Alumni Profile

Contact the Darche Noam Office for the name of alumni in your area.

Featured Alumni - Rabbi Tuvia and Ariella Hoffman

(from the Pesach 5769 Newsletter - read it as a pdf file)

Life is a stage and we are all actors, the saying goes. But for Darché Noam alumnus Tuvia Hoffman,the stage truly was his life.

This highly accomplished actor founded his own professional theatre company and wrote and produced a wide variety of highly acclaimed plays in the U.S. Looking for a change of scenery, Tuvia came to Israel and began studying at Shapell’s in 1994. Three years and three memorable Purim Shpiels later, fellow Darché Noam students Daniel and Yael Aldrich introduced him to Ariella, who was then learning at Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya. After the couple married,Tuvia continued his advanced Torah studies in Jerusalem and Ramat Beit Shemesh, while working as “Techno-Rebbe,” answering thousands of questions through a popular online “Ask the Rabbi” column.

This highly accomplished actor founded his own professional theatre company and wrote and produced a wide variety of highly acclaimed plays in the U.S.

Darché Noam alumni Tuvia and Ariella Hoffman with their three daughters, Bayla and Gila (now ages 8 and 7, respectively), who were born during their time in Israel, and 2-year-old Naomi.

Looking for a change of scenery, Tuvia came to Israel and began studying at Shapell’s in 1994. Three years and three memorable Purim Shpiels later, fellow Darché Noam students Daniel and Yael Aldrich introduced him to Ariella, who was then learning at Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya. After the couple married,Tuvia continued his advanced Torah studies in Jerusalem and Ramat Beit Shemesh, while working as “Techno-Rebbe,” answering thousands of questions through a popular online “Ask the Rabbi” column.

Today, Tuvia and Ariella together play an integral role in helping young unaffiliated Jews explore their Jewish roots at the Jewish Experience in Montreal. The innovative programs they have launched are geared toward young professionals and college students.

The couple’s carefully choreographed schedules must balance teaching commitments, meetings, classes, hands-on community involvement, and their ever-important kiruv work. The drama also continues at home,with three young daughters and a household famous for its constant bustle of activities and Shabbos tables brimming with guests from every walk of Jewish life.

In this setting, they have encouraged many of their students to participate in Darché Noam’s Pathways Israel program, an Israel experience for college students and young professionals interested in deepening their connection with Israel, Jews, and Judaism.
“Tuvia and Ariella are such a terrific team,”notes Rabbi Anthony Manning, Director of Pathways Israel. “Their complementary natures are friendly and outgoing, gentle and dynamic, making their many guests and students feel welcome and at ease. They have sent students on most of the Pathways trips we’ve run so far. In fact, this summer’s July trip will be comprised mostly of their students from Montreal.”