“It is difficult to describe the impact that Mrs. Vim had on the Middle School and our students,” said Rabbi Frohlich, Principal of the Middle School. “Whether it was teaching Chumash or Ivrit, she was a teacher’s teacher. Mrs. Vim created our Ivrit curriculum from scratch, using her creative genius to design interactive and exciting games that brought Ivrit to life for the girls.”
One vivid example:
You could walk into her classroom and see a student standing at the front
wearing a headband with a Hebrew word attached – visible to her peers but not
to herself. She would speak only in Hebrew, asking her classmates questions and
using their answers as clues until she guessed the word (a variation of the
game Headbands).
Mrs. Vim infused
every lesson with energy and excitement, making it truly memorable. After her petirah, students shared how, even years
later, they still find themselves singing her original songs during davening.
One eighth-grade student remarked, “The learning I did with Mrs. Vim actually became
part of me.”
Mrs. Vim
constantly thought outside the box to engage every single student. Whether it
was challenging a student to an arm wrestle or throwing a class party for a
student who took the initiative to speak in Hebrew, every student mattered to
her. As she once told Rabbi Frohlich, “There is no such thing as a ‘problem
student.’ I want those students in my class.”
She taught her
students that “I can’t” didn’t exist. She held high expectations because she
believed deeply in their potential. Her unwavering belief in her students inspired
them to believe in themselves. This message was at the core of her teaching and
how she lived her life.
* * *
Mrs. Esther Rivka Weiner, a sixth-grade
teacher, shared:
“I celebrated the simcha
of the birth of a daughter shortly after moving to Baltimore. Now, 20 years
later, I don’t remember much about that kiddush – except for the deep
feeling of joy and value I felt when Rochel made the walk across town with
Chedva to celebrate with me.
“Rochel understood
that for learning to come alive and stick, it had to connect emotionally with
the students. She knew that each year, her classes would be different, and she worked
to stay current with what was relevant in their world. Yet, she never lost
sight of the ultimate goal – to help each student reach potential she didn’t
know she had.
“Rochel felt an achrayus
to each student – to strengthen every part of her. She cared as much for her
social well-being as she did for her academics. Rochel was a mevakesh emes
– a seeker of truth – and stayed on that path even when an easier route
presented itself.”
* * *
Mrs. Judy Zapinsky, a Middle School science and
English teacher, reflected:
“Mrs. Vim was
always ready to learn – even outside her own subject. We had many grammar
discussions, and she kept me on my toes. From asking about ‘verbal nouns’
(which I knew as gerunds) to debating the usage of ‘besides’ rather than
‘besides for,’ and our shared aversion to words like ‘firstly’ and ‘lastly’ – our
conversations were always enriching. I will miss them.”
* * *
Mrs. Chanita Felder, an Upper Middle School Student
Coordinator, shared:
“Mrs. Vim firmly
believed in her students’ capabilities. If I ever questioned whether a student
could meet the rigor of her class, she would reassure me: ‘I know this student.
She can do it.’ When needed, she made accommodations, but her expectations remained
clear. She worked closely with parents, encouraging extra review at home,
always confident that effort would bring results.
“By the end of the
year, students were amazed at how much they had learned. They felt honored to
have been part of her class. She taught them so much, managed the class so
well, and inspired them with her belief in them. She is sorely missed.”
* * *
Mrs. Gitty Feldman, a fellow Ivrit teacher, shared:
“One of the many
things I learned from Mrs. Vim was to really understand the needs of each
student and plan lessons based on that. That’s how we connect to them. I once
asked her why she didn’t just compile her materials into a book to make things
easier. She answered, ‘I always need to update the lesson activities and
PowerPoints based on what interests the girls.’ Each year, she added new ideas
and removed those that no longer resonated with the students.”
* * *
Another teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, shared:
“One of Mrs. Vim’s
mantras was ‘…ki ein leHashem matzor – for nothing can
hinder Hashem.” She lived with a simple, unwavering emunah.
“Years ago, when
Chedva was critically ill, Mrs. Vim shared how the nurse told her she was the
only person who could pull Chedva back to life. Mrs. Vim described how she davened
like never before – and baruch Hashem, she succeeded.
“More recently, I
told her that I came to work to change lives. She responded, thoughtfully, ‘I
think the only person you can really change is yourself.’
“She was my go-to
for dikduk and Ivrit questions, especially when teaching Chumash. She
was a high-level educator who made sure to accommodate students with learning
disabilities – who, under her care, rose to the challenge.”
* * *
Mrs. Debby Camhi, a new teacher
mentored by Mrs. Vim, shared:
“I learned how to
be a teacher from Mrs. Vim. She took me by the hand, like a mother helping her
child take their first steps. During my first year, I was struggling with
classroom management. She came to observe for five minutes and afterward
whispered, ‘Can you call me at 5:00 so we can talk?’ When I asked how the class
went, she smiled and said, ‘Your class was a mess...’ then added, placing her
hand on my shoulder, ‘but in my first year, my class was worse. You’re off to a
good start – you’ll get there.’
“That moment
showed me how deeply she cared, how she could gently point out mistakes and
guide you through them. That was the first of many 5 p.m. calls.”
* * *
Mrs. Rochelle Goldberg, eighth-grade
English teacher and Yearbook Director, shared:
“Mrs. Rochel Vim, a”h, was one of the most remarkable
people I’ve ever known. As a master Ivrit teacher, she didn’t just teach
language – she inspired a deep love for Ivrit and Torah. But beyond the
classroom, it was her warmth, strength, and boundless energy that stood out.
I’ll never forget being on her Machanaim team during Lag B’Omer events.
She played like an Olympic athlete, bringing the same passion to the field as
she did to her teaching.
“Even during her
illness, she showed incredible courage. She kept showing up for her students,
always smiling, always giving. Her selflessness and strength were a lesson in
how to live with dignity and faith.
“She poured her
heart into her students without ever compromising the love and dedication she
gave her own family. The way she raised her special needs child – with dignity,
patience, and deep emunah – was a powerful expression of her values. At
the shiva, I was moved by her daughter Aliza’s admiration and pride in
her mother’s devotion to Bais Yaakov and to her family.”
* * *
Loved by her
students, admired by her colleagues, and cherished by her family, Mrs. Vim’s
passing is a profound loss – to Bais Yaakov, to our community, and to all who
knew her.”
