About the Education Department
We believe that every Jewish child deserves access to an excellent Jewish education -- no matter the size of their community.
We also know that even in communities that are lucky enough to have Jewish professionals, many religious schools are still run by an all-volunteer staff consisting of parents and other volunteer lay-people. These dedicated teachers, who are often not only busy but also may not have other teaching experience, give their weekend over to teaching religious school. They come with enthusiasm and commitment, and often work without any professional support, in many instances with limited Judaic background or pedagogical training of their own.
With our accessible, trans-denominational education program, the ISJL assists these parents and communities, and helping to ensure students will become life-long participants in the Jewish community. The ISJL’s pilot education program began with 10 communities in the four states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Today, the program serves dozens of communities across the region.
We support these partner communities through the "3 Cs" of the ISJL Education Program.
We also know that even in communities that are lucky enough to have Jewish professionals, many religious schools are still run by an all-volunteer staff consisting of parents and other volunteer lay-people. These dedicated teachers, who are often not only busy but also may not have other teaching experience, give their weekend over to teaching religious school. They come with enthusiasm and commitment, and often work without any professional support, in many instances with limited Judaic background or pedagogical training of their own.
With our accessible, trans-denominational education program, the ISJL assists these parents and communities, and helping to ensure students will become life-long participants in the Jewish community. The ISJL’s pilot education program began with 10 communities in the four states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Today, the program serves dozens of communities across the region.
We support these partner communities through the "3 Cs" of the ISJL Education Program.
- Curriculum: The ISJL's comprehensive Curriculum, designed to give teachers the tools they need to create a meaningful Jewish educational experience for their students, and to provide a common body of Jewish knowledge throughout our region.
- Community Visits: We don't just offer remote support -we also come to each of our communities once over the summer and once each semester! The Community Visits from the ISJL's dynamic Education Fellows are part of the ISJL's unique curriculum delivery system.
- Conference: Our annual Education Conference is an opportunity for networking with other ISJL Education Partners, hands-on orientation to the curriculum, ongoing professional development and enrichment, shared learning experiences, and more.