Ariela Dubler

Columbia law professor Ariela Dubler has been appointed as the new head of the Abraham Joshua Heschel School.

Ariela Dubler

Dubler, who is vice president of the school’s board, will succeed Roanna Shorofsky, at the helm of the liberal school that is considered one of New York’s leading Jewish educational institutions,

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Under Shorofsky’s tenure, Heschel expanded to include a high school and accommodate a body of 900 students.

“I am enormously enthusiastic and excited that Ariela has accepted the position as Head of School,” Shorofsky commented in the press release. “The Heschel community can look forward with confidence to her inspiring and engaging leadership.”

The decision comes after an eight-month long search process led by members of the board, administration, faculty and representatives of the Parents’ Association.

The school is notable for its pluralistic understanding of Judaism, which can be traced back to Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, a social activist whose humanist ideas greatly influenced the school’s mission.

“As Head of School, I will be the steadfast defender of the school’s unrelenting commitment to its mission, enabling the school’s children and adults to strive to reach their full potential as Jews, learners, teachers, and citizens of our larger world,” Dubler, whose three children attend the school, said in the press release,

She will begin her position as Head of School next July 1.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount