Hannah Arendt said that “Education is the point at which we decide whether we love the world enough to assume responsibility for it and by the same token save it from that ruin which, except for renewal, except for the coming of the new and young, would be inevitable.”

We have seen the emergence of new models to deal with the longtime challenges that have plagued Jewish education.  Technology has boosted the delivery of Jewish education at all levels, engaging children has become the watchword, and creative thinking has brought learning to the places where those looking for knowledge and engagement can be found.  Charter Schools are giving even Orthodox parents pause when considering where to enroll their children.  

But are these changes accomplishing our goals?  Are we providing a solid Jewish base of knowledge for our children, while creating and inspiring lifelong learners?

In this issue of the NewCAJE’s online journal, The Jewish Educator, we ask seasoned educators, young professionals, and those with theoretical and practical knowledge, to offer a glimpse into the best of Jewish education today and tomorrow as they consider some or all of the thought-provoking questions below.  

Please send your essays of 500 – 1000 words by July 5 to mail@newcaje.org for consideration.

The Basics

• What do you feel must be included in Jewish education for almost every child and why?
• What is quintessentially Jewish about Jewish education that should be preserved in any model we choose?
• What models of staff development would be most efficacious in the growth of Jewish education in our schools?

Today’s Models

• What’s right about Jewish education today?
• What can be learned from the models of Jewish education we are using now?
• Do you support improving the old models rather than recreating new ones?
• Is cost a barrier to Jewish education?
• What role do Hebrew language Charter Schools play in educating our children Jewishly and how can they be best used?

Focus on the Future

• Are you currently trying out a new model of Jewish education?
• What is your dream of what Jewish education will look like in the future?
• What does “out of the box" mean to you in terms of Jewish education?
• What lessons can we learn (and possibly incorporate into our teaching) from successful models of public schools and secular private schools?

Before, After, and the Supplemental

• What new models exist in Early Childhood Jewish education that lay the foundation for a lifelong link to a Jewish life and to Jewish education?
• What roles does informal Jewish education play in Jewish education?
• How do we engage the unengaged (college students, singles, empty-nesters)?
• What new models are there for adults to continue their learning?

Philosophical Issues

• The model or the system: Would today’s model work if we changed the system? (For example, recruitment and retention of qualified personnel)
• How could philanthropists and granting foundations positively influence non-day school Jewish education?