Tool 2: Textual Layering
Textual layering is when we place two (or more) texts in conversation with one another. In DRJC language this means to study a primary text through the lens of other primary texts as well as contemporary sources and media. Students learn the skills of interpretation, comparative analysis and creative rendering, and gain an appreciation for the depth and complexity of the texts being studied. Students feel empowered to lend their voice to the interpretive tradition.
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Mara Braunfeld is a Jewish Educator with two decades of experience creating vibrant Jewish communities, nurturing meaningful relationships, and bringing innovative leadership to progressive and pluralistic Jewish settings. She earned her B.A. from Brandeis University and a Master's in Jewish Education from the Rhea Hirsch School at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Currently, Mara serves as Senior Manager, Think-Action Lab at The Jewish Education Project, where she leads implementation efforts to support innovation in structure, pedagogy, and content across diverse Jewish educational environments. Her career includes educational leadership roles at the Hadar Institute, Temple Israel Center in White Plains, NY, the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, and Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford Corners, NY. Mara lives in New York with her husband Daniel and their three children, where she aspires to model the Jewish values of lifelong learning and community building that inspire her professional work.
The Hadar Institute is a center of Jewish life, learning, and practice that builds vibrant egalitarian communities in North America and Israel. Our vision for Jewish life is rooted in rigorous and nuanced Torah study, gender equality, meaningful Jewish practice, and the values of kindness and compassion. Since our founding in 2006, Hadar has impacted thousands of people through our programs and content, giving Jews of all ages the tools to access traditional texts and live inspired Jewish lives.
