Jewish Kids Rock and Jewish Chicks Rock ( Arts Based Programs, Gender-Specific Programs, Experiential Education Programs)

City: Worldwide, (Based in Brooklyn, but programs available around the globe)
Contact info: Naomi Less, Founder: naomiless@gmail.com; 917-318-9153
Website: www.jewishchicksrock.org/rockprograms
Year established: 2011
Category: Arts Based Programs, Gender-Specific Programs, Experiential Education Programs

What are the goals of the program?

• For both programs, band coaches (madrichim) promote hands-on work, even for kids with little to no previous instrument experience.  Philosophy: Jewish kids rock, in attitude, self-presentation, and talent.  JKRock builds a collaborative Jewish learning atmosphere where kids are encouraged to place their voices and opinions in the center, to take (safe) risks and to support each other in experimentation.  

How is the Program structured?

• The program can be structured as a kick off program intensive (day-long) and then sustained over 6-8 weeks with a performative rock show at the end.  Or it can be built as an alternative winter/spring/Pesach/presidents day/MLK weekend intensive program over 3 days.  Naomi and her team kick off the program and train local band coaches to sustain the program.  

What was the genesis of the program and what need was it meant to serve?

• This program was built off the success of the Girls Rock Camp movement in which Naomi is a long-time volunteer.  It is the perfect hybrid of social/emotional intelligence development and artistic expression with Judaic literacy development.

What are the key elements and underlying principles of the program? 

• This methodology takes into account the work of Dr.s David Bryfman and Joe Reimer's article on Jewish experiential learning - that to fit that definition, you need to nurture socialization, recreation and challenge.  Forming a band creates group norms, morries and dynamics - socialization; it is FUN to rock out in an informal setting - recreation; and it is challenging to create together, collaboratively, learning different ways to come to group agreement, as well as to work towards mastery of a sound and Jewish concepts.

Jewish Learning Works (Hebrew Language Programs & Resources, Jewish Text, History, Religion & Values Programs & Resources, Family Education Programs & Resources, Special Needs Programs & Resources)

City: San Francisco, CA

Website: http://www.jewishlearningworks.org

Category: Hebrew Language Programs & Resources, Jewish Text, History, Religion & Values Programs & Resources, Family Education Programs & Resources, Special Needs Programs & Resources

Our Mission

Our mission is to improve and extend Jewish learning because learning is fundamental to Jewish life, identity, community and continuity.

We IMPROVE Jewish learning by teaching Jewish educators. By deepening and strengthening their Jewish knowledge, sharpening their pedagogical skills, and providing them with professional development in best practices, educational resources, assessment, and educational innovation.

We EXTEND Jewish learning by reaching more learners. By enhancing the quality, quantity, and diversity of educational offerings, informing diverse learners about educational opportunities that meet their needs, and helping educators and learners overcome barriers, such as learning styles, to create a more inclusive and welcoming learning community.

We LEAD our educational community by IGNITING conversations and educational innovation that respond effectively to the twenty-first century Northern California Jews.  By providing a solid foundation of research, assessment, and thought-leadership to support evidence-based educational policy and practice.

Our Values

Jewish Education is sacred.   •  We passionately pursue Jewish knowledge.
   •  We actively support the dissemination and celebration of Jewish knowledge, history, and culture.
   •  We believe educators fulfill a critical role in sustaining and strengthening Jewish community.

Jewish Education is a right.   •  Every member of our community has a right to a thoughtful, meaningful, high quality Jewish education.
   •  We endeavor to make Jewish education programs affordable and accessible to all.

We promote Jewish pluralism and multiple ways to connect to Judaism.   •  We accept, welcome and celebrate the many ways of being Jewish and expressing Judaism.
      Judaism is not "one size fits all."
   •  We embrace participation from across a wide spectrum of Jewish thought and practice.

 

Jewish Women's Archive: Living the Legacy Curriculum (Tikkun Olam/Social Justice Resources, Jewish History and Values Resources)

Website: http://jwa.org/teach/livingthelegacy

Living the Legacy (LTL) uses primary sources to explore the roles of American Jews in the Civil Rights and Labor Movements. The 24 lessons that comprise LTL include art projects, text studies, role-playing opportunities, and more, providing new entry points to Jewish identification for young Jews interested in social justice. LTL is designed for use in both formal and informal settings with students in grades 8-12. The materials are flexible and easy to adapt.

Jewish Student Connection (Culturally Based Programs, Israel Education Programs, Online Programs, Teen Programs)

City: Westchester, NY

Auspice/Sponsorship: n/a

Contact Information: info@myjsc.org

Website: http://myjsc.org

Year Established: 2012

Category: Culturally Based Programs, Israel Education Programs, Online Programs, Teen Programs 

What are the goals of the program?

Jewish Student Connection exists to help high school students explore what [Jewish] means to them, inspiring proud personal connections with our culture, with our People, with Israel — with each other.

What is the structure of the program?

Forming Jewish clubs in public and private secular high schools to strengthen Jewish identity and education.

What was the genesis of the program and what need was it meant to serve?

Over 70% of Jewish teens attend public or private non-Jewish high schools. Rather than wait for them to become engaged on their own, we bring programming to them. 

What are the key elements and underlying principles of this model/initiative? 

Teen-centric, non-denominational, focused on education. 

