Shows
The Jewish Education Experience Podcast100: Special Edition Episode with Yasminah Respes HubermanIn this special edition episode, I answer the questions that I usually ask other educators. I am a long-time educator who began as an assistant in my mother's classroom when I was 13 years old. I have taught in many different school settings. My focus now is on this podcast, and on teaching my own children. Parenting Course, Parenting On Purpose: https://la-med-learning-center.teachable.com/p/parenting-on-purpose-developing-a-deeper-connection-with-your-childrenGems:We are always able to have a connection to Hashem.Keep Hebrew names.As parents, we must give our children a foundation to build on their Yiddishkeit.B...2024-01-0736 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast99: Finding an Opportunity to Increase Your Knowledge with Local Jewish Teens and Advisors Jason Cohen and Judith HodaraJTLP Interview: Jason Cohen is currently one of Harrisburg BBYO's chapter advisors. He joined as the chapter advisor here in Harrisburg in March of 2020. Prior to joining Harrisburg BBYO Jason was one of the co-advisors for Wilkes-Barre BBYO since 2011. Judith Hodara is the Director of the Jewish Teen Learning Project in Harrisburg, and an active member of local Jewish organizations. Her scholarly work focuses on the importance of Hillel on the college campus. Teens:Alex, 8th gradeMadelyn, 9th gradeJulia, 9th gradeYael, 9th grade 2023-12-2845 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast98: Bringing Judaism Alive with Esther Goldenberg Esther Goldenberg is a native Chicagoan, author, educator, and mother of two fabulous children. Once a reluctant reader, but always someone who enjoyed a good story, she developed a passion for writing. She is the author of The Out of the Box Bat Mitzvah, A Guide to Creating a Meaningful Milestone, and A Story Every Week: Torah Wisdom for Today's World. Her much anticipated Biblical fiction novel, The Scrolls of Deborah, is available now. Esther continues to write and teach students of all ages, and also enjoys adventures with her children, chanting with her neighbors, and walks in nature. He...2023-12-0347 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast97: Making a Difference in the Neshama of Our Students with Rabbi Scot A. BermanRabbi Scot A. Berman has over 30 years in the fields of Jewish education and Jewish communal life. He has served in many educational capacities including elementary, secondary, university, and adult education. Rabbi Berman has served as principal of a number of Jewish schools and founded during his career two Jewish high schools. He also served as Executive Director of a multi-million-dollar family foundation. Currently, Rabbi Berman is the Director of English-Speaking Countries for UnitEd, an initiative of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs in partnership with Herzog College to help support the work of Jewish day schools throughout the world. 2023-10-1337 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast96: Bringing Holiness Into Our Everyday Lives with Rabbi Sandy Eissengerg SassoRabbi Sandy Eissenberg Sasso served with her husband as Rabbi of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, Indianapolis, IN from 1977- 2013. She currently is the director of the Religion, Spirituality and the Arts Initiative at Butler University and the Christian Theological Seminary. In 1974, she became the first woman ordained from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia, PA. Rabbi Sasso earned her B.A. and M.A. from Temple University and her Doctorate of Ministry from the Christian Theological Seminary. She is the recipient of several honorary doctorates: Reconstructionist Rabbinical College; DePauw University; Butler University; Franklin College; and Christian Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union...2023-09-2948 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast95: Exploring the "modern midrash", known as Bibliodrama with Yael UntermanYael Unterman is an international lecturer, author, and Bibliodrama facilitator living in Jerusalem. She holds MAs in Jewish History and Creative Writing. Her books are Nehama Leibowitz: Teacher and Bible Scholar (finalist, 2009 National Jewish Book Awards) and The Hidden of Things: Twelve Stories of Love & Longing (finalist, 2015 USA Best Book Awards). She is an international lecturer and has facilitated over 700 workshops in the 'modern midrash' Bibliodrama method, invented by Harvard Professor Peter Pitzele. She has also published numerous essays, stories, and reviews, and created and performed her own biblical solo show, "After Eden". Gems:Expect delays o...2023-09-2058 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast94: Empowering Students with Methodology and Technique with Dr. Abraham UngerDr. Abraham Unger has been the Tikvah Fund’s Director of Regional Education since 2021. In that capacity, he has managed the launch and growth of the Millstone Scholars National Honors Program in Jewish Thought for middle school students across the country. This weekly afterschool program in Jewish ideas covers the Biblical through contemporary periods and meets in-person in discussion-driven seminar groups in all regions of the U.S. Before joining Tikvah, Dr. Unger served for 15 years as Director of Urban Programs at Wagner College, where he received tenure as a professor in Wagner’s Department of Government and Politics. He ov...2023-09-131h 00The Jewish Education Experience Podcast93: Teaching Jewish Values in Secular Subjects with Zahava BauerZahava Bauer grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey and attended RYNJ and Maayanot there. She then ventured to Israel and attended Midreshet Harova, and then made her way to Stern College in NY where she double majored in English Literature and Jewish Education. She then completed a dual masters at Graduate Program for Advanced Talmud Study and Azrieli, finishing also with teaching certification in English for grades 7-12. Throughout this time, she worked in many camps including Mesorah, Stone, NCSY Israel trips, and Camp Shoshanim. Zahava teaches Language Arts as well as Holocaust Studies at Caskey Torah Academy’s mi...2023-08-0638 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast92: Meaning-Mining with Your Students with Aviva LauerAviva Lauer is the Director of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators. She majored in Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women, and earned a Master’s degree in Midrash at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies. Aviva is a Jewish educator with 25 years of experience in curriculum development, classroom teaching, school administration and educational consulting. Upon making Aliyah in 1996, Aviva developed formal and informal educational materials for Melitz and at the Leo Baeck Education Center, where she also gained experience in teaching pluralistic Judaism. She then served as the head of the department of Jewish Stud...2023-07-3033 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast91: Imparting Knowledge to Students with Rabbi Rick SchindelheimRabbi Rick Schindelheim has taught Jewish History, Tanakh and Talmud at the Fuchs Mizrachi School in Cleveland, OH since 2013. He currently serves as the chair of the Talmud Department and is the Upper School Judaic Studies Coordinator. His informal educational experience includes over a decade of work at Camp Stone in a variety of capacities. After studying in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh in Israel for three years, Rick earned his B.A. in psychology from Yeshiva College and studied at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (REITS). He is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and earned his Mast...2023-07-2435 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast90: Special 90th Episode: Surveys of the Jewish Community with Rabbi Mark TrencherRabbi Mark Trencher is the president of Nishma Research, which has been studying the Orthodox Jewish Community since 2015. He lives in West Hartford, Connecticut, but considers himself a “Brooklyn Boy,” having grown up in the very first chasidish shtiebel in Flatbush. He received semicha from RJJ (the Rabbi Jacob Joseph School), taught in three Orthodox day schools and three universities. He also has served as president of a shul, a day school, a kashrut organization and as a Jewish film festival chair, and is currently on the board of directors of the National Council of Young Israel. Upon his reti...2023-07-1647 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast89: Preparing Our Students for the Future with Michelle FarbmanMichelle Farbman is the Dean of Students at Shulamith school for girls in Long Island, NY. She began teaching in 2008 at YCQ in NY. She was a morah there for 6 years and continued on to the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, NY where she was a morah and became director of Middle school girls. After being there for 7 years, Michelle came to Shulamith as a new administrator. She received her Bachelors in education from Stern college, a masters in education from Queens college, and completed the YU leadership program. Gems:As a new educator, take advantage of...2023-06-2537 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast88: