More Graduates
Oded
Avissar is the director of "Beit Yatziv", the National
Center for In-Service Teacher Training
in Jewish Studies for teachers, principals
and supervisors in Beersheva. "Beit
Yatziv" was established by the
Ministry of Education to enhance the
state of Jewish education in the Israeli
public school system. Over 15,000 educators
have already participated in the weekly
seminars run by the center.
"There
is no doubt that my years at the Schechter Institute not only changed my,
life and professional goals but also my attitude
towards Judaism, from which I had
been estranged. I was exposed to a new, magical and exciting world to which
I have since dedicated my life and my work... We
[at Bet Yatziv] have adopted the
Schechter Institute's pluralistic/humanistic/ interdisciplinary approach
to Jewish sources with great success...and have
encouraged the teachers,principals and supervisors to continue their own
studies on a graduate level as well as implementing
what they have learned in their schools. "I
am convinced more than ever that
the graduates of the Schechter
Institute can bridge the various gaps in our
divisive society today. The Schechter
Institute is destined to provide
the framework for 'secular' and
'religious' Israelis to nurture their common
Jewish and universal heritage in
an atmosphere of mutual respect
with a commitment to the preservation
of our Jewish existence in Israel
and in the Diaspora...I am forever
grateful that I was fortunate enough
to study at the Schechter Institute
and receive a truly Jewish educational
experience that no university could
replicate." Ruhama
Weiss-Goldman
is completing her studies towards
a Ph.D in the teaching of Talmud
in addition to being one of
the the founding directors of "Chiddush,"
a private consulting firm specializing
in curriculum development and the training
of teachers of Jewish studies. "Chiddush" operates
in full cooperation with the Ministry
of Education, the TALI Education
Fund, the Jewish Agency and Beit
Berl College.
"The
underlying educational principles
of 'Chiddush' are consistent with
those of the Schechter Institute,
namely the emphasis on the study
of Jewish texts and values...in
an ongoing dialogue with our own lives
today. The belief that our Jewish
sources are the shared heritage
of all Jews should encourage open and
honest discussion of those difficult
and controversial issues that affect
us all..." "The
Schechter Institute has enabled
me to pursue my love for Jewish studies
and my professional aspirations
in a program that promotes an interdisciplinary
approach to our Jewish sources
while maintaining an atmosphere conducive
to experiencing Judaism." Reut
Hammer has
been leading educational training
seminars for school principals,
teachers and parents for the
past 12 years in 11 community
schools in northern Israel.
She came to the Schechter Institute "to fill in
the gaps" in her limited Jewish
background. Today Reut realizes that
she received so much more than she
had originally expected. She is currently
continuing her studies in the D.H.L.
program.
"In
addition to meeting the challenge
of combining Jewish studies with
family and community concerns,
I was exposed to new horizons ...enabling
me to confront my own personal
identity as an Israeli Jew. This has in turn
influenced my professional outlook
and has forced me to re-evaluate
my work in the field. "Above
all, the Schechter Institute promotes
an atmosphere conducive to true
learning - one of openness, acceptance and
genuine interest, enabling the
students to participate in the dialogue between
our Jewish sources and modernity.
During these divisive times, when
the crucial issue of the place
of Jewish study and culture dominates
our national agenda, there is no
doubt that the Schechter Institute
must play a significant role in
the training of a new generation of educators
who can constructively bridge the
gaps that threaten our future."
Daniella
Ben-Gur holds
a prominent position in the
Israel Association of Community Centers.
For the past eleven years she
has been working in counselling,
supervision and development
of human resources. Upon embarking
on her studies at Schechter
she felt that she "was
returning to the Jewish roots" of her
childhood in Argentina. For the first
time since her aliyah in 1974 her life
had "Jewish content that challenged
(her) intellectually" and complemented
her work.
"I
wanted to share my joy and love
of learning with others but I realized
that I would have to proceed slowly
to combat the intense fear of religious
coercion which has become so prevalent
in our society.I began teaching
basic concepts of the holidays and their
relevance to our daily lives in
a modern Israel. This has expanded
into a dynamic curriculum which
involves the cooperation of teacher and student. "I
believe that the community centers
and the Schechter Institute share
a common mission in promoting pluralism
and tolerance in Israeli society.which
can only help assure a better future
for our children." Jeremy
Benstein is the educational
director of the Abraham Joshua Heschel
Center for Environmental Learning and
Leadership in Tel Aviv. The Center emulates
its namesake in its unique synthesis
of scholarship, spirituality and commitment
to social activism. Issues studied in
the various seminars include: Jewish
attitudes to the natural world; lifestyle
and consumption; Zionist issues of development
versus preservation; society and environment
on the eve of a new millenium.
"My
studies at the Schechter Institute
gave me many things that have furthered
my life and work here in Israel.
There is the technical expertise
and breadth of knowledge...that
is essential for serious scholarship
and pedagogy. There is the familiarity
with the issues and challenges
of contemporary Israeli society that
are ever-present on the agenda
of the Schechter Institute. But perhaps
most important was the contact
with the people...students and the talented
and committed teachers who together
make the Schechter Institute the
uniquely rewarding learning environment
that it is."
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