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Showing papers in "Jewish Education in 1981"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The question of teacher recruitment for Jewish schools has been on the Jewish community agenda for decades as mentioned in this paper. But the fully qualified teacher, especially the one who was effective and successful in the classroom, was a rarity.
Abstract: The question of teacher recruitment for Jewish schools has been on the Jewish community agenda for decades. I have been a practicing Jewish educator for 33 years and in educational administration for 25 years, and I cannot remember a time when there was an abundance of licensed, qualified teachers for Jewish schools. There were always men and women who were available to teach. Most were partially qualified people with some teaching experience. But the fully qualified teacher, especially the one who was effective and successful in the classroom, was a rarity.

66 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The horror of genocide in the twentieth century must be faced and must be told so that students of all races and religions understand the danger facing all peoples when human rights are denied to any one people as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The horror of genocide in the twentieth century must be faced and must be told so that students of all races and religions understand the danger facing all peoples when human rights are denied to any one people. The Holocaust is a Jewish tragedy to be sure, but it not only that. It is a human tragedy, one which involves us all, whether directly or indirectly. It was not a phenomenon occurring long ago in a backward and primitive corner of the world. It occurred during the lifetime of millions still living and in a technologically and culturally advanced part of the world. Both the victims and the perpetrators sprang from groups that have contributed massively to the arts and sciences and to the uplifting of the human spirit. And yet, the Holocaust casts an ominous shadow over our civilization, as so it should, and as so it will until the end of time.

8 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In years past, Jewish supplementary education has been the basis of religious growth for thousands of youngsters as discussed by the authors, and Congregational and communal schools throughout the country have touched the lives of many Jewish youth.
Abstract: Introduction In years past, Jewish supplementary education has been the basis of religious growth for thousands of youngsters. Congregational and communal schools throughout the country have touched the lives of many Jewish youth.

3 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors compare the relationship between modern Hebrew spoken in Israel today to the so-called classical language of the Bible and modern English to its equivalent historical counterpart, the closest analogy would have to be: Modern Hebrew: Biblical Hebrew is like Modern English: Shakespearian English In reality, however, the language of Shakespeare is much further removed from contemporary English speakers than the Bible is from speakers of modern Hebrew.
Abstract: Current Theories of Moral Education If one were to attempt to compare the relationship between modern Hebrew spoken in Israel today to the so-called classical language of the Bible and modern English to its equivalent historical counterpart, the closest (and still not the most accurate) analogy would have to be: Modern Hebrew: Biblical Hebrew is like Modern English: Shakespearian English In reality, however, the language of Shakespeare is much further removed from contemporary English speakers than the language of the Bible is from speakers of modern Hebrew

3 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In most synagogues the rabbi-educator working relationship is far from satisfactory as discussed by the authors, and many talented and creative educators have left congregational education in order to escape the tension and frustration associated with congregational school administration.
Abstract: The rabbi-educator relationship is a major concern to the Jewish educator. The quality of the working relationship fluctuates from synagogue to synagogue. In some congregations it is excellent. However, in most synagogues the rabbi-educator working relationship is far from satisfactory. Many talented and creative educators have left congregational education in order to escape the tension and frustration associated with congregational school administration.

3 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The failure of American Jewish education is perhaps less due to willful callousness than to naivete and sheer lack of understanding of the effects of historical ignorance upon the present as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The historic sin of the American Jewish education profession is its indifference to its own history Not least among the failures of American Jewish education is its ignorance of the achievements of its pioneers and its inability to chronicle its own successes This failure of a profession to record its past is perhaps less due to willful callousness than to naivete and sheer lack of understanding of the effects of historical ignorance upon the present

1 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the present state of Jewish education and its future are discussed and discussed both as educators and as individuals responsible in a large measure for the well-being of education.
Abstract: Introduction As we are assembled in a convention of educators, we have a duty to take account of the present state of Jewish education and to contemplate our future both as educators and as individuals responsible in a large measure for the well being of Jewish education.

1 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Holocaust theme has become in our days a central component of Jewish consciousness and there has been evidence of a readiness to discuss, teach and experience this deep and open wound in our collective Jewish psyche.
Abstract: The Holocaust theme has become in our days a central component of Jewish consciousness. Since the Six-Day War there has been evidence of a readiness to discuss, teach and experience this deep and open wound in our collective Jewish psyche. There are undoubtedly many reasons that account for the sudden, if belated, upsurge in Holocaust awareness. Whatever the reasons, it is an incontestable fact that Holocaust awareness has become a part of the contemporary Jew's view of himself, his innermost feelings and, indeed, his identity.

