As the Boston area’s pluralistic Jewish high school, Gann drew strong interest from attendees of the 2025 Prizmah conference eager to tour the campus and experience its unique approach to education. Over two days, nearly 40 educators and administrators from around the world explored Gann, engaging with students in real-time learning.
Following the visit, Gann received this letter of gratitude from Elliott Rabin, PhD, Director of Thought Leadership at Prizmah. We were honored to host Elliott and our other guests and share what makes Gann so special.
Dear Dr. Hochman,
Yesterday’s trip to see Gann was truly incredible and an amazing capstone experience to the conference. Right from the get-go, when you picked up the microphone and prepared us like an Israeli tour bus guide, you made us feel so welcome, informed and excited. Your introduction helped us to understand Gann’s history, its place in Boston’s Jewish community, its successes and challenges, and plans moving forward. When we arrived, we already had a strong context in which to place what we learned and saw on site. Personally, I remember reading about Gann when it was in its planning phase in the 90s and being excited about its conception. I finally got my chance to see it in its glory some 30 years later.
Starting us with your a cappella group absolutely took our breath away. The talent and raw emotion that we felt gave us a great feeling for the school’s neshamah. We also got a strong sense from the ways that David Ball conveyed his initial and ongoing love for the place and Rabbi Dena Glasgow shared the vision for Jewish studies. That feeling of “wow,” which we felt immediately upon entering the Beit Midrash space, continued unabated throughout the two hour tour of the facility. The robotics room, art space and kiln, STEM room with whirring 3D printers, the black box theatre space, on and on, everything is so thoughtfully and beautifully designed.
But what impressed me the most was experiencing the classes in action. Hearing the teachers describe their courses and the class topic, watching how naturally and confidently students engaged, rose to explain and answer questions, seeing their genuine passion for Jewish and secular learning, was incredibly inspiring. The warmth and connection between faculty and students was patently clear. I especially enjoyed watching the activity performed in the class on comedy, how the students bravely stepped up to participate, how the teacher paused when the students laughed to reflect upon a principle of comedy that they had studied, and that they could immediately identify. How fun!
The look on people’s faces as we boarded the bus back to the hotel said it all. We were all in awe of your school and filled with gratitude for your willingness to share Gann with us.
With much appreciation,
Elliott
Elliott Rabin, PhD
Director of Thought Leadership, Prizmah
