The Jewish Theological Seminary
Davidson Newsletter Spring 2011
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A Note from Dean Barry Holtz
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Kesher Hadash
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Student Voices: Andrea Levine
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News from Our Project Directors
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Recent Events
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iCenter Fellows Announced
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Career Workshop
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Faculty Notes
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Alumni News
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Faculty List
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Condolences
The Davidson School congratulates all of our recent graduates.
Mazal Tov!
A Note from Dean Barry Holtz
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"For those of us at The Davidson School, the launch of Kesher Hadash is the fulfillment of many years of hope and planning. We look forward to exciting things from this bold new program." —Dr. Barry Holtz |
Kesher Hadash has three primary goals: first, it is focused on students gaining an in-depth understanding of contemporary Israel—the accomplishments and challenges, and the historical, political, and cultural diversity of the country. Second, the program will help prepare students to be "Israel educators" when they return to America. To be an Israel educator, one needs more than knowledge of Israel, even in a profound way. No one, for example, would claim that all one needs to be an effective mathematics teacher is to have knowledge of the subject matter. One needs to understand the goals of math teaching, the techniques of math teaching, and the various pedagogic dilemmas that a math teacher is likely to encounter in working with various students in a variety of settings.
In similar fashion, to be an Israel educator certainly requires knowledge of the broad subject matter we might call "Israel," but while that knowledge is necessary, it is certainly not sufficient. What are the kinds of outcomes we might look for in Israel Education? How might we understand the criteria for success? What are the various approaches to Israel Education that have been shown to be successful? How does one work in Israel Education in the different environments of American Jewish education?
Israel educators work in so many different arenas of Jewish life. Day schools hire faculty to teach Israel as a subject (history and culture; ideology and literature) and to do programming around Israel in extracurricular activities, such as holiday celebrations, prayer services, and social action projects. Synagogues and Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) look for Israel programming and educational activities for congregational schools, adult education courses, and religious and cultural programs. A JCC, for example, may run an Israeli film festival, a Yom Ha'atzma'ut program, or a community-wide trip to Israel. One of the biggest areas where Israel educational programming has taken place in recent years has been at Jewish summer camps. There, the Israel educator may work with visiting Israeli staff to help integrate them into the summer program and to build Israel deeply into the fabric of the camp.
As the importance of Israel Education grows throughout American Jewish life, it is clear that there is a need for well-prepared Israel educators. Participants in the Kesher Hadash semester in Israel will study the core issues of the field and how they may implement them at a high level when they return to America. Participants will receive a certificate in Israel Education upon successful completion of the semester.
Finally, the third goal of the Israel semester will be to place a strong emphasis on improving the Hebrew skills of the participants. An intensive ulpan will be a core element of the academic program. Not only that, but carefully designed real-life interactions with native Hebrew speakers will be an important dimension of the program. It is our hope that participants will return with well-honed Hebrew abilities that will allow them to take more advanced courses when they return to JTS.
Kesher Hadash is open to three different populations: 1) The Davidson School students who will go in the second semester of their first year in the MA program; 2) students who wish to enter The Davidson School in the fall of an academic year and will therefore attend the Israel semester in the spring semester before they enter the MA program (hence, students who wish to start the The Davidson School MA program in September 2012 can attend the Kesher Hadash program starting in January 2012); and 3) students who are not sure about their future plans but wish to receive the certificate in Israel Education. All students will be required to fill out an application explaining their interest in Israel Education, and acceptance to the program will be based on the application process.
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Dr. Alex Sinclair |
Dr. Ofra Backenroth |
—Dr. Barry W. Holtz, dean of the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education, JTS
Kesher Hadash
The Davidson School's Semester in Israel Program
The Davidson School is set to become a world leader in the field of Israel education. Beginning in January 2012, a cohort of 10 selected students will spend a full semester in Israel as part of this groundbreaking new program, Kesher Hadash. Its core goal is to create a cadre of Jewish educators with a specialty in Israel Education. To that end, it will offer students a variety of educational experiences unlike any other existing graduate program in Israel.
The program will combine academic, linguistic, and experiential components. Students will study Hebrew in intensive fashion, take courses in Israeli history and Israel education, and explore the rich complexities of Israeli society from the inside. We are establishing collaborative partnerships with a variety of Israeli educational institutions, and students will spend much of their time in partnership with Israeli peers and colleagues, engaging with the big questions of Israel, Jewish Education, and Israel Education.
