Educator Training: Preparing to teach “HaTikvah: Our Hope for Israel” [Fall 2026]
Prepare to teach HaTikvah: Our Hope for Israel with this virtual educator training facilitated by Mikhael Kesher, who led the design process for this curricular unit. This one-off webinar, offered at two timeslots throughout the school year, is designed for those educators preparing to deliver the
Online
Who's coming?
14 educators are registered for this event.
EA
Esther Altaras Meyers
Brotherhood Synagogue (New York, NY)
RB
Ronit Bivas
Congregation B'nai Tikvah (N Brunswick, NJ) - CBT
JB
Julie Blair
Temple Ramat Zion (Northridge, CA)
SB
Sydney Bluman
Temple Emunah Religious School (Lexington, MA)
CH
Candice Hasson
HK
Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman
Congregation Agudath Sholom (Stamford, CT)
MK
MIndy Katz-Le Vine
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (Evanston, IL)
Prepare to teach HaTikvah: Our Hope for Israel with this virtual educator training facilitated by Mikhael Kesher, who led the design process for this curricular unit. This one-off webinar, offered at two timeslots throughout the school year, is designed for those educators preparing to deliver the unit in their classrooms.
This unit uses the cultural artifact of HaTikvah, Israel's national anthem, as the starting point for fourth- and fifth-graders to explore Israeli society and their own relationships with Israel. The materials were designed by The Jewish Education Project in consultation with expert educator and scholar Dr. Sivan Zakai.
The webinar will include:
a brief overview of the unit's learning arc, pedagogical structure, and big ideas
a lesson plan walkthrough
modeling an activity from the unit
discussion about the role of educators delivering the unit, and
plenty of time to address educators' questions!
Registrants are welcome to attend the webinar at either timeslot.
Mikhael Kesher is a curator of educational experiences and resources, whose professional passion is supporting Jewish educators and learners in building informed, constructive, and committed relationships with am yisrael (the Jewish people) and medinat yisrael (the Jewish state). As a British-born Israeli-by-choice and new American, he cares deeply about strengthening each Jew’s connection to global Jewry. Before joining The Jewish Education Project as Director, Israel Education, Mikhael worked at Harvard Hillel, MIT Hillel, and Hebrew College. He holds Master’s degrees in Philosophy (University of Cambridge), Near Eastern & Judaic Studies (Brandeis University), and Jewish professional leadership (Brandeis University). At home, Mikhael is an avid reader, ḥevruta enthusiast, and devoted abba to two young children.