Raising and Instructing Children Through Culture with Rabbi Mitchell RocklinRabbi Mitchell Rocklin is the academic director and dean of the Lobel Center for Jewish Classical Education. His prior work on Jewish Classical Education as a research fellow with Tikvah was featured in the Wall Street Journal. He received his PhD in history from the CUNY Graduate Center, held postdoctoral fellowships at Princeton University and Yeshiva University, and taught at both CUNY and Princeton. He is also a chaplain in the Army National Guard with the rank of Major. Rabbi Rocklin is also the president of the Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty, as well as a member of the...2023-06-1847 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast87: Becoming The Educator Others Will Want to Emulate with Naomi HollanderNaomi Hollander grew up in Brookline, MA. She attended Maimonides school through 12th grade. She then attended michlalah in Yerushalayim and then got her BA from Stern College in NY. She worked at Manhattan Day School and Yeshiva of Central Queens and now has been at Shulamith School for Girls for the past 16 years teaching second grade Judaic studies. Gems:Find another educator you can emulate.We can also become the educator that others will want to emulate.Explain how we create things versus how Hashem creates things.Be honest with your children/students.Children need to...2023-06-1134 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast86: Teaching Your Child to Know Themselves and Think for Themselves with Esty FreundEsty Freund is an educator with over a decade of experience in Kiruv and she is closing in on her eighth year in Jewish education. She has dedicated herself to teaching the next generation of Jewish women and mothers. Her career has taken her from serving as an assistant and teacher at HALB, (The Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, NY) to teaching for CAHAL, (Communities Acting to Heighten Awareness and Learning), geared towards children with learning differences, and now at Shulamith, also in NY. Throughout these roles, Esty has consistently focused on nurturing and inspiring her students to develop...2023-06-0447 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast85: Aiming to Be the Best Educator You Can Be with Rabbi Chaim JachterRabbi Chaim Jachter is a prominent rabbi who serves as the rabbi at Congregation Shaarei Orah, the Sephardic Congregation of Teaneck, NJ and is a popular Torah teacher at the Torah Academy of Bergen County, NJ. He also serves as a Dayan on the Beth Din of Elizabeth, NJ and has acquired an international reputation of excellence in the area of Get administration. He has authored fifteen books on issues ranging from contemporary Halacha, Tanach, Aggada, and Jewish Thought. His weekly columns are available at www.koltorah.org, www.yutorah.org, and www.jewishlink.news and are read by th...2023-05-2125 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast84: Inspiring Students to Learn with Rabba Daniella PressnerRabba Daniella Pressner is Head of School at the Akiva School in Nashville, TN. Born in Jerusalem, and raised in Chicago, Daniella received her BA from Barnard College in Religion and Dance and her MA from Vanderbilt University in Jewish Studies. She has studied at Drisha, Pardes, the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was awarded a prestigious DSLTI fellowship for future leaders of Jewish Day schools. Daniella currently serves on the Board of the Jewish Middle School in Nashville. She has taught nationally on curricular design & implementation, teacher/child support and differentiation, and children and spirituality. Daniella received ord...2023-05-0841 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast83: Planting the Seeds in the Next Generation with Rabbi Avery JoelRabbi Avery Joel has been at the Fuchs Mizrachi School in Cleveland, OH since 2008 as a teacher, the Principal of the Stark High School, and now as the Head of School. Prior to moving to Cleveland, Rabbi Joel served as a teacher and grade coordinator in the Ramaz Upper School in NY and was heavily involved in camps and other experiential education settings. Following two years of studying Torah at Yeshiva Sha'alvim in Israel, Rabbi Joel received his BA in Economics, MA in Jewish Education, Doctorate in Educational Administration, and rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University. Rabbi Joel also received...2023-04-0231 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast82: The More You Give, the More You Get with Orit LasserOrit Lasser was born in Israel but spent her teenage years with her family in New Jersey, where she attended Bruriah High School. She has a first degree in Education with focus on Tanakh and Oral Law, and a second degree in NPO Management from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She learned for three years in Midreshet Lindenbaum and in various different frameworks and Beit Midrash programs. Orit has worked in both formal and informal education in various different roles; as a Judaic Studies teacher and class teacher, and as the founder and principal of the Be’er Mamad Ele...2023-03-2654 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast81: Creating a Spiritual Identity with Slovie Jungreis WolffSlovie Jungreis Wolff is a noted teacher, author, relationships and parenting lecturer. She is the leader of Hineni Couples and daughter of Rebbetzen Esther Jungreis. Slovie is the author of the parenting books, Raising A Child With Soul and The Soul of Parenting. She gives weekly classes and has lectured throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Panama, and South Africa. You can reach slovie at sloviehineni@gmail.com. Gems:Enjoy the beauty of Shabbat to reconnect with what’s important.Never lose your emuna and kindness.It’s not just about education, it’s about connection.Childre...2023-03-0541 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast80: Special Edition 80th Episode: Highlights from Our Top Ten InterviewsIn this episode we take a visit down memory lane and feature highlights from our top ten most popular interviews. Rabbi Elazar Grossman: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1257653/stats/episodes/9122149-learning-to-engage-students-intellectually-and-emotionally-with-rabbi-elazar-grossmanRabbi Gil Perl: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1257653/stats/episodes/9096009-figuring-out-the-bigger-picture-with-education-with-rabbi-gil-perlRabbi Moshe Yosef Gewirtz: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1257653/stats/episodes/6799222-teaching-students-not-subjects-with-rabbi-moshe-yosef-gewirtzDanit Schusterman: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1257653/stats/episodes/8857156-learning-to-meet-our-students-where-they-are-with-jewish-homeschool-blog-founder-danit-schustermanRabbi David Wolpe: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1257653/stats/episodes/10687470-education-that-changes-us-from-the-inside-out-with-rabbi-david-wolpeRuchi Koval: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1257653/stats/episodes/9964418-constructing-the-soul-with-ruchi-kovalRabbi Gamliel Respes:https://www.buzzsprout.com...2023-02-2616 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast79: Teaching Students How to Think On Their Own with Rabbi Menachem LeibtagRabbi Menachem Leibtag is the founder of the Tanach Study Center www.tanach.org. He is an internationally acclaimed bible scholar and pioneer of Jewish Education on the internet. Rabbi Leibtag teaches at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel. He is best known for his ability to teach students how to study Tanach. Rabbi Leibtag also teaches at Matan, Midreshet Lindenbaum, & Yeshivat Shaalavim; and routinely lectures around the globe, primarily as a Scholar in Residence in communities in North America.Gems:Gap program shapes the community.Give students the tools to take ownership of their learning.Teach...2023-02-0930 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast78: Teaching with Closeness and Love with Shaindel HechtShaindel Hecht, is a shluchah to the University of Connecticut along with her husband since 2005. She has been an early childhood educator at the Hebrew Academy now known as New England Hebrew Academy for close to 17 years. She brings her creativity to life inside her Reggio inspired classroom. Gems: Find ways to point out the gifts of each student.Show Hashem’s presence with all that we do.Help students turn outside challenges into fuel to show their pride in being Jewish.Closeness and love are a lot more effective than fear and intimidation. Reward good behavior...2023-02-0340 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast77: Teacher Led Learning and Child Exploration with Chedvi and Miri from Alef Bet SensoryChedvi and Miri the sisters behind Alef Bet Sensory. They believe children learn best by a multi-sensory approach to learning. Their tactile Alef - Bet products provide a multi-sensory way for the little ones to learn about the Alef - Bet.Gems:Allow children to learn and explore materials through play.Live with Judaism.Education is something that we have to do.Model the behavior we want our students to follow.We are the guides.Teacher-led learning, child exploration.Create an environment which makes the