Viewing entries by
Rina Schiff, Mayberg Foundation Director of Marketing & Communications
At this year’s National Jewish Retreat in Washington, DC—a six-day event attended by more than 700 people—JEIC's Founding Director Rabbi Shmuel Feld and Managing Director Sharon Freundel joined a distinguished group of Jewish thought leaders to deliver insightful lectures, debates, and interactive workshops, expanding JEIC’s contributions to Jewish communal conversations and ideas.
What does it take to get kids thinking — and talking — about God in Jewish day schools? For most students, it’s not on the syllabus. But a growing movement, led by JEIC and fueled by creative educators, is putting God back at the center of classroom conversations. From digital siddurim (prayer books) to meditative walks, discover how schools across the country are helping students build real spiritual connections — in ways as varied as their own beliefs. Dive into the new approaches reshaping Jewish education, and see why “God-centered learning” might just be the most personal lesson of all.
Jewish spirituality is coming alive in classrooms, thanks to JEIC and OpenDor Media/Unpacked for Eduators' Jewish Spirituality Video series partnership. See how this video series, which launched one year ago, is sparking deeper conversations and connections for students and teachers across the country.
Co-hosted by the Mayberg and Samis Foundations, JEIC’s first Innovators Retreat in Seattle brought together 90+ Jewish day school leaders and funders for hands-on learning, spiritual exploration, and new ideas to spark real change in schools.
Explore the crucial role of women in yetziat Mitzrayim (the Exodus from Egypt) with this engaging lesson plan for grades 6-12, developed by JEIC Managing Director Sharon Freundel. The plan examines both named and unnamed female figures who helped bring about this transformational moment in Jewish history. Through the use of text analysis, discussion questions, and a graphic organizer, students will gain a deeper understanding of women's contributions to this pivotal event.
JEIC Managing Director Sharon Freundel shares creative solutions for supporting Jewish educators without burdening parents with higher tuition in her latest eJewishPhilanthropy opinion piece.
Jewish Teachers Now (JTN), a partnership of JEIC and Touro University, is revolutionizing the recruitment and retention of Jewish educators through innovative community-wide benefits and engaging initiatives for the next generation. By fostering a supportive ecosystem for educators and inspiring young minds, JTN is shaping the future of Jewish education and ensuring a vibrant community for years to come.
How do we get Jewish day school educators, parents, and donors to understand that High-Quality Professional Development is not a cost, but an investment? Dr. David Farbman, project director of JEIC's DEEP Consortium project, offers his answer in this eJewish Philanthropy article. Read here
The JEIC team visited Seattle, touring five Jewish day schools and meeting with faculty to prepare for this year's Innovators Retreat, thanks to the partnership with the Samis Foundation. During these visits, JEIC also offered their Intrinsic Motivation workshop series, equipping educators with student-centered learning tools to enhance their teaching practices.
JEIC Managing Director Sharon Freundel explores creative ways to bring Midrash to life in the classroom, helping students connect deeply with Jewish texts in her Lookstein Center Jewish Educational Leadership article, Opening the Middle School Window to Midrash.
