Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education

For decades Dr. Barry Chazan has sought to answer a humble question, what is it about informal Jewish education, like camp and travel, that is so powerful? David Bryfman reflects with Dr. Chazan, founding international director of education at Taglit-Birthright Israel, about his quest to understand informal Jewish education, and his new book, Principles and Pedagogies in Jewish Education. The book summarizes insights and unanswered questions from Dr. Chazan’s career. He reads aloud his charge for 21st century educators, a reminder of the impact educators can have on students, like the one Dr. Chazan had on his student, David Bryfman. Additional Resources:Principles and Pedagogies in Jewish Education Free KindleThe Philosophy of Informal Jewish Education by Dr. Barry Chazan — 2003The Subject Of Israel Education Is Not IsraelA response to Barry Chazan: the philosophy of informal Jewish education by Dr. Joe ReimerAdapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein.  The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit  jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.   

When Rachel Weinstein White’s children were young, she and her “Jewish adjacent” husband committed to raising a Jewish family, but couldn’t find a Jewish community with other families of color. So Rachel left behind her successful business career to build Fig Tree, an independent Jewish education program that aims to provide a rich and accessible Jewish education to kids from interfaith, interracial and/ or secular backgrounds. In this episode she speaks with David Bryfman about the importance of meeting families where they are, and her belief that while families may come for “just Jewish education,” they stay for Jewish community.Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein.  The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  

The Jewish community experienced another traumatic event this weekend as we watched in horror the incident at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.  Dr. Rachel Fish helps us process this event and gives us strategies for standing up to Antisemitism.  Dr. Fish helps us understand why a terrorist thought a rabbi in Texas had the power to free a political prisoner. Dr. Fish emphasizes the importance of educating people she calls "Don't Know's, Don't Care's" about the impact of these incidents. She explains how Jewish educators can prepare their communities to remain proud and strong in the face of Antisemitism. This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein.  The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.Looking for more support in response to Colleyville? We hosted a webinar with Dr. Betsy Stone of HUC-JIR and Rabbi Elizabeth Zeller of Temple Chaverim in Plainview, N.Y. discussing how educators can cope with the trauma of last Shabbat's events. Watch the webinar here and access other resources about responding to antisemitism here.  

Success creates a model for others to follow, and in recent decades Chabad has arguably been one of the most successful organizations at connecting with Jewish communities around the world. So what lessons, if any, can Jewish educators take from Chabad’s success? Rabbi Efraim Mintz, Executive Director of Chabad’s Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, speaks with David Bryfman about the Hasidic philosophy that drives the Chabad movement, as taught by the Rebbe — Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. They discuss Chabad’s innovative adoption of technology, Chabad’s work in mental health spaces, and what it means to live a life in service of Am Yisrael.This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein.  The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Additional Resources:The Rohr Jewish Learning InstituteChabad.orgTorahCafe.comChabad Mental Health Resources

What is Jewish spirituality? For that matter, what is spirituality, and why is it an important, even necessary part of life? Rabbi Josh Feigelson and Michal Smart Fox of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality join David Bryfman to discuss what it means to have a Jewish spiritual practice, and why understanding spirituality is critical for Jewish educators. They look at how COVID has changed our collective quest for spirituality, and the growing body of research that points to the benefits a regular spiritual practice can have. Be sure to look out for when Peloton sneaks into the conversation!If you’ve never experienced Jewish spirituality, be sure to stick around until the end of the episode for a short Jewish spiritual practice led by Rabbi Feigelson.Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein.  The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Additional Resources:Institute for Jewish SpiritualityFree Daily Meditation from Institute for Jewish SpriritualityU.S. Teens Take After Their Parents Religiously, Attend Services Together and Enjoy Family Rituals from Pew Research CenterThe Pew study cheat sheet: 10 key conclusions from the new survey of American JewsNavigating Uncertainty: The State of Religion & Young People 2021 by Springtide ResearchNational survey on youth and religion raises concern about Gen-Z Jews — and questions about how to understand them by Rabbi Josh Feigelson on JTA‘The ways of Torah are peaceful’: Why football presents a dilemma for American Jews by Rabbi Josh Feigelson on JTAIs the pandemic the perfect opportunity for faith leaders to reach Gen Z? by Mya Jaradat