child curious.Teach through all of the senses.Incorporate different modalities...2023-01-2935 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast76: Teaching Judaism Using Different Modalities with Nechama Liba BackerNechama Liba Backer expressed interest in Judaic studies, art, and working with people from a young age and has been involved ever since! She earned an Associates Degree in Fine Arts and a Bachelors in Judaic Studies after attending two years in seminary in Jerusalem, where she received a teachers certification. After teaching art for years privately and in several institutions in Baltimore, MD, Nechama Liba fulfilled her dream of moving to Israel where she currently resides. She now teaches Judaics and art mainly online to students of all ages and stages. Her philosophy is that learning, especially Torah...2023-01-1537 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast75: Enhancing Your Consciousness with Rabbi Daniel KorobkinRabbi Daniel Korobkin is the Mara D’Atra of the BAYT (Beth Avraham Yosef of Toronto) in Thornhill, Ontari,o Canada, and honorary president of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA). Gems:Inspiring teachers can help inspire their students.Look for opportunities to help people grow spiritually.G-d is the background of everything a Jewish educator has to discuss.It’s important to have clarity with what you believe.You don’t have to have all of the answers.Allow students to question.Education is the process whereby a student enhances their consciousness, and a teacher enhance...2023-01-0146 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast74: Finding What Resonates With Your Students with Goldie PlotkinGoldie Plotkin, a native New Yorker, is a Rebbetzin and Shlucha (Chabad emissary) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Together with her husband, Rabbi Avrohom Plotkin, they run a vibrant and successful Synagogue and Chabad House. She has been the director of Torah Tots preschool for 35 years and is the Executive Director of Tamim Academy. Goldie presented the Keynote address at the Chabad Annual convention in NYC, the largest gathering of Jewish Women in the world. Goldie was also invited to address the Knesset on matters of Marriage Enrichment and coaching young couples in Israel. Goldie sits on the board of the...2022-12-1834 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast73: Creating Relevancy Through Torah with Rabbi Howard FinkelsteinRabbi Howard Finkelstein is the former rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel, Kingston, Ontario, Canada and Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Beit Tikvah, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He was the founding rabbi and Judaic principal of Yitzhak Rabin High School (full day school high school) Ottawa, Ontario. He is also the Jewish Studies Head Emeritus of the Ottawa Jewish Community School. Rabbi Finkelstein earned a B.A. in Political Science, M.S. in Jewish Secondary Education and his Semicha from Yeshiva University. He earned a secondary Master’s in Education from NYU. He has a certificate of educational leadership from Harvard Graduate Sc...2022-12-1143 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast72: Teaching Literacy With Nechamy SegalNechamy Segal is the Founder and Lead English & Hebrew Specialist of Scenic Route Literacy and Hebrew Scouts. Drawing on her experiences and professional training as a classroom teacher, special education coordinator, clinical interventionist, graduate-level professor of reading, and mom of six, Nechamy provides a perfect blend of academic structure with a nurturing sensitivity. Nechamy loves long nature walks in Prospect Park (the source of inspiration for the name Scenic Route Literacy). She is passionate about reading and literacy, and her idea of bliss is when there’s a book in everyone’s hand. Gems: Never fee...2022-12-0743 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast71: Bringing Creativity to Learning with Batsheva FrankelBatsheva Frankel worked in the film industry for many years but decided to leave it for a more meaningful career in education. Using her creativity, she taught in various school settings, and is now an educational consultant. Batsheva teaches professional development workshops and courses through New Lens Ed. She has a Masters of Arts in Teaching from The American Jewish University and a Bachelor’s Degree in drama from NYU which prepared her for creating a podcast called Overthrowing Education (available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google and other platforms). More recently, Batsheva has partnered with Dr. Sandra Lilienthal and Sa...2022-09-2543 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast70: How to Create Life-Long Learners with Chanie KirschnerChanie Kirschner is the director of Gesher Judaic Studies Program, an afternoon Judaic studies program for children in grades K-6. She holds a Masters in Jewish Education and has over 20 years of experience both in formal and informal Jewish education. She created Gesher to provide an affordable, yet comprehensive Judaic studies program for elementary-age students not in Jewish day school in Boca Raton, FL. Gesher has now solidified its’ presence in the national Jewish community and has expanded course offerings to meet the needs of more students. Chanie is passionate about education, bringing Jewish studies to life, and...2022-09-1949 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast69: Understanding the Big Ideas with Sara Stave BeckermanSara Stave Beckerman is a Jewish educator, curriculum writer and consultant. Educated and inspired by her studies at JTS's Davidson School of Jewish Education, Sara earned her MA in Jewish Studies with a concentration in informal Education in 2004. She has been making an impact in the world of Hebrew schools and Jewish camps for over 20 years, serving as teacher, edTech consultant and Rosh Hinuch at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. Sara has taught in the day school setting for 18 years, focusing most recently on Rabbinic texts, Tefillah and Israel Advocacy. She is also the founder and CEO of Sababa Book...2022-09-0230 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast68: Opening the Pathways to Connection with Dr. Sandra LilienthalDr. Sandra Lilienthal is a sought-after speaker who is known for drawing adult audiences into the relevant wisdom and inspiring potential of Jewish texts. Born and raised in Brazil, and currently residing in Florida, Dr. Lilienthal has taught diverse audiences all over the world. She is a faculty member of the Hebrew University's Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, an adjunct professor at Gratz College, and a member of JNF's Speakers Bureau. Dr. Lilienthal has served as the Education Director of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's Global Day of Jewish Learning, and she is on the boards of Limmud North...2022-08-251h 01The Jewish Education Experience Podcast67: Increasing the Spiritual Thirst of Your Students with Rabbi Aaron FrankRabbi Aaron Frank who comes from a family of educators, is currently Head of School at the Kinneret Day School in Riverdale, NY. Prior to coming to Kinneret, Rabbi Frank was the Associate Principal at SAR High School. Before moving to New York, he worked at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School in Baltimore, MD for twelve years, serving as Lower School and then as High School Principal. A graduate of the Jerusalem Fellows program at the Mandel Leadership Institute in Jerusalem as well as of the Principals’ Center at Harvard Graduate School of Education, Rabbi Frank serves on...2022-08-1928 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast66: Building a Culture of Learners with Sarah RudolphSarah Rudolph is a freelance educator, writer, and editor with a passion for learning and sharing Torah. Among other things, she directs Torah Tutors and serves on the editorial committee of Tradition, an Orthodox Jewish academic journal. Sarah is privileged to learn with students all over the world.Gems:Develop as a learner yourself.Focus on who you can help.Spend time observing other classes.There’s a lot you can do with students of different ages if you frame it right.Help your students develop a deeper appreciation for diving into Torah texts.Education must be...2022-08-1235 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast65: Why Education Matters with Rabbi Jonny Solomon (Your Virtual Rabbi)Rabbi Jonny Solomon is an educator, scholar, editor, and “Virtual Rabbi” who provides online spiritual coaching, Halachic consultations, and one-to-one learning for those who need a Rabbi. Gems: Through the art of teaching, we can change lives!Teachers who invest time in trying to educate as best as they can, will change their own lives as well.Teachers need teachers.Important to have someone who is a Rabbinic influence in addition to teachers. Teachers are there to push you in the way you should be going.Our relationship with G-d is personal and emotional.Speak a...2022-07-2947 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast64: Looking at the Big Picture with Marie RosenthalMarie Rosenthal is passionate about helping parents choose and find the best path for their children's education that helps create a happy, healthy