Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education

When the world went into lockdown in 2020, there was a lot of uncertainty, but there was also a great deal of innovation and adaptability, especially in education. This week's episode of Adapting is a re-release on this very topic, with a fresh and reflective introduction by David Bryfman. On May 13, 2020, just six weeks into the pandemic, David Bryfman kicked off the first episode of Adapting with Maya Bernstein about adaptive leadership in the thick of such a tumultuous time. Their discussion so early on during the pandemic is eerily relevant today, as they unpack the characteristics of adaptive leadership - grief management, perspective, pivoting, to name a few - and what has changed and what has stayed the same in Jewish education since then.This re-cast highlights the amazing work and necessary skills of adaptive Jewish educators, reminding us of how far we've come the last few years, and what we need to do to get closer to achieving an ideal future for Jewish education.This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.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 and review, 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.

Connecting with Jewish teens has always been a challenge, but today it brings more questions than ever, as teens have exponentially more demands on their time and attention than in decades prior. The work of engaging Jewish teens is deeply personal, with youth-serving professionals being called upon to tap into the emotional as much as the practical in order to meaningfully and effectively work with young people at pivot points along their lifelong Jewish journeys.On this week's episode of Adapting, David Bryfman interviews Ira Miller, who is recognized in the field of synagogue youth education, having worked in this space for decades. Ira shares personal stories from his experience with "adults waiting to happen," delving into his triumphs, challenges, and life lessons from tragedy. Through authenticity, communication, and compassion, educators still have the power to connect and engage with our young leaders of today.This episode contains sensitive subject material (youth suicide) and may not be suitable for some listeners.This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.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 and review, 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.

It is both an exciting and perhaps terrifying era for Jewish educators when digital technology is empowering learners in their own learning. Rather than being seen as a fountain of knowledge that learners turn to for information, 21st century educators must adopt a different set of skills – including flipping their classrooms, utilizing principles of gaming, and enabling people to learn in ways that work best for them. On the latest episode of Adapting, David Bryfman discusses with Barry Joseph how digital technology can help model what these cutting-edge, engaging methods look like.With 25+ years of experience in digital learning and design, Barry brings a fresh perspective to the field and an optimistic future, as he discusses the value of implementing digital technology both inside and outside the classroom, and why we should not be afraid to explore it with our learners.Correction: 10x for the rapid growth of OutSchool (instead of 10%)Check out Barry's book, Seltzertopia.Pre-order Barry's newest book, Making Dinosaurs Dance: A Toolkit for Digital Design in Museums.Mentioned in this episode is the book, "The Rules We Break" by Eric Zimmerman.This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.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 and review, 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.

Death and dying are topics that are often avoided, both in the world at large and in the realm of Jewish education. Rabbi Melanie Levav—award-winning educator, chaplain, and certified social worker—not only makes these topics easier to discuss, but suggests that Jewish educators cannot and should not avoid the topic. In this week’s episode of Adapting, Rabbi Melanie and David Bryfman discuss her work and how she brings ancient Jewish wisdom into this emotional space. Their discussion pushes Jewish educators to consider how we can normalize conversations about death and dying, and in doing so reduce fear, promote greater connections, and paradoxically even bring Torah to life at moments of death.This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.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 and review, 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.

Antisemitism is often referred to as the world’s oldest hatred, and perhaps it is not surprising that it's rearing its ugly head again in popular and sporting culture today. Now, with Ye, Kyrie, and Dave Chappelle at the forefront of educators' minds, it is as important as ever to analyze and discuss these issues with their learners – and the broader Jewish community must support and empower them to do so. Joining David Bryfman on this week’s episode is Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath, Gen Z expert and author of #antisemitism: Coming of Age during the Resurgence of Hate. They discuss her groundbreaking research on how antisemitism is affecting the younger generation through social media and celebrities, and how educators can embolden the next generation to respond to hate and instill Jewish pride.This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.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.

Jewish Day Schools are having a celebrated moment, but will they be viable in 20 years? Are the trends and challenges that may impact day schools in the future...leadership turnover, a quality educator pipeline, and affordability, being sufficiently acknowledged and addressed?  In this week's episode of Adapting, David Bryfman explores these topics and more with Dr. Chaim Botwinick, an executive coach, consultant, and day school executive director who is bravely challenging the status quo. His frank assessment of the strengths and deficiencies in the Jewish Day School landscape is both illuminating and disquieting, but ultimately leaves listeners with a newfound sense of optimism on how we can sustain a thriving Jewish Day School system.Read Chaim's article in the Times of Israel here.This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides.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.

Abi Dauber Sterne and Robbie Gringras want society to argue more. Really! The two veteran educators believe that arguments can be a constructive force in Israel education. Robbie and Abi, authors of the book Stories For The Sake of Argument, explain why argument does not always have to end in divisiveness, and how a healthy argument can bring people of opposing view points closer together. This conversation takes on added importance this week, in the aftermath of the Israeli election and as Israelis and Jews around the world prepare to observe and reflect on the 28th anniversary of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, a time when the space for healthy arguments was missing in Israeli society.To learn more about Yom Rabin, check out For The Sake of Argument's free resources about what the day means to different groups in Israeli society. 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.

In this episode of Adapting David Bryfman speaks with Noam Weissman of OpenDor Media, an experienced Israel educator and podcaster in his own right. They discuss how Jewish educators can use the upcoming Israeli elections as a teaching tool to further engage students with Israel and the complexities of Israeli society. Noam shares his affection for Israeli political ads, which OpenDor Media has translated and captioned for non-Hebrew speakers to access. In this discussion Noam is forthright in his views about Jewish education and that in today’s day and age, it’s not possible "to have a healthy relationship with one’s Jewish identity without including Israel in that.”Interested in learning more about Israel's upcoming elections? Check out Unpacked's translated and captioned political ads here. Unpacked's guide to the 2022 Israeli elections. Unpacked video: Inside Israel's Knesset.Noam's podcast, Unpacking Israeli History.

The ecosystem of Jewish education depends on the contributions of various stakeholders and philanthropy is playing an increasing role in this landscape. This episode of Adapting explores some of the passion, concerns, and challenges that funders think about when making their contributions to Jewish causes. In conversation with Shawna Goodman Sone, raised in Montreal and now living in Israel, David discusses why Shawna cares so deeply about the issues and the various causes that motivate her philanthropy. "It starts with the kishkes," Shawna says, "and everything else goes from there." The wisdom and learning from this episode clearly speaks to both funders and practitioners, and emphasizes the need for further conversations like these that bridge the seeming gap between the two.Loved the episode and looking for more insight into philanthropic decision making? Listen to Shawna and her brother Jonathan Goodman on the Jewish Funders Network's podcast, What Gives? 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.

For what was once regarded as fluffy education, experiential Jewish education has grown exponentially in recent decades. It’s dramatic rise has also surfaced many challenges for Jewish educators, academics, and those who support them. Does experiential Jewish education need a set of formal standards for educators and learners? And if so, who should be responsible for crafting these standards in a way that captures the breadth and diversity of everything that falls under the banner of experiential Jewish education. In this conversation the contrasting viewpoints, of friends and close colleagues, Shuki Taylor and David Bryfman, might surprise you.Check out Shuki's article, "Jewish Education Should Have 'Shoulds' " co-authored with Benjamin M. Jacobs.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.