Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies – To develop an Israel educator curriculum and a cohort-based fellowship that will train Jewish experiential educators in a nuanced and thoughtful pedagogical approach to Israel education.

What is missing from Israel education right now, that you seek to rectify with this work?

Young North American Jews are becoming more isolated and polarized over Israel, while educators feel overwhelmed and unprepared to support their learners’ emotional and intellectual needs in this charged environment. Our goal is to equip educators with the tools, pedagogy, and knowledge necessary to foster constructive disagreement on challenging topics. We aim to empower them to approach Israel-related issues with confidence, competence, and a deeper understanding.

In which settings will fellowship participants be working?

Pardes will focus on selecting high-impact, experiential educators for this fellowship—individuals capable of reaching thousands of learners through their work. Fellowship cohorts will be organized around specific affinity groups, such as camp directors, educators of teens in synagogues or youth groups, and community conveners, among others.

What gives you hope/inspires you, about the field of Israel education in North America, right now?

The current crisis has prompted educators to reflect deeply on the challenges at hand and the role education should play in addressing them. This painful rupture presents an opportunity to inspire creative, innovative ideas through collaborative brainstorming, enabling educators to confront, adapt, and thrive in the face of adversity while fostering collective growth.