbi Ribalt was the middle school director of curriculum & instruction and educational advancement & technology at Manhattan Day School (MDS). He has also taught middle school and high school classes at SAR. At both MDS and SAR, Rabbi Ribalt worked to advance the respective yeshivot’s use of educational technology.”

Renna’s email shared, as well, that Rabbi Ribalt is a graduate of Yeshiva University. He pursued advanced rabbinical studies at YU for three years and then earned semicha Yoreh Yoreh from Yeshiva Madreigas HaAdam under Rabbi Faskowitz. He has an M.S. in Jewish education from the Azrieli Graduate School, a certificate in leadership and administration from YU, and a certificate in the art of leadership from Harvard University’s Principal Center. He is currently pursuing his Ed.D. at Franklin University in education, focusing on educational instructional design and leadership.

Rabbi Ribalt is no stranger to New Jersey, as he lives in Clifton, with his wife, Rivka, and their four children.

In an interview with The Jewish Link, Rabbi Ribalt shared his passion for Jewish education and the ideals that motivated him to pursue this new role. Asked what excites him about joining RPRY, he said, “RPRY is a vital community institution, which instills a love of Torah and a commitment to medinat Yisrael in its students,” he said. “The values of the school excite me, because what RPRY stands for is precisely what I stand for.”

Prompted to share the strengths of the school, Rabbi Ribalt quickly listed “the dedicated faculty, the chen (favor) and warmth of the school, its coherent sense of values, and the numerous community members who take so much time to help the students and create the foundation for the future generation.”

He looks forward to contributing his own skills, which he identified as “my experiences in perpetuating ruach, instilling a love for and strong connection to Torah and mitzvot, building a strong curriculum with standards, data and assessments, and my drive to engage diverse learners, as well as my passion for integrating the latest capabilities in educational technology.”

Asked of his impressions of the Highland Park/Edison and East Brunswick communities, Rabbi Ribalt said: “I got the strong impression of communities that care deeply for their religious institutions and treat each other with respect. I personally was greeted warmly, welcomed and accepted. I found that the communities in Middlesex County have both some of the richness of life in towns near New York City while also preserving some aspects of small-town life.”

Judging from the response of faculty and community members to the announcement, it appears that the rabbi’s hiring has sparked a great deal of enthusiasm.

“I am excited about Rabbi Ribalt joining RPRY as our new head of school,” said Debbie Wasserman, fourth grade general studies teacher. “I am really optimistic and hopeful about the enthusiasm that he will bring to the school. I look forward to working with Rabbi Ribalt to make RPRY an even better place for all of our children.”

“Rabbi Ribalt is an old friend whose knowledge of, passion for, and dedication to Jewish education are truly impressive,” said Rabbi Meir Lipschitz, director of special initiatives and third grade rebbi at RPRY. “I have no doubt that he will be successful as our new head of school, and I look forward to working with him.”

“After a very thorough process, including realistic simulations of yeshiva life and much input from the yeshiva community, the search committee unanimously recommended Rabbi Michael Ribalt to RPRY’s Board of Governors,” said Brondy Strassman, co-chair of the search committee. “Rabbi Ribalt meets the yeshiva’s needs today and is well prepared to build on RPRY’s rich legacy, its unwavering mission and its core values. His educational background, his experience and his personal warmth make him a good fit for RPRY.”

“I am delighted to learn about the hiring of Rabbi Ribalt,” said Rabbi Joshua Hess, rav of the Young Israel of East Brunswick. “During my conversation with him, I was impressed with his preparedness, experience and approachability. His clarity of vision without compromising on the day-to-day grind of running a school has my full support. I look forward to working together with Rabbi Ribalt to strengthen RPRY and the East Brunswick Jewish community.”

“From our first conversation with Rabbi Ribalt, through his visit at RPRY in January and after, Rabbi Ribalt has been very warm and engaging with all of our students, faculty, administration, parents and community members,” said Tova Renna, president of the school. “His successful implementation of so many programs in his previous roles, in educational enhancements as well as building an exciting school environment, give me great excitement for all that Rabbi Ribalt will bring to RPRY.”

Rabbi Ribalt will officially begin his work as head of school in July. To formally introduce him to the community, the school’s board of governors invites everyone to an event on Motzei Shabbat March 12, featuring a mishmar followed by a concert with Dovid Pearlman, accompanied by RPRY alumnus Seth Maza on keyboards and the Avi Maza Orchestra.

In sharing the news of their new head of school, RPRY leaders were also clear in their hakarat hatov to Rabbi Daniel Loew, the departing head of school. “Rabbi Loew has continued to reinforce and advance academic excellence within our yeshiva, making us stronger over the last six years,” said Renna. “Under his leadership, RPRY strengthened the school across multiple areas, including academic innovations, strategic and fiscal planning, and overall advancement of the yeshiva’s mission. We thank Rabbi Loew for his leadership and incredible dedication to RPRY and wish him much hatzlacha as he heads into the next stage of his career.”

By Harry Glazer