Jewish Education Innovation Challenge

We're excited to share the compelling story of Hillel Day School of Detroit’s four-year partnership with HEBREW AT THE CENTER in the spring edition of "The DEEP Dive." This partnership demonstrates how strategic High-Quality Professional Development can transform Hebrew language education. Key achievements: ? Implementation of comprehensive curriculum mapping ? Standardization of teaching techniques across grade levels ? Enhanced student engagement and learning outcomes ? Successful faculty development and adaptation This collaboration showcases the power of dedicated educational partnerships in creating sustainable, effective language learning programs. Our success story features insights from school leadership, faculty, and Hebrew at the Center specialists, offering a multi-perspective view of educational transformation in action. Interested in learning more about our approach to Hebrew language education? Read the full story, told from multiple perspectives: https://bit.ly/4iJyd2T

"What if we had teachers wearing brass plaques showing donor names?" This provocative suggestion reveals a deeper truth: while many Jewish day school funders are lured by the next shiny innovation, they are overlooking our schools' most valuable asset—our teachers. JEIC Managing Director Sharon Freundel shares creative solutions in this eJewishPhilanthropy opinion piece for supporting Jewish educators without burdening parents with higher tuition. From tax benefits to community-wide discount programs, we can support our educators and, ultimately, our students.

How do we get Jewish day school educators, parents, and donors to understand that High-Quality Professional Development is not a cost, but an investment? Dr. David Farbman, project director of JEIC's DEEP Consortium project, offers his answer in this eJewishPhilanthropy article.

Are you interested in learning more about Pedagogy of Partnership's professional development tracks, including personalized coaching, institutes, webinars, and customizable pedagogical materials? Join our partners at Hadar's Pedagogy of Partnership for a free PoP Informational Session on Thursday, March 20th, 2-2:45 pm ET | 1-1:45 pm CT | 11-11:45 am PT. Register here: https://bit.ly/3DkJxDo

Our friends at Lifnai V'Lifnim are offering Introduction to Lifnai Vlifnim, a transformative professional development workshop designed to deepen your approach to Jewish education. ??? Dates: February 23, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 ? Time: Sundays, 9-10:20 am Eastern (with a potential Wednesday evening cohort) ?? Platform: Zoom ?? Teachers: Lifnai Vlifnim Staff + Guest sessions with Rav Dov Singer Get a taste of the Lifnai Vlifnim approach through these three experiential modules: ????Lifnai V’lifnim Fundamentals: Knowing Myself and My Role in the Classroom ????Torat Chaim: Designing Torah Learning that Deepens Connection ????From Faculty and Class to Chaburah: The Power of Groups in Building a Culture of Religious Growth Each module includes live virtual workshops and a series of exercises. Groups of 2-3 educators from the same school or institution, ideally including at least one teacher and one Judaic Leader/Department Chair, are encouraged to apply. Space is still available! View complete details and register online here: https://bit.ly/3QslKnW

How can we make Midrash engaging and meaningful for middle schoolers? In this insightful The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education "Jewish Educational Leadership" journal article, JEIC Managing Director Sharon Freundel explores creative ways to bring Midrash to life in the classroom, helping students connect deeply with Jewish texts.?

After the Prizmah Conference, JEIC's DEEP Consortium—a dynamic network committed to high-quality professional development (HQPD)—convened with key partners, including Mayberg Foundation Trustee Manette Mayberg, Executive Director Todd J. Sukol, UnitEd Jewish Education Director of English-Speaking Countries Rabbi Scot A. Berman, and DEEP supporters Arnee Winshall and Walter Winshall at Hebrew College for 2-days. Together, they engaged in a workshop on how using an abundance mindset can help to trigger greater investment in HQPD. The group also discussed the newly launched Concierge Desk. This free service helps schools identify their high-quality professional development (HQPD) needs and find the right DEEP provider to meet their goals. Learn more about the Concierge Desk service here: https://lnkd.in/gp8E_gs3 Thank you to following partners who participated in this convening: Tamar Appel, Hidden Sparks Nina Bruder, Jewish New Teacher Project? Yehuda Chanales, Lifnai V'Lifnim Global Allison Cook, Hadar - Pedagogy of Partnership Brian Coonley, Gateways: Access to Jewish Education? Debra Drang, Prizmah:CJDS Esty Gross, HEBREW AT THE CENTER? Tal Grinfas-David, PhD, Center for Israel Education? Audi Hecht, Civic Spirit? Reuven Margrett, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies? Miriam Raider-Roth, Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (MTEI) Cindy Reich, The William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education of The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)? Rebecca Rohr Ritter, The Shefa School Margery Sokoloff, Brandeis University's Teacher Leader Fellowship? Tikvah Wiener, Kadima

A huge thank you to all the Jewish day school professionals and leaders who joined us in the Spark Studio at the Prizmah Conference to explore inspiring ideas from top educational and professional development experts. Thank you also to the participants who offered their ??BRIGHT IDEAS?? about what these three JEIC pillars could look like in their schools: ??God-Centered Learning: Fostering a school culture that prioritizes a relationship with the Divine. ??Student-Centered Learning: Creating a school culture that nurtures each student’s unique potential, self-esteem, and strong Jewish identity. ??The Vital Role of Jewish Day School Educators: Dedicated to developing students’ hearts and minds through the lens of Jewish wisdom and values. Questions answered were: ??How could teachers guide student growth in Jewish knowledge, values, and identity? ??How could educators give their students ownership of their Jewish learning? ??How could schools show teachers that they are valued? ??How could schools make the tefillah experience more meaningful for their students? ??How could schools help students develop and strengthen their relationship with God? ??How could schools positively use technology in Judaic Studies classrooms? ??Swipe the pictures to see what they had to say!

??The JEIC Spark Studio at the Prizmah Conference has been glowing with inspiration—a packed house at every session! ?? ?? Raphael Zarum, dean of London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS), explored how to respond to students' tough questions in “How Big is God?” Encouraging and Responding to Challenging Questions ?? JEIC Founding Director Rabbi Shmuel Feld and Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd. Director of Educational Projects Daniel Rose, Ph.D. offered approaches to student-centered approaches to tefillah education that utilize multiple paradigms in "Innovations in Tefillah Education" ??The DEEP Consortium Program Director Dr. David Farbman was joined by Sarah Rubinson Levy, Sarah Rubinson Consulting, Tal Britt Gale, LAMA Leadership, RK-T/Brauser Maimonides Academy, and Rabbi Yoni Fein and Daniel Weiss, Bornblum Jewish Community School, to offer DEEP's new free Concierge Desk service to help the identify their schools' high-quality professional development (HQPD) needs and find the right PD provider to meet their goals. ??JEIC Managing Director Sharon Freundel and OpenDor Media Executive VP Noam Weissman and Education Associate Alex Harris explored the benefits of using springboard videos to confront challenging Jewish topics in their session, "Exposing Students to Big Jewish Ideas Using Digital Platforms."

??Attention Prizmah Conference participants! ?? Meet our team and spark exciting ideas about student-centered and God-centered learning in Jewish day schools at the JEIC Spark Studio on Level 3 in the Impressionism conference room. #prizmahconference #jewisheducation #jewishdayschool