We delight in presenting a rotating brief profile of a different member of the Park East community. 

Rabbi Mendy Shuchat
Judaic Studies teacher, middle school 

Park East celebrates Jewish identity and tradition “from generation to generation.” What’s the most important lesson you learned from your parents or grandparents?
My father had a profound impact on me through his passion for studying and teaching Talmud. He shared that passion with my siblings and me; my first job was teaching in his school in Venezuela. 

What is your proudest accomplishment?
After a lesson I gave about the meaning of Chanukah, a student approached me and asked where she could get a Chanukah candles kit. Later, she shared with me that her family lit them in their home for the first time this year. It feels incredibly meaningful that because of our class, another light has been lit and another home has been brightened. 

If you could share a meal with any four individuals, living or dead, who would they be?
I would like to gain a wide perspective of our history and destiny, so I would choose Moses from the biblical times, Maimonides from the Middle Ages, the Lubavitcher Rebbe from the recent century, and my wife. 

What’s your favorite place in New York City?
Home. I enjoy my work, but I love being home with my family. They’re my anchor. 

What’s your favorite inspirational quote?
“The soul is literally a part of G‑d” (Tanya Ch. 2)