At JTS, we believe relationships with Israel in today's world must move beyond the passive, one-dimensional narratives of the past. Davidson students will be exposed to the challenges that Israel faces and will learn about confronting those challenges head on. In doing so, they'll develop new Jewish narratives that have room for Israel's frustrations as well as its inspirations, in addition to crafting educational approaches to bring those narratives back to their work in North America.
To find out more about this exciting new program, please contact Dr. Ofra Backenroth at The Davidson School at ofbackenroth@jtsa.edu.
Student Voices: Andrea Levine
I always thought I wanted to be a teacher, but I knew that I could only achieve greatness if I was teaching something I was passionate about, and since graduating college I had struggled a lot with identifying what that might be. I embarked on Birthright Israel in January 2009 hoping for an environment in which I could turn off all distractions and spend some time figuring things out, maybe even spark a change in my direction, which seemed, at the time, so up in the air.
Never could I have imagined the intensity of that spark and what an impact it would have. My experiences on that trip allowed me to rediscover all the best parts of myself. I felt more alive than I had felt in years. Suddenly, "What are you doing with your life?" turned into "What could you do with your life?" Along with that came the realization that I could do anything I wanted, as long as I accessed the person I was in Israel.
Upon returning home, all I kept thinking was that if Israel could have such a profound effect on me, imagine what I could do for other young Jews if I was the one giving them an opportunity like Birthright. Three days later, I found myself on the JTS website applying for their MA program in Jewish Education.
This past January I was honored with the opportunity to staff a Birthright trip. As a participant, I went in looking for a transformative experience; this time, I sought to validate the choices I have made since then. I watched as these 40 participants were moved by Israel and by the way they experienced it together, with people from around North America unified by the discovery of their mutual connection to this amazing, vibrant place. It was indescribably powerful to play such a major role in that connection. Israel had shown me who I was and who I wanted to be at a time when I was unsure of both, and I am so proud to see myself come full circle. Israel continues to ground me, inspire me, and make me proud to be a Jewish educator.
News from Our Project Directors
Dr. Deborah Miller Hands Off MaToK to Galya Greenberg
The Davidson School is thrilled to announce that the new project director of MaToK is Galya Greenberg. Dr. Deborah Miller, founding project director and editor of MaToK, is stepping down from her post to direct the Jim Joseph Foundation grant to JTS. As you read about Galya, you will see why we believe that she is exactly the right person to move MaToK to its next level of excellence. She has infectious enthusiasm and a marvelously positive attitude toward the potential of Jewish life and learning.
Galya is currently a doctoral student in Jewish Educational Leadership at Northeastern University and Hebrew College. Her particular area of interest is the professional development of Jewish day school teachers. She has an extensive background in day school education as both a teacher and administrator, and has supervised MaToK teachers at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford. Galya graduated from Brandeis University with a BA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, and earned an MA in Jewish Education from The Davidson School of The Jewish Theological Seminary. She and her husband live in West Hartford, Connecticut.
MaToK is the Bible curriculum of the Solomon Schechter Day Schools, sponsored by the Melton Research Center for Jewish Education at JTS and the Department of Education at the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. MaToK is in use in Conservative, community, and Orthodox day schools, as well as by some homeschoolers. To learn more about MaToK, please visit http://ssdsa.org/resources/matok/. You can email Galya at gagreenberg@jtsa.edu.
Mark S. Young, program coordinator of The Davidson School's Experiential Learning Initiative, facilitated several professional development sessions at the Jewish Community Center Association's bi-annual Professional Conference, April 3–6, in Orlando, Florida. His sessions included: "Mapping Out Your Career Development," "Jewish Leadership for Professionals with Little or No Jewish Background," and "Adult Audience Building." Mark also represented JTS and The Davidson School in the conference's exhibition hall.
The Leadership Institute for Congregational School Educators (LICSE), cosponsored by JTS and HUC-JIR and fully funded by the UJA-Federation of New York, had a wonderful opening retreat for its third cohort on January 9 and 10 at the Glen Cove Mansion on Long Island.
The 38 educators and 10 mentors were fortunate to learn together with JTS faculty Dr. Michelle Lynn-Sachs, Rabbi Gerald Skolnik of the Forest Hills Jewish Center, and Dr. Steven M. Cohen.
