Rabbi Matthew Bellas Rockville MD – It is with profound sadness and a deep sense of loss that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Rabbi Matthew Bellas, z’l, a beloved husband, father, educator, and community leader. Rabbi Bellas passed away on December 28, 2024, leaving behind a legacy that has touched the hearts of many across the Vancouver Torah Tots (VTT) community, as well as communities across the continent.
His contributions as a trailblazer in Jewish education, his passion for teaching, and his unshakeable commitment to his family and his faith will forever remain in our hearts. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Oksana, and his children Yaakov (Class of 2011), Maya, and Aliza, whose lives were enriched by his love, guidance, and devotion. The Bellas family was a cherished part of the VTT community during his tenure, and the loss of Rabbi Bellas is felt deeply by all who knew him.
Rabbi Bellas was born and raised in Vancouver, a city he loved and where he would go on to make a profound impact. His childhood was marked by a deep curiosity about the world around him, and this was evident early on in his academic and personal life. He attended St. George’s School, a prestigious institution in Vancouver, where he not only excelled academically but also made history. In a groundbreaking move for the time, Rabbi Bellas became the first student at St. George’s to openly wear a kippah.
This was a testament to his courage, his commitment to his faith, and his willingness to stand up for his values, even when it was not the norm. As a young man, Rabbi Bellas felt a calling to the rabbinate, and this calling led him to pursue his studies in both Jewish learning and education. He later became an ordained conservative rabbi and earned a Masters of Education. With his combination of religious insight and educational expertise, Rabbi Bellas was poised to inspire generations of students, families, and educators alike.
In 2008, Rabbi Bellas returned to his hometown of Vancouver to take on the role of Rabbi and Jewish Studies Teacher at Vancouver Torah Tots (VTT). For the next several years, he would leave an indelible mark on the school and the broader community. His work as a teacher and mentor extended beyond the classroom walls and into the lives of his students and their families. Rabbi Bellas was deeply passionate about integrating Jewish learning into all aspects of life. His teaching philosophy was one that recognized the interconnectedness of the “three silos” of Jewish life—school, shul, and home—and he worked tirelessly to bridge these worlds for his students.
He believed that Jewish education was most powerful when it was holistic, when it linked the sacred with the everyday, and when it included not just academic learning but also the joy and meaning of Jewish traditions. One of Rabbi Bellas’s hallmarks was his unwavering commitment to attending his students’ bar and bat mitzvahs. It didn’t matter which synagogue the event took place in—rain or shine, he would make the journey from his home near Fraser and 49th on foot to celebrate with his students and their families.
He understood that a bar or bat mitzvah was not just a rite of passage but an event that bound a child to their faith, their family, and their community. His presence at these milestones was a reflection of his dedication and his love for his students, and it became a cherished tradition for many families at VTT. Beyond these personal connections, Rabbi Bellas was an innovative and creative educator who brought fresh ideas to the classroom. His curriculum was anything but conventional.
One of his more memorable assignments involved analyzing Michael Jackson’s lyrics through the lens of Jewish teachings, prompting his students to explore how Jewish values and pop culture intersect. In collaboration with colleagues Elana Jacobson and Keri Smith, Rabbi Bellas was instrumental in reimagining the lyrics of classic songs by artists like The Beatles and ABBA, transforming them into meaningful and fun pieces for VTT’s annual Hanukkah concerts. This type of creative engagement was long before the era of artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, but Rabbi Bellas’s ability to blend tradition with innovation was ahead of its time.
Rabbi Bellas was not just a teacher—he was a leader. In 2014, he was appointed Lower School Principal at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Maryland, a position he held with distinction. While the geographical distance between Vancouver and Maryland separated him from his VTT family, his heart remained with those he had taught and mentored for years. He maintained close connections with his VTT colleagues and friends, relationships that he cherished and nurtured throughout his life. His leadership style was marked by his warmth, his ability to inspire, and his unwavering commitment to the growth and development of his students.
As a school leader, Rabbi Bellas was known for his thoughtful and reflective approach to challenges. His leadership was rooted in empathy, always striving to support his colleagues, students, and their families through any situation. He was deeply committed to fostering an environment of respect, collaboration, and joy in learning. His ability to engage both children and adults in meaningful ways made him a beloved figure in the schools he served.
Rabbi Bellas’s leadership extended beyond the classroom and school walls. His thoughtful and inspiring D’var Torahs, shared with the VTT community and Congregation Beth Israel, left lasting impressions on those who heard them. These D’var Torahs were not only an expression of his deep scholarship but also his ability to connect Jewish teachings to the lives of his audience. He once wrote, reflecting on difficult conversations with children:
“Therefore, when it comes to this or any other ‘controversial’ subject in the upbringing of our children, be sure not only to inform them of the potential consequences and share an opinion, but also make an attempt to ground it in the depth of the Jewish perspective.
That is what the experience of a Jewish day school education is all about, after all.” In addition to his work as an educator and leader, Rabbi Bellas had a wide range of personal interests that brought joy and enrichment to his life. He was an enthusiastic collector and builder of Lego creations, a lifelong fan of Scrabble, and an avid traveler. His love of world travel was fueled by his curiosity about other cultures and his desire to experience the beauty and diversity of the world. He shared these interests with his family, making memories and experiences that would last a lifetime.
Rabbi Bellas’s sense of humor was one of his defining qualities. He could always be counted on to lighten the mood with a joke or a witty remark, bringing smiles to the faces of all who were around him. His warmth and kindness, combined with his sense of humor, made him not only an exceptional rabbi and educator but also a cherished friend to many. His ability to connect with others, regardless of age or background, made him a beloved figure in the Vancouver and broader Jewish communities. Rabbi Bellas’s legacy is not simply one of educational excellence—it is a legacy of love, dedication, and unwavering faith.
He touched the lives of hundreds of students, colleagues, and families, leaving an indelible mark on the Jewish community. His approach to Jewish education was grounded in the belief that education is not just about imparting knowledge, but about fostering a deep, meaningful connection to one’s heritage, faith, and community. He believed that each student was unique and deserving of the highest level of care, respect, and support. His legacy lives on in the hundreds of students whose lives he enriched and the countless colleagues who were inspired by his dedication, creativity, and kindness.
Rabbi Bellas’s memory will continue to inspire those who were fortunate enough to know him. His contributions to VTT, the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, and the broader Jewish community will never be forgotten. He leaves behind a world that is better, richer, and more connected because of his work. May his memory be a blessing, and may his family find comfort in knowing that his life touched so many, leaving a profound and lasting impact.