JconnecT (Culturally Based Programs, Hebrew Language Programs, Israel Education Programs, Online Programs, Teen Programs)

City: Weekly virtual meetings with students from all over North America; face to face meetings twice a year in Memphis, TN

Auspice/Sponsorship: Margolin Hebrew Academy, Memphis TN

Contact Information:Rabbi Dr. Gil Perl, Ms. Smadar Goldstein, 901-481-0674, jconnect@mhafyos.org

Website: bit.ly/jconnect

Year Established: 2009

Category: Culturally Based Programs, Hebrew Language Programs, Israel Education Programs, Online Programs, Teen Programs

What are the goals of the program

Connecting Jewish youth to Judaism, Israel and each other using web-based conferencing software enabling easy student access from anywhere in the world. 

What is the structure of the program?

Weekly Online Jewish Learning. Sundays, 10-10:45 CST and 11-11:45 CST. Students are required to have headsets with microphones, laptops and high speed internet. Students log in from anywhere, usually at home. Learners are youth in grades 6-12 that do not access formal Jewish education and/or are looking for high quality Jewish learning interaction with like-minded peers. Students do not need to have a background in Jewish subjects. JconnecT has educated students come from all backgrounds. 

What was the genesis of the program and what need was it meant to serve?

The program was designed to provide an opportunity for Jewish youth in small communities that lack formal educational opportunities after the age of Bar and Bat Mitzvah to study together on Sunday mornings in an active virtual classroom. The goals of the program were to enhance their Jewish knowledge, to strengthen their Jewish identity, and to enlarge their Jewish social network.

What are the key elements and underlying principles of this model/initiative? 

The Jewish people have always maintained a "global community" called 'Klal Yisrael". The technology provided by the internet enables us to make that global community more concrete for our young people at a time when sociological studies indicate that the connections seem to be weakening.

What (other) factors made this model/initiative successful?

An important factor has been the innovative curriculum that has been employed. The focus on relevant topics such as contemporary Jewish issues, leadership, and the like has enabled us to engage the students while communicating to them that Judaism has something important to say about issues that are significant to them.

Jewcology (Environmental/Green Resources, Jewish Values Resources, Online Program Resources)

City: Silver Spring, MD

Auspice/Sponsorship: 501c3 non-profit

Contact Information: info@jewcology.com

Website:http://www.jewcology.com

Year Established:2010

Category: Environmental/Green Resources, Jewish Values Resources, Online Program Resources

What are the goals of the program?

Today’s environmental challenge is one of the most significant issues facing the world.  With more than fifteen Jewish environmental organizations in the United States alone, and many more individual leaders and educators, strategic collaboration is needed to help the Jewish environmental movement mature. Jewcology is leading the Jewish environmental movement to become more effective and better connected through collaborative social media tools, leadership trainings, and a shared library of resources.  

How does the program work?

Jewcology provides a unique, custom-designed social media portal (Jewcology.com), which serves as a shared central address for dialogue and resources for Jewish environmentalists and organizations. Jewcology.com enables individual activists and organizations to network, share information and engage each other in shared campaigns.  Jewcology.com features hundreds of resources shared by Jewish environmentalists and organizations, a comprehensive library of material for educators, rabbis and others seeking to organize Jewish environmental activities.

What are the key elements and underlying principles of this model/initiative? 

Jewcology fills a gap in the Jewish environmental movement by using innovative tools to promote and support strategic collaboration between individuals, organizations, and communities worldwide.  These tools include: a new social media portal (Jewcology.com); community-wide campaigns such as our Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment and our Year of Action; and organizing tools from the New Organizing Institute (NOI), such as the Public Narrative Training, to help Jewish environmentalists tell their stories more effectively and engage their communities in shared campaigns.  

Jewish Journey Project (Hebrew Language Programs, Jewish Text, History, Religion & Values Programs, Family Education Programs, Online Programs)

City: New York, NY

Auspice/Sponsorship: JCC and affiliates.
Contact Information: Rabbi Sid Schwarz, sschwarz@jccmanhattan.org, 646-505-4471

Website: http://www.jewishjourneyproject.org

Year Established: Winter 2011

Category: Hebrew Language Programs, Jewish Text, History, Religion & Values Programs, Family Education Programs, Online Programs

What is the mission and background of the Jewish Journey project?

• The Jewish Journeys Project is an initiative designed to dramatically re-invent the afternoon religious school experience so as to make children and their families more committed to Jewish life and community. 
• It is the vision of Rabbi Joy Levitt, the executive director of The JCC in Manhattan and is being directed by Rabbi Sid Schwarz.  
• The program launched in 2011 with funding from seven different national and New York area foundations. 

What are the key elements of the program?

• Jewish learning will address the whole child, applying the wisdom of the Jewish heritage to the social, emotional and intellectual growth of each and every student.
• The learning methodology will speak to the head, heart and hands of every child.
• Families get to customize the learning journey of their children.
• Parents will play an integral role in the learning experience so that educational lesson will be reinforced and families will deepen their Jewish commitments. 
• Participating Congregations will be working across institutional and denominational lines as well as with the JCC and with other community-based organizations
• Children will widen their horizon of Jewish friends.
• Jewish children will get exposed to one of the most vibrant Jewish communities in the world.
• Weekly gatherings at one's home congregation will reinforce the value of the synagogue and the connection between the learning modules and the wider Jewish world. 
• Jewish education will fully enter the 21st Century.
• Learning modules will be largely experiential and hands-on.
• Digital learning tools will be fully integrated to address different learning styles and engage children and their families at home.
• JJP will incorporate the best practices and materials in the field of jewish education but will also commission innovative Jewish organizations to create new learning modules for children. 

Which communities currently participate?

• The JCC in Manhattan      
• Congregation B'nai Jeshurun        
• Congregation Habonim
• Society for the Advancement of Judaism         
• East End Temple          
• Temple Emanuel
• Park Avenue Synagogue           
• 14th Street Y