Ulpan-Or Wins Education Excellence Award + This Week's Torah Portion
Shalom from Yoel and Orly, founders of?Ulpan-Or,?the International Center for Hebrew and Israeli Culture Studies.
Hebrew at the Speed of Light!
Hello from Las Vegas!
Orly and I are thrilled to share some exciting updates from our ongoing trip to the United States.
?We're especially proud to announce that Ulpan-Or has just been honored with a special Education Excellence Award at the prestigious Education 2.0 Conference in Las Vegas!
?This recognition celebrates our unique contribution to educational technology through our RLA - Rapid Language Acquisition methodology blended with our tech platform for Hebrew school curriculum, which is now being used in nearly 100 schools worldwide.
?The award validates our years of dedication to revolutionizing Hebrew language education, and we're deeply grateful for this acknowledgment from leaders in the educational technology field.
?Our journey began in San Francisco, where we had productive meetings with several outstanding educational institutions. We connected with leadership teams at local schools and Jewish Community Centers, showcasing how Ulpan-Or's "Hebrew at the Speed of Light" methodology could enhance their existing Hebrew language programs.
?The educators were particularly enthusiastic about our E-Tone platform and its potential to create engaging, interactive learning environments.
?Here in Las Vegas, we've had a particularly meaningful meeting with Rabbi Blassberg of Desert Torah Academy. The stunning Desert Torah Academy campus impressed us deeply, with its thoughtfully designed spaces radiating positive energy and creating an inspiring learning environment for students and faculty alike.
?Our discussions focused on possible implementation of our curriculum at the academy, exploring how our resources could be tailored to meet their specific educational goals.
?The rabbi's vision for Hebrew education, based on language acquisition aligns beautifully with our approach, and we're excited about the potential for a fruitful partnership that will benefit the students and broader community.
?On a lighter note, after receiving our award at the conference, Orly and I decided to celebrate in true Vegas fashion by trying our luck with just $1 at one of the famous casinos.
?Our gambling adventure was comically short-lived, however, as we quickly retreated due to the overwhelming cloud of cigarette smoke!
?We couldn't stop coughing long enough to even insert our dollar into a slot machine. Perhaps this was a sign that we should stick to what we do best – revolutionizing Hebrew education rather than testing our luck at the gaming tables!
?We've also connected with several other schools and community centers in Las Vegas, all eager to develop new partnerships. These connections represent exciting opportunities not only for Ulpan-Or but for strengthening Hebrew language education across diverse communities in the United States.
?We're already working on follow-up proposals and look forward to launching several pilot programs in the coming months. The enthusiasm we've encountered has energized us and filled us with new ideas for enhancing our programs.
?As always, these connections remind us of the vital importance of our mission to strengthen the golden thread of Hebrew that connects Jewish communities worldwide.
?If you're interested in learning more about these partnerships or exploring similar opportunities for your organization, please don't hesitate to reach out. Orly and I would be delighted to schedule a call to discuss possibilities.
?
And now to our Torah Portion:
?
This Shabbat we will read the Torah?Portion?"Tetzaveh"?in the book of Exodus. ?
In this portion the Torah tells us in detail about the priestly garments to be worn by all the?priests -?kohanim.?
?One of the garments that the High Priest - Kohen Gadol had to wear was?a breastplate -?Khoshen?containing?twelve precious stones inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel as described in the?following verse:
?"You shall make a breastplate of judgment, an act of skillful workmanship, like the work of the ephod you shall make it; gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen shall you make it." (Exodus 28:15)
?Using combination of those Hebrew letters that would light up on the breastplate (Urim Ve'Tumim), the High Priest was able to reveal the future and, for instance, advise the People of Israel whether to go on a war or not.
?Yaakov Tzvi of Klenburg comments on the above passage:
?
The Hebrew word "breastplate"?
is composed of the same letters as the word "divination"
?except the letters are in a different order.
?The Torah prohibits practicing divination:
?"You shall not eat with the blood, you shall not practice divination and you shall not practice soothsaying."
(Leviticus 19:26)
?Explains Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi:
?The meaning of the verb "to practice divination"?is?to reveal hidden things with the help of prohibited forces.
In contrast, the breastplate??revealed hidden things with the help of sanctified forces, and through it the Urim and Tumim lit up with a sanctified illumination from the heavens.
Celebrate Every Moment of Your Hebrew Journey with Ulpan-Or!
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Shabbat Sahalom Ve'Khodesh Tov - Have a Great Month of Adar!!!
Yoel & Orly?
Jerusalem: 02-561-1132?
Tel Aviv: 03-566-1493??? New York: 516-252-4914
About the Author:
Yoel Ganor is the founder of Ulpan-Or, a pioneering institution in modern Hebrew language education and cultural integration. With decades of experience in innovative language teaching methodologies, Yoel has transformed how people worldwide learn Hebrew through unique blended learning approaches and cultural immersion techniques.
As a native of both Hebrew and English, and deeply versed in Jewish cultural heritage, Yoel brings a unique perspective to understanding the evolution of Jewish languages and their cultural expressions. His work at Ulpan-Or has helped thousands of students not just learn Hebrew, but truly understand the cultural nuances that make the language come alive.
Connect with Yoel at [email protected] to explore how modern Hebrew language learning can enhance your professional and personal growth in Israel's dynamic business environment.
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Contact Ulpan-Or today to schedule a consultation and discover how our innovative approach can enhance your school's Hebrew language program:
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Email: [email protected]
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