Re/Presenting the Jewish Past
Re/Presenting the Jewish Past is a pathbreaking new program designed to strengthen the teaching of Jewish history in day schools. The program is a collaboration between RAVSAK and The Network for the Teaching of Jewish History (NTJH), and it is funded by AVI CHAI. Re/Presenting is a three-part, fifteen month program in which a teams of teachers from a given school work closely with graduate students and established scholars in order to bring fresh insights, methodologies, and curricula into the classroom.
Each participating school was required to identify three or four teacher for the program. The team included teachers of Jewish history and related areas (e.g., Bible, rabbinics, or general history), so that these other disciplines enjoy the benefits of the innovative thinking animating their history colleagues. This past summer, participants attended a workshop at New York University conducted by leading scholars and educators in the field of Jewish history. The workshop encouraged the teams of teachers to think in innovative ways about the teaching of Jewish history in their schools.
By the end of the workshop, each team reported on its plans for reshaping the teaching of Jewish history during the upcoming academic year. These projects will focus on heightening teacher awareness of curricular issues and themes relating to the teaching of Jewish history. They are also designed to stimulate teacher creativity and foster greater cooperation among teachers across disciplines. Doctoral students will offer ongoing support for the school teams and their projects, and will facilitate regular contact among participating schools.
Mazel tov to the RAVSAK schools taking part this year!
Tanenbaum CHAT
Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy
Gann Academy
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
