When word got out about the success of the “Israel at the Center Kallah,” the inaugural program of the iCenter, many wanted to know more about it. What made it so exciting? Who was there? And, why the emphasis on Israel? For Anne Lanski, President of the iCenter, the answer was simple: Israel ignites my heart and your heart and should be an integral part of everything we do in Jewish education. The iCenter serves as a national address for meaningful and innovative initiatives in the field of Israel Education aimed at elementary and secondary aged students. Bringing together front-line Jewish educators and lay leaders, the iCenter’s inaugural kallah provided an opportunity for many talented educators to create a vibrant community and forge new and exciting partnerships. “The Kallah … Continue Reading
Who Said Jewish Boys Can’t Rap?
Meet Matt Bar: Bible Raps Learn Torah, bit by bit, from alphabet, to sentences, to pages, with phrases from sages oh baby… Rapper and educator Matt Bar infects his students with Torah. He’ll take a lesson plan, spin it on its head, and bust out rap lyrics that get kids crazy about learning. These lyrics from his song “Rabbi Akiva and Raquel: Learn Torah” not only teaches the story of Akiva’s struggle to study, but also teaches students they can learn anything if they try, bit by bit. Incorporating passages of Torah, commentary and Midrashim, Bar may get the prize for developing a curriculum that get students running in Hebrew school doors to learn. Bar thought using his hip hop talent would just make his job a little easier, but instead he became the unofficial “Best Hebrew … Continue Reading
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