Reflections of Jewish Educators on their Mishlachat Areyvut - Two Months after October 7, 2023, edited by David Bryfman and Dina Nusnbaum
As a result of the events of the massacre in Israel on October 7, and its subsequent ripples through the Jewish world, a few colleagues, many of whom also happen to be good friends, who have been involved in Israel education for several years, determined that traveling to Israel was essential for leaders in the field of Israel education.
Our trip had three major objectives. The first was to be with our friends and colleagues, and to reassure them that as one people, we are there for each other in good times and in bad. The second was to bridge the perceived gap between what Jewish educators outside of Israel were just beginning to grasp, and what our Israeli counterparts are dealing with daily. And the third was to begin a discussion about how Israel and Jewish education might look different in a post-October 7 world. It was one of my most profound trips to Israel.
Upon conclusion of the trip, a few of us decided to collect our thoughts about Israel education at this challenging and historic moment in time.
The initial Mishlachat Areyvut was generously funded by the Jim Joseph Foundation.
- After School and Beyond
- Educator Training
- Congregational Learning
- Day Schools and Yeshivas
Simon Amiel, Executive Director of RootOne
Rabbi Ben Berger, Vice President for Jewish Education, Hillel International
Paul Bernstein, Founding CEO, Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools
Dr. David Bryfman, Chief Executive Officer, The Jewish Education Project
Abi Dauber Sterne & Robbie Gringras, Co-Directors, For the Sake of Argument
Jeremy J. Fingerman, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for Jewish Camp
Dr. Rachel Fish, Co-Founder of Boundless & Special Advisor to Brandeis University
Dr. Keren E. Fraiman, Dean and Chief Academic Officer, Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership
Tal Gozani, Founding Executive Director of the Israel Educational Travel Alliance (IETA)
Dr. Daniel Held, Chief Program Officer, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
Benjamin M. Jacobs, Ph.D, Associate Research Professor, The George Washington University
Shelley Kedar, Director, The Jewish Agency for Israel
Anne Lanski, Founding CEO, The iCenter
Shelley Marsh, Director of Collaborative Leadership, UJIA
Ben Pery, Chief Executive Officer, Momentum
Dr. Zohar Raviv, International VP of Educational Strategy, Taglit Birthright Israel
Michael Soberman, Senior Educational Consultant, The iCenter
Elizabeth Sokolsky, Executive Director, Birthright Israel North America
Rabbi Bradley Solmsen, Director of Congregational Education, Park Avenue Synagogue
Shuki Taylor, CEO, M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education
Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath, SD of Knowledge, Ideas, and Learning, TJEP
Noam Weissman, Executive Vice President, OpenDor Media (Unpacked)
Painting by Zev Engelmayer, artist, lecturer at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design