creative child and a calm confident parent. After more than 20 years as a homeschool mom and teaching at informal day schools and afterschool programs she now offers consulting services and tutoring. Morah Marie offers private or group zoom sessions and in person sessions when feasible. She has training and experience in special education and currently works as a Kriah specialist in a local school. Morah Marie also offers free half hour Consulting sessions. Gems:2022-07-2245 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast63: Developing models for Experiential Learning with Rabbi Dovid OsofskyRabbi Dovid Osofsky is born and raised in Baltimore, MD. He is currently Second Grade Assistant rebbe in Ohr Chadash Academy, Baltimore, MD. He attended Mechinas Ner Yisroel for high school and Yehshivas Meor Yitzchok in Monsey for 3 years after high school. He has tutored elementary school, middle school and high school boys for several years, some of whom have been diagnosed with disabilities including ADHD/ADD, language processing disorders as well as one student with Down's Syndrome. Rabbi Osofsky shadowed and privately taught a high-schooler with physical and learning disabilities for two years. He also founded a groundbreaking...2022-07-1536 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast62: Giving Students the Tools of Self-Discovery with Melissa PerlMelissa Perl is the Assistant Principal at Katz Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton, FL. Prior to that she was the Director of Limudei Kodesh at Kohelet Yeshiva High School and the PK-12th grade Assistant Principal at the Margolin Hebrew Academy in Memphis, TN. Melissa earned her Bachelor's degree from Stern College for Women in both Judaic Studies and Psychology, she holds a Master’s Degree in Bible from Yeshiva University, certificates in Teacher Mentoring, Student Support, Differentiated Instruction, and Educational Technology, and has completed all but her dissertation for her Doctorate of Education.Gems:Don’...2022-07-0634 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast61: Fostering An Ongoing Connection to Judaism with Dr. Zipora SchorrDr. Zipora Schorr comes from a family of Jewish educators. She is the Director of Education at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School in Baltimore, MD. Prior to coming to Beth Tfiloh, Dr. Schorr was the principal of Beth Shalom Nursery and Hebrew School in Potomac, MD. While serving as principal, Dr. Schorr developed the curriculum and recruited staff and students. She received the 2003 Covenant Foundation Award for Exceptional Jewish Educators, was also named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, and has received the Governor’s Citation in recognition of her life’s work. She was awarded Outstanding Educator in the Di...2022-06-2436 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast60: Creating an Interactive Classroom with Chavi AbramsonChavi Abramson, born and raised in Baltimore, MD, is a middle school Judaics teacher at Ohr Chadash Academy in Baltimore. She has been in education for 15 years. Chavi has a Masters in Negotiations and Conflict Management. Throughout her career in education, she has taught high school Judaics, kindergarten general studies, and more recently began teaching middle school Judaics. Chavi is involved as a lay leader in Baltimore's Associated and currently CO-chair their Young Leadership Council. Gems:Don’t be afraid to teach different grade levels.Build relationships with your students.Look for different ways to...2022-06-1646 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast59: Creating "Engineers" of Jewish Education with Rabbi Evan WeinerRabbi Evan Weiner is the Judaic Studies Instructional Coach at Ohr Chadash Academy in Baltimore, MD. Rabbi Weiner holds a BA in Jewish, Islamic, and Near Eastern Studies from Washington University in St. Louis, MO as well as a Masters of Jewish Education from Yeshiva University’s Azrieli School of Jewish Education. He also serves as the Educational Director of NCSY Camp Sports. Through his involvement with JNTP (The Jewish New Teacher Project), he mentors other Jewish educators. In his teaching and his work as educational director, Rabbi Weiner has demonstrated a strong sense of leadership with a track re...2022-06-0940 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast58: Education That Changes Us from the Inside Out with Rabbi David WolpeRabbi David Wolpe, named The Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World by The Jerusalem Post, and twice named one of the 500 Most Influential People in Los Angeles Business Journal, is the Max Webb Senior Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, CA. Rabbi Wolpe previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in NY, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. A weekly columnist for The New York Jewish Week and weekly Torah columnist for The Jerusalem Post, Rabbi Wolpe published and profiled...2022-05-2637 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast57: Finding Ways to Reinvent Yourself with Rabbi Meirav KallushRabbi Meirav Kallush is the Director of Israel Education at Golda Och Academy Day School in West Orange NJ, here she has the privilege of sending the Freshman class to a 10-day visit to Israel and the Senior class to a 3- month walking/hiking trip, allowing them to explore Israeli society. Meirav was ordained in 2014 by the Israeli Rabbinic program at Hebrew Union College Jerusalem. Prior to Rabbinical School she served as a shlicha for the Reform Movement and RSY-Netzer in the UK, she worked as the director of education for the Jewish Agency's young shlichim department and...2022-05-1947 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast56: Looking at the Heart and Neshama of Your Students with Rabbi Yehoshua ShapiroRabbi Yehoshua Shapiro, born and raised in Baltimore, MD, he is the Associate Principal of Bais Yaakov High School in Baltimore, MD. He followed in his father’s footsteps of becoming an educator. He attended Talmudical Academy of Baltimore [aka Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim-T.A.] for Pre-School thru 12th Grade. Rabbi Shapiro learned in Yeshivat Kol Torah in Jerusalem, Israel, after high school and returned to learn in Ner Israel Rabbinical College for the next nine years, and received his Semicha ordination from the Rosh HaYeshiva, Horav Y.Y. Ruderman zt”l. He earned a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Acco...2022-05-1347 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast55: Building a Support Network with Rabbi Dani MeiselsRabbi Dani Meisels is currently a Rebbi in Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh's Boys High School where he teaches Gemara and Chumash, as well as davening and topics on Jewish philosophy and history. In addition to teaching he works on marketing material for Hillel Academy and runs Hillel's Youth and Parent Education program, also known as HYPE. He has a background in fine art and storyboard illustration and experience in sales having worked in the building industry in Toronto, Canada for almost 8 years. Rabbi Meisels, and his family are always looking for ways to help in their community and to...2022-05-091h 14The Jewish Education Experience Podcast54: Lessons From a New Educator with Daniella QuinnDaniella Quinn is originally from Houston, Texas. She has experience working with elementary school children through high school students. She has worked as both a camp counselor and has led Shabbos groups. She spent a year after graduation studying in Bnos Avigail Seminary in Yerushalyim. She is currently an assistant in the first grade Judaics class at Ohr Chadash Academy of Baltimore, MD. Daniella is currently studying for a degree in Psychology from Touro University.Gems:Learn to reach the students where they are.Take advantage of the opportunity to learn from them.Treat your students l...2022-04-2829 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast53: Preparing Our Students for Life-Long Learning with Shira SenderShira Sender is the Director of Client Care and Teacher Support at ShalomLearning. Shira used ShalomLearning in her religious school classroom for many years before officially joining the ShalomLearning team in 2020. For over thirteen years, she has taught students both virtually and in the traditional classroom. Shira grew up in Upstate New York, where she received her BA in Psychology and Women’s Studies from the University of Buffalo. Later, she moved to Chicago, IL where she worked on her MA in Counseling Psychology from the Adler School. She worked for three years as a Crisis Counselor with at-risk yo...2022-04-0738 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast52: Defining Whether We Are Educators or Teachers with Sharly DigadkerSharly Digadker is currently a Judaics teacher at Farber Hebrew Day School. He graduated from the Polytechnic University in New York with a Master of Science in Management. He received a Bachelor of Education from the “Hachva” College in Israel with a concentration in special education and Hebrew literature. Prior to joining YULA, Sharly was principal of Masoret Yehudit and Judaic Teacher in RASG high school in Miami, FL. Sharly also was the head of Hebrew and Jewish studies in Allentown, PA and Silver Spring, MD. Sharly’s