Our Jewish Futures Podcast: How Does Hebrew Factor into Jewish Education?

What can be done to improve Hebrew language teaching and learning? 

T'helah Ben-Dan, a long time teacher and student of Hebrew, has a few ideas. On the third episode of Our Jewish Futures with Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath, T’helah speaks about Hebrew and Jewish identity, second language acquisition, empowering educators, and how Hebrew can serve as a connector for the global Jewish community. 

About The Guest 

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T'helah Ben-Dan is Deputy Director of TALMA, and oversees recruitment and onboarding for the organization's teaching fellowships in Israel, as well as communications, operations, fundraising and development. She is also the founder of The Kefar, which provides virtual content, instruction, and coaching for both Hebrew learners and language teachers. She has several years of classroom and online teaching experience, and loves all things Hebrew- and language acquisition-related. T'helah holds a BA in African & African-American Studies, an MS in Early Childhood Services, and an MBA-level certificate from the START Fellowship, a joint program of the Glean Network and Columbia Business School. T'helah is currently completing an additional MA in Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language; when she's not working or doing homework, you can find her reading, baking, or traveling.

About The Host

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Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath is a lifelong Jewish educator and learner. As an expert on Jewish teens, Generation Z, experiential education, Israel, and questions of Jewish identity, Samantha comes equipped with the right questions to help learners find the answers that resonate with them. She is on a lifelong mission to inspire conversations that move Jewish journeys forward and is passionate about connecting with learners and communities around the world.

Samantha currently serves as the Senior Director of Knowledge, Ideas, and Learning at the Jewish Education Project, teaches at Gratz College, and is constantly brainstorming about the Jewish past, present, and future. She is an alumna of the University of Pittsburgh (BA), the Jewish Theological Seminary (MA), Gratz College (EdD), and the Pardes Experiential Educators Program. Samantha lives in Westchester, NY with her husband and two beloved rescue dogs. She's the author of the forthcoming book #antisemitism: Coming of Age During the Resurgence of Hate, and is currently at work on her next book.  

This episode was hosted and produced by Dr. Samantha Vinokor Meinrath, The Jewish Education Project's Senior Director, Knowledge, Ideas and Learning.  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.