What is the purpose of Jewish education? Is it to teach skills? To inspire? To build Jewish community? Rabbi Benay Lappe, President & Rosh Yeshiva at SVARA, a self-described traditionally radical yeshiva, joins David Bryfman to discuss what we can learn from the story of Chanukah, how that story has been reinvented, and the purpose of Jewish education. Together, they explore how SVARA is responding to a “crash” in Jewish life by using the Talmud as a blueprint to reimagine Jewish tradition so Judaism can continue to do what Rabbi Lappe says was always the point— to create good people.Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein.  The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Additional Resources:SVARA: A Traditionally Radical YeshivaLearn with SVARAThe Crash TalkToo Late for Pluralism—or Too Early? By Rabbi Lappe in Sources: A Journal of Jewish IdeasRabbi Lappe on Judaism Unbound PodcastRabbi Lappe's ELI Talk - An Unrecognizable Jewish Future: A Queer Talmudic TakeHow to Read the Talmud by Rabbi Lappe on MyJewishLearning.comCollected Essays by Rabbi LappeThe Oral Talmud Weekly Livestream with Rabbi Lappe and Dan Libenson

“This moment in history calls on us to think about what is our relationship with the natural world, which is G-d’s creation.”  Jakir Manela, CEO of Hazon and Pearlstone, joins David Bryfman to share his views on Jewish environmentalism, the growing JOFEE (Jewish Outdoor Food Farming & Environmental Education) movement, and the fundamentally deep ties between Jewish tradition and the natural world. They discuss how to cultivate deep authentic Jewishness and universalism simultaneously, how Gen Z is driving sustainability conversations in the Jewish community and beyond, and how Jewish educators can help students embrace a sense of “holy wow.”  Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein.  The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Additional Resources:Hazon WebsiteTeva Learning CenterJOFEE Seeds of Opportunity StudyIsabella Freedman Jewish Retreat CenterPearlstone Hazon: The PodcastThe Shmita ProjectFarm and Forest School at PearlstoneThis Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation on AmazonWe Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast on Amazon

Join David Bryfman and Rabbi Nicki Greninger of Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, California for an animated conversation on what Rabbi Greninger insists we shouldn’t call "Hebrew School." Rabbi Greninger shares what makes today’s programs different from yesterday’s, what she’s doing to change the way students learn Hebrew, and how JQuest—Temple Isaiah’s education program for children 2 years old through 7th grade—is building Jewish identity, knowledge, and community through Jewish education.Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein.  The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Additional Resources:JQuest @ Temple IsaiahJQuest on YouTube“Let’s Stop Calling it Hebrew School” on eJewishPhilanthropyLet's Stop Calling it "Hebrew School": Rationales, Goals, and Practices of Hebrew Education in Part-time Jewish Schools — CASJE Study2021 Part-Time School Census by The Jewish Education ProjectHow the Creation of “Tracks” Re-invigorated our Religious School on eJewishPhilanthropy

Technology has become an integral part of every Jewish educator’s toolbox. Online classrooms, video tours, and web conferencing to name a few, have changed the ways students and educators engage with each other and their sacred content. The Jewish Education Project recently launched a pair of online platforms—Truvie and The Jewish Educators Portal— that curate resources for educators and empower students to curate their own online Jewish education. In this bonus episode, David speaks with Jonathan Fass, Managing Director, Educational Technology and Strategy, about the intention behind these platforms, and how he sees technology transforming the field of Jewish education. Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein.  The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit  jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Additional Resources:The Jewish Educator PortalTruvie.org

The Jewish world often finds itself divided on issues related to Israel, Jewish practice, and intermarriage. At times, our divisions seem to threaten the very idea of global Jewish peoplehood. On this episode Zack Bodner speaks about the imperative to “do Jewish,” what motivated him to write his new book Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood, and the way Bodner, CEO of the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto, California, thinks West Coast Judaism is redefining American Jewish culture for the 21st century. Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein.  The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.  Additional Resources:Zack Bodner’s WebsitePre-order Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish PeoplehoodTiffany Shlain — 24/6 The Power of Unplugging One Day a WeekOshman Family JCC WebsiteZ3 Project