מחנכת

In the Israeli school system, each class has a מחנכת (a teacher similar to a homeroom teacher).

They don’t always teach you a lot of subjects, but they plan a lot of activities, class bonding exercises, and they look out after you. It is kind of like having a parent at school.

The word מחנכת (literal translation is educator), can also be used as a verb לחנך (to educate), in addition to being a noun.

You get to know your מחנכת better than any other teacher. They teach your חינוך (education) class which is basically like advisory, as well as a few other classes. Alexandra’s מחנכת taught her Halacha, חינוך, and ספרות/literature (she also taught my class literature). My מחנכת taught me חינוך, Tanach, and Halacha.

I think this concept of having a מחנכת is super practical. It is especially important when you are staring a new school. Our מחנכות (plural of מחנכת) were super helpful in assisting us and helping us deal with the lifestyle of Israeli school.

I certainly adapted to having a מחנכת this past year, and I know it would have been much harder to get through the year without our מכנכות.

-Naomi