Program for Enhancing Expertise in Jewish Education

This program focuses on exploring issues of "Israel" and "Diaspora" (Israel Education) in Jewish education: theory, purposes and practices. 

PROGRAM AIMS

·         Enhancing the professionalism of lead Jewish educators

·         Cultivating the articulation of personal educational vision while developing a strong sense of shared Jewish peoplehood and purpose

·         Cultivating proficiency in "Israel education" and teaching Jewish texts

·         Design and implementation of an educational project in the field of Israel education in the educator’s home community

·         Developing a cadre of committed young educators who will provide the next generation of educational leadership

TARGET POPULATION

·         Educators from throughout the Diaspora who are concerned with and / or engaged in Israel education

·         At least three years full-time work in the field

·         Completed at least first degree

PROGRAM FORMAT

The program affords educators the opportunity to participate in an individually-attuned professional development program that includes

·         An orientation seminar  

·         Two MA-level semester courses (November to July) delivered by Melton faculty through distance-learning technologies on the ‘Virtual Melton’ platform

·         Weekly tutorials with a personal tutor on the design of an educational project to be implemented in the educator’s home community

·         A 3-week intensive ‘immersion’ summer seminar in Israel at the end of the program (that includes 3 MA-level courses, on-site learning, and immersion in Israeli culture through language)

UNIQUE FEATURES

·         An opportunity to study with the faculty of the Melton Centre for Jewish Education, the largest academic institution in the world devoted to Jewish education and a leader in research into the world of Jewish education – its theory and practice – and in the translation of vision and theory into educational practice

·         A year of exploration into theoretical and empirical models, aims and methods of Jewish education, and elaborating innovative approaches to issues critical to "Israel" and "Diaspora"

·         Opportunities for dialoging – from the comfort of your home – with colleagues and peers from around the world, sharing perspectives and learning about the interdependence of the Jewish world

CORE COURSES

1. Bringing coherence to the work of Israel education in schools

Schools employ a great many vehicles to cultivate a connection to Israel among students. These include special events, ceremonies and rituals; classroom-based curricula; twinning programs with Israel institutions, the deployment of Israeli personnel, and the organization of Israel trips. This course will explore how to bring coherence to this wide range of activities, and will help coordinators and teachers ensure that the educational outcome of their work is greater than the sum of its many parts.

2. The Conceptualization of Israel's meaning in Israel Education

While it is certainly clear that there is a great deal of renewed interest in the teaching of Israel, many teachers and educators have also expressed their concern that the purposes of this teaching are not clear. This course will provide conceptual foundations for discussing these vital questions by addressing the Philosophy of Israel Education. We will consider six different ways in which Israel's meaning is conceptualized in Jewish education and - through the study of texts - explore conceptual models that are capable of providing new visions of Israel's meaning in Jewish education.

3. Developing and adapting curriculum to teach about Israel

This course draws on a unique project at the Melton Centre to catalogue and analyze more than 100 different publicly available curricula to teach about Israel in schools. The course will enable participants to discriminate thoughtfully between the materials and approaches available for teaching about Israel, and will help them acquire the skills to adapt and develop classroom-based programs to meet their own needs.

4. Challenges in the Educational Translation of Classical Jewish Texts

Classical Jewish texts serve as critical building blocks in the lives of Jewish learners and introduce them to the world of Jewish values and ideas. This course will explore theoretical as well as practical challenges that confront the teacher who on the one hand, is committed to maintaining the integrity of the text and at the same time is attempting to engage the student in a meaningful and challenging way.  The following topics will serve as the backbone of the course of study: teacher knowledge and ideology, questions of truth and hermeneutics, theological issues, the social milieu, moral education and forms of classical and modern exegesis. 

5. The Utilization of Israel as Space and Place for Jewish Educators