Congregational Learning

The Jewish Education Project helps congregations create new models of learning to enhance children’s and families’ ability to construct meaningful and purposeful lives rooted in Jewish practice and community. Our networks bring professionals and lay leaders from different congregations together to collaborate and support each other, and our educational consultants identify strategies to enable congregations to reach their goals. By connecting innovators and supporting bold approaches, The Jewish Education Project strengthens congregations’ abilities to create impactful and inspiring models of Jewish learning.

Learn more about our work with congregations:

• Coalition of Innovating Congregations
  • LOMED and LOMED Chadash
  • Express Innovation
• BONIM
• Networks for Congregational Learning
• Press

Coalition of Innovating Congregations

The Coalition of Innovating Congregations leads the nation in creating powerful Jewish learning inspired by compelling visions of education. Our bold visions imagine a Jewish education for children and families that nurtures the whole of a person (knowledge, belief/values, action and a sense of a belonging).  Over fifty congregations in Greater New York have committed themselves to creating high-impact models of education.  Coalition members are innovators making positive, measurable differences in the lives of learners of all ages.

Innovating Congregations Blog

LOMED and LOMED Chadash

LOMED (Learner Outcomes and Measurement for effective Educational Design) and LOMED Chadash support congregations in creating contemporary models of Jewish learning that include families, real life experiences, and community. Congregations receive grant funding to support their innovations, including working with leading educational-resource providers like Hazon, StorahTelling, Teva Learning Center, Facing History, Explora-Torah, Avodah Arts, and Moving Traditions.

The work of LOMED is offered in partnership with the Experiment in Congregational Education (ECE) of the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles and the Leadership Institute of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion and the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary.

LOMED Wiki
Meet LOMED Blog
Cyd Weissman Takes the LOMED Challenge Blog
Lifnei LOMED Wiki

Express Innovation

Express Innovation is designed to propel congregations forward in their practice of engaging children and their families in meaningful Jewish learning.  Congregations in Express Innovation experiment with a high impact, non-classroom-only model of Jewish learning.  Congregations are provided with full access to the blueprints of a variety of new learning models, along with the process to generate change, funding and consultation support.  Using data collection, social networks, communication and reflection, congregations are able to jumpstart a pilot learning model quickly and see impact on their children and families.  

Express Innovation is a new grant initiative offered by The Jewish Education Project in partnership with the Experiment in Congregational Education, made possible by UJA-Federation of New York.

BONIM

Congregations are best able to support and stimulate creativity as teams with clear outcomes, access to needed resources, and connections with other innovators. BONIM offers congregations a number of ways to build these essential capabilities, including on site congregational-learning educational consultants, networks, and professional learning.

Networks for Congregational Learning

The Jewish Education Project offers an array of networks for congregational learning. They offer professionals opportunities for deep learning and a systematic sharing of knowledge, expertise, and tools in order to improve practice. Networks meet five to ten times per year for directors, clergy, teachers, and lay leaders.

Current Networks include: NYC Principal's Professional Learning, NYC Small Programs, Long Island Teachers, Long Island Small Programs, Long Island Principals, Long Island Family, Long Island Israel, Westchester Teachers (Byachad Plus), Westchester Family Learning, Westchester Joint Principals Council, NYC Lay Leaders, Long Island Lay Leaders, Westchester Lay Leadership, Westchester Mentors, Northern Westchester Small Programs

Press:

• EdJewTopia—What Exactly are You Trying to Accomplish?
• Sh'ma Journal of Jewish Responsibility—Seamless Learning: New Thinking about Congregational Education
• UJA Federation of New York, Synergy Newsletter Fall 2010—Whole-Person Learning and Assessment: A Worthy Destination and a Way to Correct Course
• The Jewish Week—The Overscheduled Jewish Child
• The Jewish Week—Full-Time Teachers: Can the Model Catch On?
• The Jewish Week—Reimagining Hebrew School
• The Jewish Week—Benefit of Doubt