background includes serving as an Assistant Principal in Odessa, Ukraine. He was extrem...2022-03-3142 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast51: Validating Your Students with Rabbi Yisroel SmithRabbi Yisroel Smith is currently the Assistant Principal for the 5th-12th grade boys at Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh. Originally from Minneapolis, Rabbi Smith went to WITS in Milwaukee for high school, followed by 2 years in Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in Yerushalayim. He spent the next eight years studying under his Rebbe, Rabbi Shaya Cohen Shlit”a in Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh and Kollel Ner Yehoshua, where he had the privilege of participating in weekly Teacher Training sessions with Rabbi Cohen. While in Yeshiva, he also received his Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Touro College and his Master’s degree in Jew...2022-03-2534 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast50: Creating a Holistic Learning Approach with Onit ZissermanOnit Zisserman has been a beloved teacher for over 20 years. She has taught at OROT, Ben Porat Yosef, SINAI, Chabad Garden School, Cheder, has been the Jewish Educational Consultant for Federation Early Learning Services and is now the programming coordinator at Adath Jeshurun Preschool in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. Onit has been organizing and running summer and Pesach day camps for 5 years. During the pandemic lockdown, Morah Onit began a sing-along program for children stuck at home. It attracted over 2,000 viewers for her daily show! Gems:Expose children to Hebrew at a young age.Nobody is static; we...2022-03-181h 06The Jewish Education Experience Podcast49: Helping Your Students Create Permanent Long-Lasting Change with Rabbi Akiva ZweigRabbi Akiva Zweig is a Rosh Yeshiva (Head of Yeshiva) and Dean of Students at the Talmudic University of Florida, located in Miami Beach. He studied for several years at Yeshivas Ner Israel in Baltimore, Maryland, and in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Israel, Talmudic University, and Yeshivas Bais HaTalmud. Rabbi Zweig has Bachelors' and Masters' degrees in Talmudic Law as well as Rabbinic Ordination from Talmudic University. He teaches the high school, and in both the undergraduate and graduate programs in the university. He lectures at the highest levels on Scripture, Talmudic law, Jewish history, Jewish philosophy, and Jewish...2022-03-0445 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast48: Developing Independent Learners with Rabbi Nachum Aaron KutnowskiRabbi Nachum Aaron Kutnowski grew up in Thornill, Ontario, Canada. He attended Yeshivas Eitz Chaim and Darchei Torah of Toronto. He continued his Jewish education in Eretz Yisrael at Derech Etz Chaim for a few years. He returned to Toronto and received an honors degree in English Literature from York University. After getting married, he became involved with the Kollel Ohr Yosef of Thornhill. After two years of working at a special educational school, he moved to Hamilton, Ontario and has been working as a Rebbi at the Hamilton Hebrew Academy for the past 7 years. He also founded the...2022-02-2445 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast47: Bringing Out the Greatness Within Each Student with Rabbi David BlockRabbi David Block is the Head of School at Shalhevet High School in Los Angeles, CA, where he previously served as the Associate Head of School and Judaic Studies Principal. He formerly worked as the Content and Curriculum Developer at Aleph Beta, taught Judaic Studies at Rambam Mesivta in New York, and was the recurring Scholar-in-Residence at the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach. He was formerly the Director of and singer in the Maccabeats. Rabbi Block received rabbinic ordination at Yeshiva University, where he also completed an M.A. in Jewish History, an M.S. in Education, and is c...2022-02-1838 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast46: Imparting Knowledge to Our Students with David BarishmanDavid Barishman, originally from South Africa, is currently a 10th Grade Jewish History teacher at Shalhevet High School in Los Angeles, California. He previously taught Judaics and history at various schools both in South Africa and in LA. In addition, he worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District for twelve years as a history teacher. David is also the director for a Jewish learning center for grades 1-5. Gems:Look for ways to best educate our students and best help them to learn effectively.Sometimes there are no perfect answers.Model your belief which will b...2022-02-1040 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast45: Developing a Vision of the Future by Creating Good Memories with Rabbi Micah LapidusRabbi Micah Lapidus, Ed.D. is The Director of Jewish and Hebrew Studies at The Alfred & Adele Davis Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. Having served in his current position since 2008 he is an advocate for Jewish Day School education. A former board member of the CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) as well as PARDES: Day Schools of Reform Judaism, Rabbi Micah is also a composer of Jewish and spiritual music with 5 albums and many more to come. You can find his music on his website: micahlapidus.com.Gems:Encourage students to have a conversation about G-d...2022-02-0639 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast44: Constructing the Soul with Ruchi KovalRuchi Koval is the co-founder and Associate Director of Congregation JFX, an innovative community in Cleveland, Ohio. She has been a Jewish educator for two decades, leading self-development groups for adults and teens, and mentoring educators around the world. Ruchi is a certified parenting coach, motivational speaker, musician, author, and mother. She is a Trip Leader for Momentum, inspiring hundreds of women on their journeys in Israel. Ruchi is also a columnist for the Cleveland Jewish News, and the author of two books:"Conversations with G-d,"and “Soul Construction.” Find Ruchi on Facebook, Instagram and MeaningfulMinute; on her blog at o...2022-01-2747 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast43: Drawing Down the Spiritual Light with Bracha GoetzBracha Goetz (Getz) is the Harvard-educated author of 40 books that help children’s souls shine. She also wrote Searching for G-d in the Garbage, a memoir for adults about overcoming food addictions and becoming observant. Her books can be found on the Bracha Goetz Amazon author page and on her website: goetzbookshop.com.Gems:Share your own sense of wonder.Make Torah come alive.G-d is about infinite love, infinite wisdom, and infinite goodness.We want our children to experience the greatest pleasure in life and that’s also what Hashem wants.When our soul shines, we a...2022-01-0628 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast42: Cultivating a Sense of Hope and Joy with Your Students with Rabbi Danny NevinsRabbi Danny Nevins has led three Jewish organizations since being ordained in 1994. He was senior rabbi of Adat Shalom in Farmington Hills, MI. He served as Dean at JTS Rabbinical School for fourteen years. In the summer of 2021, Rabbi Nevins began his current position as Head of School at Golda Och Academy, in West Orange, NJ. He is also a scholar of modern Jewish law. He has written many responsa on topics of modern Jewish life. You may find his publications at www.rabbinevins.com.Gems:The goal is to be a teacher of Torah, caregiver...2021-12-2845 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast41: Knowledge As a Frozen Concept in Time with Rabbi Eliezer RubinRabbi Eliezer Rubin is currently the Head of School at The Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy/Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, NJ. He began his career in Israel, where he studied at Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav before receiving semicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. In addition to teaching many young men and women at Israeli yeshivot and seminaries for their gap year, he served as an officer in Tzahal and as Chaplain of the renowned 13th Brigade (Golani). Prior to leading JKHA/RKYHS, Rabbi Rubin enjoyed an18-year-long career at the Ramaz School, where he served as Headmaster...2021-12-1440 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast40: Tapping Into the Imagination In Order to Create "That Jewish Moment" With Sari KopitnikoffSari Kopitnikoff is a Jewish educator, illustrator, and author. She founded That Jewish Moment in 2014 in order to spread positivity about Judaism. She is passionate about creating books, games, activities, shows, and virtual challenges that bring Judaism to life. For the last decade, Sari has taught elementary, middle, and high school, but her creativity and energy have reached beyond the classroom, bringing the sparks of Jewish life to all parts of the world.Gems:Use your strengths wisely.Be willing to be vulnerable.Practice what you preach.Modeling is important.Our mission is to share the...2021-12-0730 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast39: Giving Something To Your Students that Will Last A Lifetime with Rabbi Eli ZiansRabbi Eli Zians is the Director of Jewish & Student Life for