Recent Events
The Davidson School Recruits and Connects with Alumni at Jewish Educators Assembly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Each year, the Jewish Educators Assembly (JEA) Conference provides an excellent forum for The Davidson School to connect with prospective students, alumni, and the Jewish education community. This January, Davidson School Admissions Director Abby Eisenberg traveled to Mount Laurel, New Jersey, outside of Philadelphia, where she represented The Davidson School at the Exhibitor's Fair; spoke to Camp Ramah roshei chinuch (education directors) about The Davidson School's degree programs; and met with several talented and inspiring "20/20" awardees—20 individuals in their 20s who have creatively impacted the Jewish community as professional Jewish educators or lay leaders. Abby also cohosted a table in the JEA dining room with Cheryl Magen, Davidson School educational staff member, for both alumni and prospective students.
Our alumni networked with one another and connected with Abby to learn the latest news about the school's varied master's degree options: the new full-time master's in Experiential Education, to be launched in fall 2011, and the new experiential approaches to the part- and full-time Day School and Synagogue Education tracks. She also told them of the recent significant growth of the Distance Learning MA Program, and that The Davidson School will be completing its second executive doctoral application season at the end of March. The second cohort will begin in the fall of 2011.
Among The Davidson School's alumni at the JEA were: Beth Cohn Copelovitch ('97), Danny Kochavi ('04), Aleza Kulp ('98), Rabbi Lauren Kurland (RS, DS '05), Wilhelmina Roepke ('10), Charlie Sherman ('98), Sara Stave ('04), and Diana Yacobi ('95). The Davidson School acknowledges Danny Kochavi for his continued service to the JEA board, and wishes mazal tov to Beth Cohn Copelovitch for her new appointment to the board.
iCenter Fellows Announced
The Davidson School and the iCenter, a Chicago-based organization dedicated to Israel Education, are pleased to announce the launch of the new Israel Education certification program. The program is fully funded by the iCenter and will be run in collaboration with five other MA programs: Hornstein Program in Jewish Leadership at Brandeis University; Jewish Professional Studies at NYU; and the MA programs of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education at Yeshiva University, Rhea Hirsch School of Jewish Education at HUC, and Steinhardt School of Education at NYU.
Three Davidson students have been accepted to participate in this wonderful opportunity, and we congratulate them: Amiel Hersh, Abby Kerbel, and Alana Tilman. These students were selected by The Davidson School faculty and approved by the iCenter Israel Education Master's Concentration committee.
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We wish our students the best of luck and success during their participation in the program!
Career Workshop
The Davidson School hosted its annual Career-Coaching Workshop for graduating students in January. Facilitated by Cheryl Magen with help from Mark Young, the three-day workshop covered important topics such as defining a career path, developing a personal mission statement, learning strategies for networking both in person and online, writing an effective résumé and cover letter, and practicing interview skills.
The first two days of the workshop were so thoroughly appreciated by the participants that students requested the final day be conducted by conference call, as it was a JTS snow day and the workshop otherwise would have been canceled. The participants' enthusiasm allowed for further conversations on job descriptions and how to negotiate a contract.
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"The Career-Coaching Workshop is a unique opportunity for individualized preparation for the stressful experience of job searching. Not only did I learn about myself by shifting my cover letter and résumé and developing my personal mission statement, but I learned about my peers as colleagues and strengthened my network within JTS." —Jen Abrams Vegh, 2011 |
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"The Davidson Career-Coaching Workshop enabled participants to understand how to express our best professional selves. Our confidence was built as we came to recognize that our academic and professional training has developed us into thoughtful and capable Jewish educators. It was the workshop, though, that developed us into highly desirable, competitive candidates, able to clearly present our skills and traits as markers of future success." —Sarah Ossey, 2011 |
Faculty Notes
Dr. Ofra Backenroth, Dr. Shira Epstein, Dr. Barry Holtz, Dr. Jeffrey Kress, and Dr. Alex Sinclair each have a chapter appearing in the forthcoming edition of the International Handbook of Jewish Education.
The book Ramah at 60: Impact and Innovation, coedited by Dr. Jeffrey Kress and Mitch Cohen, was a finalist for a National Jewish Book Award.
Dr. Michelle Lynn-Sachs has an article forthcoming in the Journal of Jewish Education entitled "The Grammar of Congregational Schooling: Looking Beyond the Synagogue at an Institutional Template."
Alumni News
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Join the Rachel Blatt (MA '07) and Marc Blatt had twin girls on June 11, 2010.
Associate Professor Emeritus Burt Cohen and his wife, Bobbie, are happy to announce the birth of a new grandson, Isaac Podhoretz, son of John and Ayala Podhoretz.
