Do you ever wonder how educators stay on top of best practices and research in their field? In Atlanta and Chicago, one option is the “Shifting the Paradigm” Israel Education Fellowship. This exciting program is an initiative of the Jewish Education Collaborative (JEC) of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, in partnership with the Chicago Jewish education community, the iCenter, and the World Zionist Organization.
The Fellowship was designed specifically for senior educators at supplemental Jewish education programs, and includes 31 individuals (including education directors, rabbis, and community and camp professionals), 13 of whom are from Atlanta. The 18-month fellowship began in January, 2023, and meets online monthly.
Through the Fellowship, educators are exploring new approaches to teaching and learning about Israel, using the latest research. The Fellows have been participating in a series of engaging online sessions with expert faculty, and the program includes an immersive, 8-day learning seminar in Israel.
Rabbi Elana Perry, Director of JEC, says, “This program is special because we don’t always have the opportunity to collaborate with other communities. Demand for this training has been high—initially, we aimed to recruit 6 Atlanta educators to the program; we ended up with 13. And the commitment to an 18-month program shows the dedication of these educators.”
Participants in the Fellowship will use this training to implement new Israel education programs at their home institutions, funded by grants from JEC. Rabbi Elana says, “I’m so excited to see how these educators take this learning and use it to transform the ways in which learners connect and engage with Israel.”