grades K-8 at Brauser Maimonides Academy in Hollywood, FL, and he teaches middle school. He is the Teen Director for the Boca Raton Synagogue and the former Director for NCSY's JOLT Summer Program where he led high school groups through Poland, Germany/Austria and Israel for the past 8 years. Eli also served as Program Director for the Ronald Lauder Foundation throughout central Europe where he ran numerous Pesach, winter and summer programs for Russian immigrants living in Germany. He has since opened his own summer day camp, Camp...2021-11-1840 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast38: Making An Impact in Education with Rabbi Benjy OwenRabbi Benjy Owen has served as Head of School of Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South in Memphis, TN since 2015. During his tenure, this PreK-12th grade Day School and High School Dormitory institution has experienced significant growth in enrollment and has conducted a major building campaign and campus renovation effort. The school has a strong and cohesive community. Prior to moving to Memphis, Rabbi Owen was a faculty member of Northwest Yeshiva High School in Seattle, WA for 19 years-serving of Dean of Judaic Studies and Assistant Head of School for many of those years. He has served...2021-11-1133 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast37: Creating a Positive Impact On Your Students with Aryeh BaraschAryeh was born in Brooklyn NY and graduated from Jewish Educational Center high school in Elizabeth, NJ. He previously taught history at Yeshiva Toras Emes in Brooklyn, NY and taught at Yeshiva of Central Queens and Yeshiva Derech Eres of Brooklyn, he now has come full circle as he teaches in JEC. Gems:90%of of teaching is classroom management.If you can connect with your students, you can teach.Class size has an effect on class discussion.Balance between individual education while also having a social part.Education is finding out how to impact your students i...2021-11-0133 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast36: Adding Play to Education with Rabbi Doctor Judd LevingstonRabbi Doctor Judd Kruger Levingston has served as Director of Jewish Studies at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr, PA since 2009. Before coming to Barrack, he taught and held senior positions at Rebecca and Israel Ivry Prozdor High School Program at The Jewish Theological Seminary, Solomon Schechter High School in NY, Chestnut Hill Academy, and Perelman Jewish Day School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has published widely on moral development and Jewish education and is the author of Sowing the Seeds of Character: The Moral Education of Adolescents in Public and Private Schools. His forthcoming book, The Moral...2021-10-2743 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast35: Educating The Next Generation of Jewish Leaders with Rachel ZivicRachel Zivic grew up in Chicago, attending Jewish Day School for elementary and high school. She is currently the Head of School/Principal at Kellman Brown Academy in Voorhees, NJ. Prior to becoming Head of School, she was the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Rachel also served on the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools Accreditation committee. Model compassion and supportive leadership.Important not to shy away from talking about G-d with children of all ages.Talking about G-d makes G-d manifest in our lives.It’s Ok not to have all the answers.Learn about what your...2021-10-1823 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast34: Fitting Life Into the Jewish Cycle With Rabbi Lori Forman-JacobiRabbi Lori Forman-Jacobi who is the Director of Jewish Journeys. She has worked in Jewish education for over 30 years, heading both a community congregational school and two Hebrew High schools in the New York Metropolitan Area. She was ordained from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1988 and was a member of the first rabbinical class that included female students. She is the co-editor of Sacred Intentions: Morning Inspiration to Strengthen the Spirit and Nighttime Inspirations to Calm the Soul. Gems:Education that allows students to encounter traditional texts and wrestle with them will allow them to grow i...2021-09-3026 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast33: Learning to Engage Students Intellectually and Emotionally with Rabbi Elazar GrossmanRabbi Elazar Grossman is a native of Brooklyn, NY. He is the Director of the Long Island Torah Network. He lives in Huntington, Long Island, NY. Rabbi Grossman attended the Rabbinical Seminary of America - Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim of Queens from 1995 - 2011. Rabbi Grossman believes that Torah study is the key to unlocking our potential in every area. He studied and taught in many cities from San Diego to Fort Worth to Miami. Rabbi Grossman continues to pursue his mission of bringing the joy of in-depth Torah study to the broader Jewish community. Gems:T...2021-09-0141 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast32: Figuring Out The Bigger Picture with Education with Rabbi Gil PerlRabbi Gil Perl is the CEO of the Ades Family Foundation and the founding Head of School of the Jewish Leadership Academy which is a middle and high school opening in Miami in 2023. He is the former Head of School at Kohelet Yeshiva in Merion Station, PA. He is the author of the book The Pillar of Volozhin: Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin and the World of Nineteenth Century Lithuanian Torah Scholarship. Rabbi Perl writes and lectures on topics including history of Modern Jewry, contemporary Jewish education, and Modern Orthodoxy. Rabbi Perl has a blog gilperl.com and you...2021-08-2750 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast31: Helping Students Learn by Teaching Others with Judy GronerJudy Groner has served as the Head of Perelman Jewish Day School since 2014. She was previously the head of B’nai Shalom Day School in Greensboro, NC. She is one of the founders of Kibbutz Hannaton, where she acte as Mazkira. While living in Israel, she also worked for Project Oren at Oranim Seminary. Judy began her career as a teacher at Solomon Schechter of Philadelphia, PA (now Perelman). She was Rosh Aidah for several summers at Camp Ramah in the Poconos- a formative educational experience. Gems:Educators can change a community.Wonder, reflect, and inspire.Eve...2021-08-1731 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast30: Helping Our Students Appreciate the Sacred with Rabbi Moshe SchwartzRabbi Moshe Schwartz is the Head of School at Krieger Schechter Day School in Baltimore, MD. He previously served as the Head of School at Kellman Brown Academy in Voorhees, NJ. He recently completed a two year Certificate in School Leadership and Management from the Harvard Business School and Harvard Graduate School of Education. Rabbi Moshe is a lifelong New York Jets and Mets fan. Gems:Model experiential learning.Welcome all questions.Make space to talk about G-d.Study the texts deeply.If we wrestle with G-d in our history and tradition, then we can engage w...2021-08-1234 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast29: Finding What Lights You Up with Rabbi Aaron HornRabbi Aaron Horn is the Associate Principal of Kohelet Yeshiva High School in Merion Station, PA. He earned his BA in Biology and Semicha from Yeshiva University. Previously, He served as Director of Middle School NCSY in NJ and as a Rabbinic intern at the Herzlia Adas-Yeshurun Synagogue in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Rabbi Horn has taught Gamara and Tanach to adults and children. Gems:Talk with high school students the same way you would talk with adults.Find opportunities for deep, meaningful conversations with your students.Education can happen at any time or in any environment.S...2021-08-0531 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast28: Learning to Meet Our Students Where They Are with Jewish Homeschool Blog Founder Danit SchustermanDanit Schusterman- is a Certified Montessori Primary Teacher and Educational Consultant with over 20 years of experience. She is the author of A Jewish Homeschool Blog and published a Kosher cookbook called Maui Kosher. Danit homeschooled her 5 children on the island of Maui, HI where she and her husband ran Chabad of Maui for 13 years. Currently, she teaches 4th grade and does education consulting.Gems:Learn to see each person for who they are and meet them where they are.Notice the Godliness in everything we do.Help children/students see the potential within themselves.Be an...2021-07-1340 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast27: Education Through Living with Samara SofianSamara Sofian is the head of school at The Silver Academy in Harrisburg, PA. Born and raised in Central PA, she is happy to have the opportunity to return home. She has been an Education Director in various Hebrew schools. She also served as Director of Development at the Silver Academy. Gems:Connect with G-d daily.Recognize the strengths that G-d has given your students.Education is the process of learning and growing.Learn to draw on your student’s strength to inspire learning.There is always room for improvement.Be the example. AmazonW...2021-07-0924 