A Tribute to Dr. Jonathan Woocher

This gedenkschrift presents the work of (some of) Jon’s colleagues in his honor. We sought to compile here something that extends his ideas for those new to his work, recalls his contribution for those of us who worked with him, pays tribute to his spirit, and carries forward his impact. It includes selections from those who were his closest colleagues in the professional journey that he forged, which was also personal. As he did us, he touched the writers here, as these essays will reflect.

We have here the beginnings of a prescription for Jewish education in the 21st century, naming all that is to do and identifying how we can pick up Jon’s work and do the great good task of fulfilling his vision of what could be.

Our wish for the reader is that you can join us in immersing ourselves in this set of ideas; expanding our experiments with new forms of Jewish exploration, learning, and celebration; and helping the students of Jewish education thrive, informed by the richest ideas in secular discourse and the Jewish tradition as Jon would want.

Excerpted from the introduction by Beth Cousens, PhD,

Associate Vice President, The Jewish Federations of North America and

David Bryfman,PhD, Chief Innovation Officer, The Jewish Education Project

 

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A joint project of the Jewish Federations of North America and The Jewish Education Project with generous support from Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah.