To help more Jewish day schools infuse Israel into all aspects of school life and learning, The iCenter is welcoming eight new day schools across North America into the third cohort of its initiative, iNfuse: Israel in Jewish Day Schools. Each school will create a plan to make Israel education and experiences a deeper part of all aspects of school life, including classes such as science, the arts, Jewish studies, Hebrew language, all-school Israel engagement, and Israel travel.

The new schools are: Beth Emet Elementary School of Cooper City, FL; Carmel Academy of Greenwich, CT; Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor; Hebrew Foundation School of Montreal; The Toronto Heschel School; Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford; and The Rashi School of Dedham, MA. They join 25 schools who have participated in the initiative in past years.

Cohort 3 is almost full. For more information on becoming part of iNfuse, visit theicenter.org/infuse.

The 2016 Hearts and Minds study on Israel in Day Schools from The AVI CHAI Foundation showed that infusing Israel across a school and integrating it effectively into curricula is most successful when a school has an articulated vision. The study also affirmed that even young children can build a meaningful relationship with Israel by blending powerful experiences with strong content.

Representatives from each school will gather together in September, 2019, to begin their work and to create a sense of community among the schools. Along with this in-person convening, iNfuse includes site visits from Israel education experts and other specialists, online seminars, and one-on-one mentorship. Educators will have a range of resources and various approaches from which to draw on to engage their learners in content-rich and contemporary Israel experiences. The initiative frames a school’s Israel trip as an integral component of the curriculum throughout students’ tenure at the school. A school-appointed Israel Coordinator will oversee both the initiative and support the work of faculty and staff.

The initiative is funded in part by The AVI CHAI Foundation and through matching funds raised in the schools’ communities.