Tal Schechter

Biography
Tal, born Yonatan Tal Schechter, does not use his first name. He does not feel that it fits him. He is often thought of as "really Jewish," and that is the truth. He wants to make it clear however that this Jewishness stems from peoplehood and thus culture rather than from religiosity. He wears tzitzit and lays tefillin as an expression of this cultural expression.

Tal used to work at Sons of Zion Congregation in Holyoke, MA as their sole religious school teacher. He could not keep that up while on field study, so his successor Amir Fogel now does a fine job of it.

Tal is currently (2010S) on field study. He is working at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland. If you want to read about what he is up to, check out chromowhat.blogspot.com.

Tal wants to love everyone, so if you want to be loved by Tal do not be an asshole. It is pretty simple.

Tal is open to any questions about information reported here, so feel free to email tal@talsalespc.com

After graduating in May 2011, Tal accepted a job with Esio Water and Beverage selling the Esio Beverage System (a water cooler that can make beverages right from the cooler) in the Hartford, CT area.

He has also started a PC retail company called Tal Sales. The web site is www.TalSalesPC.com. He can get you the Apple, Toshiba, HP, and Lenovo computers you want at the prices you deserve. He gives very good deals for Hampshire students, staff, and faculty.

Academics
Tal is concentrating in science communication and ancient Jewish text scholarship. The first entails journalism, technical writing, and "science writing" (communicating science ideas for broad audiences) as well as podcasting, teaching and other communiques. Ancient Jewish text is pretty self-explanatory, and includes Bible, Talmud, Mishnah, and ancient Near Eastern texts. Tal is also really into spirituality, but does not intend to incorporate this into his studies at Hampshire.

Until January 10, 2009, Tal had never even considered that he might attend graduate school. As of that date, he has become more open to the idea.

2010S:

Field study. See above.

2009F:

NS-368 What is a Species

NS-121 TA for Human Biology

NS-200 Independent Study in Microbiology

OPRA-113 Aikido

EPEC Fascilitating: An academic look at the Mishnah: understanding an ancient text in its own timeframe (contact me if interested)

2009 Summer:

Conservative Yeshiva (Jerusalem)- Introduction to Talmud

Conservative Yeshiva (Jerusalem)- Mishnah

Conservative Yeshiva (Jerusalem)- Hasidut

2009S:

NS-221 Physiology

NS/CS-267 Bringing Astronomy Down to Earth

NS-293 Molecular Ecology

UMass HEB-396-1 Independent Study in Modern Hebrew Literature II

EPEC Digitising Hampshire

OPRA-113 Aikido

Private tutorial piano lessons

2009J:

EPEC Esperanto

2008F:

HACU-0119 Musical Beginnings

NS-0107 Sustainable Living

NS-0121 Human Biology

NS-0100 Independent Study in Introduction to Nutrition

OPRA-113 Aikido

2008S:

UMass-HEBREW-352 Rdgs Mod Hebrew II

NS-0120 Alternative Medicine

NS-0170 Kitchen Ecology

OPRA-0161 Bicycle Maintenance

SS-0210 Introductory Economics

OPRA-0113 Aikido

2008J

CS-108 Newswork

2007F

UMass-ECON-103 Intro to Microeconomics

IA-0111 Elementary Chinese I

IA-0151 Theatre of the Ear

HACU-137T Exploring the Divine Feminine

OPRA-0113 Aikido

OPRA-0120 T'ai Chi

2007 Summer:

Hebrew University (Jerusalem)- The 24 books of the bible

Hebrew University (Jerusalem)- The bible and the ancient near east

Community Involvement
Signer for SPICI- Students Promoting Israel Culture and Information, and Shamanism Studies

Writer for The Climax

National Board for J Street U