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast26: Becoming Facilitators Of Our Children's Education with The Founders of Ani Ve AmiIn this episode we interview the founders of the Ani Ve Ami curriculum: Amy Bodkin, Yehudis Litvak, and Malkie Swidler. Amy Bodkin is an Autistc Adult, School Psychologist, and Homeschool Mom to her two Autistic kids. She consults primarily with homeschool families as the Special Needs Consultant at Ani VeAmi and A Charlotte Mason Plenary. She works with families who have experienced chronic health conditions, disabilities, trauma, asynchronous development, etc. Her practice is guided by Charlotte Mason’s idea that “Children are born persons” and makes it her goal to see each child as an individual, not a diagno...2021-06-2841 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast25: Infusing Persian Culture in Education with Cantor Jacqueline RafiiCantor Jacqueline Rafii is the Cantor at Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills, California, where she develops and directs all musical programming, creative prayer experiences, and music education. Cantor Rafii had a previous career as an entertainment lawyer before switching career paths and following her calling. She is a Wexner Graduate Fellow, and as part of her Master’s Thesis collected and notated Persian-Jewish prayer melodies to bring awareness to global Jewish music. She is a composer and pianist, and sings in 5 languages.Teach students that we must be holy because we are made in the image of G...2021-06-2030 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast24: Telling A Compelling Story with Rabbi Ilyse KramerRabbi Ilyse Kramer is a long-time educator and former director of life long learning at Gesher in Harrisburg, PA. She is currently the director of Kesher: Connection at Columbia Jewish Congregation in Columbia, Maryland. She has extensive educational experience with both children and adults. Best way to reach students is to ask them what they think.Give students content that is meaningful.Encourage students to think.Learn to tell a compelling story.Show that you really care about your students.Allow students to ask tough questions.Your job is not to answer all their questions, it is to pl...2021-06-1337 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast23: Education as an Experience with Hilary GreenbergHilary Greenberg is an experienced teacher, education director and consultant. She has a master’s degree in Jewish Education from Gratz College and a doctorate in Education from The University of Pennsylvania. Prior to becoming a Jewish educator, Hilary received her law degree from UCLA School of Law. Currently, she is the co-founder of Move Better, which is a fitness training and lifestyle coaching company. Take your students’ lead.Education is a give and take between student and teacher.Be patient with yourself and students.Find a mentor.https://www.movebetter570.com/ AmazonWe rec...2021-06-0130 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast22: Solid Gems with Rabbi Yaakov WolbeIn this epic episode we interview Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe. Rabbi Wolbe is the Director of Outreach for TORCH, a Houston-based Jewish education and community outreach organization. He hosts six podcasts with listeners in over 118 countries. Rabbi Wolbe holds Rabbinic ordinations from Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, Chief Justice of the Supreme Rabbinical Court of Jerusalem and Aish HaTorah.Education is preparing someone for what they are going to do long-term. Teach children to pray/talk to G-d.Children need unconditional love.With G-d’s help, the high points will exceed the low points.He who does the work does the learning.Spark o...2021-05-2427 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast21: Helping Students Discover Their Place in the Universe with Rabbi Chaim GalfandRabbi Chaim Galfand is a former lawyer and is currently the Rabbi of Perelman Jewish Day school which has two campuses: one in Wynnewood, PA and the other in Melrose Park, PA. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA where he attended various Jewish day schools including Perelman. Rabbi Galfand trained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem, and the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, he has experienced and helped shape various models of what a Jewish spiritual community can and should look like. He has been a guest cantor at...2021-04-251h 05The Jewish Education Experience Podcast20: Lessons in Jewish Studies and Social Justice with Professor Aaron Hahn-TapperProfessor Aaron Hahn-Tapper, originally from Philadelphia, PA, now calls Northern California his home. He has been a professor at the University of San Francisco in Jewish studies for 14 years. He is the director of the Swig Program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice. Professor Hahn-Tapper is also the Executive Director of the Center for Transformative Education which was founded to create empowering educational programs to transform societies into their potential. Gems:Create learning opportunities from events that occur in the class.Be open to dialogue with your students.Continue to learn fro...2021-04-1840 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast19: New Innovation By Building Upon the Same Foundation with Rabbi Erez ShermanRabbi Erez Sherman is currently a rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, CA. He is originally from NY and is the brother of Rabbi Nogah Marshall- (listen to her episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1257653/8092562). He is also a graduate of Albert A. List College and Columbia University (with degrees in Music and Talmud), where he wrote his thesis, “Music in the Synagogue in the 21st Century. Rabbi Sherman is passionate about Judaism and working with the special needs community. In fact, he created KEEN (Kids Enjoying Exercise Now) Basketball Clinic for special needs children and the Sinai Temple Bas...2021-04-1141 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast18: Education Through Family Traditions with Dina EliezerDina Eliezer was born in Turkey and raised in Israel. After getting married, she and her husband lived in France for a few years where she started a school. After a few years, she and her family moved here to the U.S. We worked together at Temple Beth Sholom in Cherry Hill, NJ when she was the Education Director. She is passionate about Jewish education and building traditions. Dina spent a few years traveling with her husband before returning to the classroom. She currently teaches at Philadelphia Hebrew Charter School. Gems:Share Your Passion.Be f...2021-03-2156 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast17: Inspiring Students to Grow and Develop with Rabbi Jeff WohlgelernterIn this episode we interview Rabbi Jeff Wohlgelernter. He is the Rabbi Emeritus and founder of Congregation Adat Yeshurun in La Jolla, California. He and his son Ahron are avid podcasters themselves. Be sure to check out "Think Torah" and "Around the Shabbos Table" on the Intentional Jew Podcast Network (IJP) for some excellent content and thoughtful pedagogical tools and ideas which can be used at your own Shabbos Table and beyond. Rabbi Jeff lives in Israel and is an extraordinary, seasoned, and gifted Jewish Educator. Rabbi Jeff has a passion for learning, hospitality, and creativity, and loves to i...2021-03-1443 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast16: Creating Opportunities for Meaningful Experiences with Rabbi Nogah MarshallRabbi Nogah Marshall is the Education Director at Congregation Beth El in Voorhees, NJ. Born into a Rabbinic family, her father, brother, and sister-in-law who are also Rabbis. The education bug bit her from an early age and she knew she wanted to make a difference in the lives of Jewish children. Rabbi Marshall loves to create programs and believes in learning through doing.Gems:Parents are our first models.Incorporate experiences through doing.Ask questions.Share your love and passion for Judaism.Connect with your students.Be adaptable.You are making a difference in your...2021-03-0736 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast15: Connecting Instead of Correcting in the Classroom with Mrs. Wendy MarderMrs. Wendy Marder is one of my former Hebrew school teachers. As a child, she pretended she was a teacher with her brothers. Initially, Mrs. Marder was a public-school teacher, later, she became a Jewish educator after studying at Touro College in NY. Mrs. Marder was very involved in NCSY in high school. She taught Hebrew school throughout high school. Her first teaching job after she graduated was at West Chester Day School in Long Island, NY. After marrying her husband, Ami, she moved to New Jersey and has lived there ever since. She has been the Education Director at...2021-02-2856 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast14: Developing A Student-Centered Approach with Janet Luterman Janet Luterman is a colleague and esteemed educator. She began teaching in 1981 at Beth El in Margate, NJ. She has taught in several schools in the Philadelphia, PA area. We both taught at Beth Zion-Beth Israel in Philadelphia, PA several years ago. Currently, Janet lives in Israel on a Kibbutz in the north, near the Kinneret. She teaches English to Israeli