Adapting Podcast: The quest to transform part-time Jewish education with Rabbi Nicki Greninger

Join David Bryfman and Rabbi Nicki Greninger of Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, California for an animated conversation on what Rabbi Greninger insists we shouldn’t call "Hebrew School." Rabbi Greninger shares what makes today’s programs different from yesterday’s, what she’s doing to change the way students learn Hebrew, and how JQuest—Temple Isaiah’s education program for children 2 years old through 7th grade—is building Jewish identity, knowledge, and community through Jewish education.

"The word JQuest [for our part-time Jewish education program] is really intentional. A 'quest' implies something that is ongoing. You very rarely reach the end of the quest...It's a lifelong journey. We are figuring out what it means to be Jewish, and it might evolve over time."



Rabbi Nicki Greninger

Director of Lifelong Learning

Temple Isaiah, Lafayette, California

Adapting: The Future of Jewish Education is a production of The Jewish Education Project. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. 

This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein.  The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media.  If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.

 To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.     

Additional Resources:

JQuest @ Temple Isaiah

JQuest on YouTube

“Let’s Stop Calling it Hebrew School” on eJewishPhilanthropy

Let's Stop Calling it "Hebrew School": Rationales, Goals, and Practices of Hebrew Education in Part-time Jewish Schools — CASJE Study

2021 Part-Time School Census by The Jewish Education Project

How the Creation of “Tracks” Re-invigorated our Religious School on eJewishPhilanthropy