1 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors ask why the topic of Israel-diaspora education relationships surfaces annually, and the authors suggest that after 34 years of statehood, the patterns of relationships would be established firmly, and that all one would have to do from time to time is to modify and strengthen those patterns according to the changing needs of the diaspora and Israeli scenes.
Abstract: At the outset, it seems appropriate to ask: Why does the topic of Israel-diaspora education relationships surface annually? One would think that after 34 years of statehood, the patterns of relationships would be established firmly, and that all one would have to do from time to time is to modify and strengthen those patterns according to the changing needs of the diaspora and Israeli scenes.

1 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a discussion of the objectives of Hebrew language instruction is presented, and the author is forced to enter the language of our collective Hebraic mind-set, which is the expression of the mindset of a people.
Abstract: Introduction Language is the expression of the mind-set of a people. To set the tone for a discussion of the objectives of Hebrew language instruction, I am compelled to enter the language of our collective Hebraic mind-set.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A resounding "yes" was the answer given recently at a conference of Solomon Schechter Day School principals by Professor David Weiss Halivni of the Jewish Theological Seminary to the question: Can modern critical scholarship be introduced when teaching Talmud on the day school level? The response was accompanied by an example which engendered great delight among the participants as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A resounding “yes” was the answer given recently at a conference of Solomon Schechter Day School principals by Professor David Weiss Halivni of the Jewish Theological Seminary to the question: Can modern critical scholarship be introduced when teaching Talmud on the day school level? The response was accompanied by an example which engendered great delight among the participants. But, soon, the initial magic began to ebb and the reality of the day-school dilemma emerged. Our teachers, the principals unanimously agreed, are hardly qualified to recreate the critical ingenuity which Halivni had demonstrated, and even if in theory the critical perceptions would be valuable additions to the classroom, in practice this is clearly impossible. This frustration is the result, however, of inadequate familiarity with modern scholarship, and in fact one of its central tenets, a theory suggested by Halivni himself, could very well be the best of all teachers' aids in beginning Talmud study.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In the past several decades and more urgently in recent months and years, federations in various communities have been asked to begin to consider the matter of subsidies to congregational schools as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Intermittently during the past several decades and more urgently in recent months and years, federations in various communities have been asked to begin to consider the matter of subsidies to congregational schools. In some communities advocates of congregational education strongly favor and even insist upon communal financing; in others the idea has not yet found strong support.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the central agency for Jewish education must take a more active role in the funding of the synagogue school through Federation subventions, grants-in-aid and scholarships, if these schools are to survive the dwindling enrollments and the inflationary “crunch” which characterize our times.
Abstract: It is not our intention to suggest in this paper that bureau-synagogue relations through funding are more important than bureau services such as consultation, in-service training, testing, etc. Nor do we maintain that every bureau is capable of, or has the resources to provide synagogue schools with financial aid. It is our thesis, rather, that the central agency for Jewish education must begin taking a more active role in the funding of the synagogue school through Federation subventions, grants-in-aid and scholarships, if these schools are to survive the dwindling enrollments and the inflationary “crunch” which characterize our times. We shall first state the criteria which support this thesis, describe the results of a recent survey of eleven central agencies on the subject, and will conclude by relating the experiences of the Bureau of Jewish Education of Rhode Island in the subventing process over a period of twenty-three years.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present two major approaches to moral or character education prevalent in American education today: values-clarification and personal hierarchies of value without regard to the content of the value system.
Abstract: Current Theories of Moral Education There are two major approaches to moral or character education prevalent in American education today. The values-clarification approach focuses on the process of enabling students to understand the values they espouse and to clarify their personal hierarchies of value without regard to the content of the value system.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the principal of an afternoon religious school is at the hub of the school's activities and it is quite likely that if the principal is performing adequately, then the school is functioning as it should.
Abstract: Introduction The principal of an afternoon religious school is at the hub of the school's activities. It is quite likely that if the principal is performing adequately, then the school is functioning as it should. Therefore, it is imperative that the principal be evaluated on the basis of how well the principal performs assigned duties.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In the arena of the human condition, the Jew walks precariously, now as before, on an existential tightrope, seeking to balance the integrity of his wholeness as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Introduction In the arena of the human condition, the Jew walks precariously, now as before, on an existential tightrope, seeking to balance the integrity of his wholeness. The footsteps of his past, indelibly impressed upon the inventory of his memory shadows his movement in time, haunting him with a lingering urge to survive. No matter where he has trodden or been allowed to rest, his acceptance in the human family has been but punctuated moments in historical time. He has been a veritable stranger, whom Simmel has described as “the person who comes today and stays tomorrow.” For his todays and tomorrows, like his yesterdays, offer only the occasional respite from the twisting agonies only the stranger knows. Alone in his separateness, the Jew looks out into the space of human distance between others and himself, knowing there is a social infinity. Whatever he does to narrow the gap, there is the distance, and he is the stranger in the inseparable dimension of time and space.