children. Janet is inspired by her students and approaches education with an outside of the box and creative way. Special shout-out to Cindy Citron. You can listen to her episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1257653/6714724Gems:2021-02-2142 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast13: Becoming A Joyful, Meaningful, and Relevant Educator with Lillian RappaportLillian is a long-time educator born and raised in Harrisburg, PA. She taught French and Spanish at the Yeshiva of Flatbush in Brooklyn, NY. After she and her family moved back to Harrisburg, PA, she began to teach at Temple Ohev Shalom and Chisuk Emuna, then went on to become the Religious school director of Ohev Shalom for over twenty years. Lillian is also extremely passionate about Holocaust education, as a child of survivors, she organizes the Reading of the Names every year around the anniversary of the Holocaust. Gems:Fill a void by making a d...2021-02-1443 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast12: Education Through Doing with Rabbi Ami MonsonRabbi Ami Monson is a dear colleague and long-time educator who grew up in Philadelphia, PA, though now lives in Albany, NY. We taught together at Beth Zion-Beth Israel in Philadelphia, PA. We also were youth advisors for United Synagogue Youth. He comes from a family of Jewish educators. His father was the Hillel Rabbi of the University of Pennsylvania and his mother was a Jewish sociology professor and later Dean of Gratz College in Melrose Park, PA. Ami was the Program Director for Maccabi USA Sports for Israel for 11 and a half years. He recently received his semicha...2021-01-3151 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast11: Developing A Connection with Your Students That Lasts Forever with Rabbi Daniel LewinIn this episode we interview Rabbi Daniel Lewin. He has his semicha (Rabbinical Ordination) from Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim. He currently teaches (Keriah) reading skills to students at the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore, MD. Rabbi Lewin enjoys working with various ages and loves sharing the fundamentals of Torah values, Middot (character traits), and Philosophy. Take advantage of the opportunity to gain experience as a student teacher.Your students are always watching how you handle yourself and how you act. Find out how to reach each student.Let them know that G-d/Hashem loves them and is proud of them. Stu...2021-01-2540 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast10: How To Really "Get" Your Students with Avigayle AdlerAvigayle Adler is the founder of The Open Studio in Jerusalem, Israel. She is originally from Mount Laurel, NJ (a fellow South Jerseyan)! Avigayle founded The Open Studio in 2012 and has been teaching children and adults art ever since. She has been an artist-in-residence at camps and seminary programs across the U.S. and Israel. Her passion is bringing out the inner artist in each adult and child that she works with. Avigayle specializes in mosaics, glass painting, and paper cutting. Gems:Children want to know that you "get" them.Help children see that t...2021-01-1747 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast9: Bringing Quiet into the Classroom with Yael Nehama RespesYael Nehama, a mother of three, began by educating her children at home. Once they were grown up, she went back to school, discovered Montessori and she has been teaching ever since. Yael Nehama is currently a Montessori teacher at the Gan Chabad School in Lower Merion, PA. Gems:Breathe!Pray!Children build on the basics.Build a relationship with your students.Students can become guides to their fellow students.We are given the Torah as a guide.Modeling and living your life to help and support your students to live a better life. Inspire them, ex...2021-01-1037 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast8: Giving Ownership to the Learning Process with Joanna PowersJoanna Powers, shares how she ended up in Allentown, PA after being born and raised in NY. She shares her love of Judaism and how her school has adjusted during this pandemic. Joanna is the Judaics Director at the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley, in Allentown, PA, and she also teaches various grades there. She has always had a passion for education and enjoys sharing her love of Judaism with her students. Gems:Relate prayers as opportunities to thank G-d/Hashem for what we have.Talk about Hashem according to the level of each c...2021-01-0340 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast7: You Get What You Give with Ellis RosenbergEllis Rosenberg is an educator with over 30 years of experience. He currently lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and teaches at Ohev Shalom. He has taught at various schools both in Harrisburg and Allentown, Pennsylvania.Gems:You get what you give (when you show respect to others, you receive it back).Share your personal experience.Everything fits within the cycle that G-d/Hashem created.Admit when you have challenges.Make Judaism a priority.It is important to learn Torah, but respecting others is equally important.Inspire a feeling in your students that they're connected to the long-term history...2020-12-2739 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast6: How to Inspire, Create, Transform, and Celebrate with Cindy CitronIn this podcast, we interview Cindy Citron. Cindy is a long-time educator and is currently the education director of the Judy Sare Nursery school at Tiferet Israel in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Gems: Understanding Hebrew will help develop proper intention while praying. We may not see something all of the time, but we can feel it's presence.Children begin learning through song.Create experiences: inspire, create, transform, and celebrate.Engage in professional development (for example: Jedlabs).Ancient values that we learn are still relevant today.Resources: Jedlab on FacebookNew CAJE Jewish Learning VentureS...2020-12-2134 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast5: Becoming The Model For Your Students with Eilleen EisenbergEilleen Eisenberg, a friend of mine from Israel, she teaches drama to Hebrew school and Jewish day school students. She created a platform of self expression and combines Jewish teaching and Israeli themes in her acting programs. Gems: Everyone has a role.Children have a natural understanding of G-d/Hashem.Incorporate Hebrew as much as possible.The appearance of another is no indication of how observant they are.Share your passion with your students.Model to our students how to treat others with respect.When you fear and love G-d/Hashem, you will be mo...2020-12-1335 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast4: Teaching Students Not Subjects with Rabbi Moshe Yosef GewirtzIn this episode we interview Rabbi Moshe Yosef Gewirtz. Originally from New York, he and his family have made a home in Harrisburg, PA where he teaches Judaic Studies at the Silver Academy. He comes from a line of Jewish educators and has a passion for Judaism.Gems: Our relationship with G-d/Hashem deepens everyday.Put yourself in the shoes of your students.Love of Torah will aid you to grow closer to G-d/Hashem.We don't teach subjects, we teach students.Develop the personality traits in children (Middot).Doesn't matter how observant we are, we m...2020-12-1141 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast3: Learning How Small Bits of Wisdom Can Inspire with Chaim RespesIn this episode, we interview Chaim Respes. He is not only my cousin, but also a Jewish educator who has taught various ages. He currently teaches Hebrew high school students and leads them on their yearly trip to Israel. Chaim also runs prayer services at Congregation Beth El in Voorhees, New Jersey with children from kindergarten up to sixth grade.Gems:Small bits of wisdom can inspire students to want to learn more.Sometimes our students need to hear from other people.Our history is relevant today.We pray in Hebrew, however, its important to understand...2020-12-1030 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast2: Building On The Natural Wonder of Children with Gina TzizikIn this episode, we interview Gina Tzizik. Gina is a Montessori educator. She is an artist who has taught preschool children in a Montessori school and she currently trains Montessori teachers. Gina is in the process of pursuing a Master's in Jewish Education at Hebrew College in Massachusetts where she lives. Gems:Develop other interests outside of teaching.Allow children to explore their natural wonder.The foundation is built from birth up to age 5.Focus on long-term, not just the end result.Learning begins at home.AmazonWe receive a small commission f...2020-12-1029 minThe Jewish Education Experience Podcast1: Telling A Story with Rabbi Gamliel RespesIn this episode, we interview my dad, Rabbi Gamliel Respes. He is a long-time educator that has a passion for Judaism. He was taught by his father, Rabbi Abel Respes (z"l). Rabbi Gamliel Respes currently lives in Israel.Gems: Model at home as much as possible.Connect with Judaism yourself and you'll be able to share it with your students.Continue to tell our story.AmazonWe receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link.Buzzsprout - Let's g...2020-12-0727 min