Amit Barson began her career teaching Hebrew as a second language over 24 years ago in Chicago, while at the same time studying photography and journalism at the College of DuPage. In addition, she worked as a photojournalist at the Daily Herald. Upon returning to Israel, she worked as an investigative reporter for the “Peace Now” movement.

Amit arrived in Santa Cruz with her husband and three daughters about 20 years ago and continued to teach at various congregations and Jewish schools throughout Silicon Valley. She currently teaches at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos, Congregation Shir Hadash in Los Gatos and Beged Kefet.

Throughout her Hebrew teaching career, Amit has participated in numerous pedagogical training sessions. One of the most important was a two-year training in the “Ness” program, which focused on providing teachers with the skills necessary to successfully work with children with special needs.

Beyond that, up until the COVID-19 pandemic, Amit was one of the pillars in the Bay Area flamenco community, acting as an organizer of flamenco events and participating as a flamenco dancer. By virtue of her training as a photographer, she has worked in lighting design for flamenco shows in theaters all over the United States. Areas of interest in which she invests her free time in are sculpture making, guitar playing, singing, political activity and philosophy.