Amy Deutsch (MA '09) has started a position as the assistant editor of a new Jewish parenting website called Kveller.com, sponsored by MyJewishLearning.com. She says it's been a great way to combine her Davidson knowledge with her newly acquired parenting skills. She and her husband Dan live with one-year-old daughter, Abigail, in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Rebecca Elkus (MA '09) recently became engaged to Judah Ferst. Rebecca is in her second year as assistant director of education / youth and family programming at Congregation Habonim in Manhattan.
Rabbi Elliot Goldberg (DS '96) recently published a book review in the latest edition of Conservative Judaism (vol. 61, no. 4, Summer 2010) of Dr. Carol Ingall's book Down the Up Staircase: Tales of Teaching in Jewish Day Schools. Goldberg notes that through richly detailed portraits of three novices over time, Ingall's book addresses the ways in which Jewish day schools fail to socialize their newest teachers, and discusses the alternatives she suggests that education programs and schools employ to keep talented and motivated teachers in the field. Goldberg, director of religious life at the Chicagoland Jewish High School, was a former student of Dr. Ingall, a fact that brings great pleasure to both Ingall and Goldberg.
Jennifer Kanarek (CS, MA ED '07) recently got engaged to Shmuel Cahn, and the couple will get married on August 21.
Kate O'Brien (DS '07) is a coauthor of the chapter "Ensuring a Cadre of Well-Qualified Educational Personnel for Jewish Schools" in the forthcoming 2011 edition of the International Handbook of Jewish Education.
Rabbi Paulette Posner (DS '01) and Jeremy are proud to announce the birth of a third son on February 13; his name is Yitzhak Natan (Isaac Nathan). Isaac has two wonderful big brothers, Harry Leon (age 5) and Jacob Benjamin (age 2 1/2). Paulette says she is adjusting to life in her "locker room."
Marlene Rachelle (DS '09) gave birth to a son, Eli Zeev, on February 11.
Rhonda Rosenheck (DS ' 99) is principal of Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School in Toronto, Ontario. The senior kindergarten–eighth grade pluralistic school opened in 1998 with 10 students, now has 160, and has begun an expansion to serve growing demand. The school's extraordinary "community of difference" was the subject of research and a book by Alex Pomson and Randal Schnoor, Back to School: Jewish Day School in the Lives of Adults.
David and Ivy Schreiber (DS '06) announce the arrival of their beautiful new son, Micah Henry, born February 27, with tremendous gratitude and love.
Carrie Zucker Siegel (DS '99) was named assistant principal of the Lower School of the Golda Och Academy (formerly Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union, New Jersey). She has served as the director of Judaic Studies on that campus for the past three years, after eight years at the Upper School campus as an administrator and teacher. She and her husband, Jeff, live in South Orange, New Jersey, with their two children who also attend the Golda Och Academy: Stefanie, who is in fourth grade, and Zachary, who is in pre-K.
Rabbi Rachel Silverman (DS '09) earned a PresenTense fellowship to start Homegrown Judaica, an online community and marketplace for Jewish artists. Homegrown Judaica aims to elevate the mundane practice of purchasing to be an entry-point into the Jewish community. It promotes buying from local artists and building a communal appreciation of the arts.
Dayna (Fidler) Wald (MA '07) and Dr. Raphi Wald celebrated the birth of their daughter, Layla Meira, in December. They live in South Florida, where Dayna is the principal of Judaics at Hochberg Preparatory School, a Solomon Schechter Day School.
Etan Weiss (DS '04) and his wife, Amy, welcomed the birth of their daughter, Ya'ara Chana Weiss, on March 22, 2010.
Alexis Wolfson (DS '07) married Jorge Cobo of Miami, Florida, on February 25, 2011. Both Alexis and Jorge are Jewish professionals at the Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, Florida.
Condolences
Condolences to Ari Y. Goldberg (DS '90) and Stacy Goldberg on the passing of their daughter, Rina Chana (z"l), on December 29, 2010, following a courageous battle against mitochondrial disease. Ari has served as director of the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College since August 2002.
William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education Faculty List
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Dean |
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Associate Dean |
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Assistant Professor of Jewish Education |
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Assistant Professor of Jewish Education |
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Assistant Professor of Jewish Education |
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Dr. Bernard Heller Professor of Jewish Education |
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Chair, Department of Jewish Education |
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Associate Director, Melton Research Center for Jewish Education |
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Assistant Professor of Jewish Education |
Alumni, We Need Your Help!
The Davidson School wants to continue to connect with you and act on our commitment to the environment by sending you this newsletter via email.
Please send us your current email address by filling out the alumni update form, or email Melissa Friedman at mefriedman@jtsa.edu, or Rachel Goldberg at ragoldberg@jtsa.edu.