First Jewish Family Education Seminar in FSU Shapes the Future of Judaic Teaching

Earlier this year, the Moscow and Nizhny-Novgorod JDC offices organized the first-ever "Strategic Planning in Jewish Family Education" seminar in the FSU. The conference, which took place in May 2003, was designed to help manage Jewish Family Education, and to bridge the gap between the theory of Jewish Family Education and the everyday work that local educators do.

19 educators from 13 different cities in the regions of Volga and Central Russia as well as 13 educators from Moscow—most of whom are leaders of family programs in their home communities—participated in the event.

2 educators were invited by the JDC to lead the seminar as volunteers: Mrs. Barbara Stern from the Jewish community of New Northern London Synagogue, affiliated with the Massorti UK movement, and Mr. Hanan Alexander, a professor at Haifa University.

After an introduction by Stern and Alexander, participants collectively defined the concept of Jewish Family Education as "an interaction of one or several families in the process of acquiring and delivering the Jewish life experience".

Attendees had the opportunity to discuss many facets of Jewish Family Education, including how to formulate aims and objectives, create strategy, effect changes, and galvanize teamwork. Participants found Stern's "Six Rules for Change" particularly helpful:

1. Make things happen--there is no future in believing things can't be done
2. Test prevailing wisdom
3. Link goals to the plans for success
4. Make BIG plans, plan small steps
5. Involve others--people support what they build
6. Use what you know, but act now!

One of the highlights of the seminar was Professor Alexander's lesson on creating a Jewish Family Education curriculum. Using key planning steps given by the professor, participants worked in small groups to develop their own curriculums which were based on their community's goals, and geared specifically toward their target groups (i.e., age, number of children, social level, income, and interests of families participating in the program).

Participants also took daily classes in which they discussed various readings. They had the opportunity to work with Jewish classical texts, Mishna Bava Metzia 2:11, Tales of the Kotzer Rebbe (a figure from early 20th Century Eastern Europe), and a poem by Yehuda Amichai.

Professor Alexander stressed the importance of bringing Jewishness into everyday life and routine through small gestures, such as the recitation of the Sh'ma and other b'rachot (blessings).

During the closing ceremony, participants reflected on how the seminar had impacted their lives. "I'll do my best to formulate my perspectives and big goals rather than be afraid of misfortunes," said Vera, one of the community leaders in attendance. "I now understand that they happen not just to me, but are a part of the working process." Many individuals commented that they had gained the tools to be successful in the sphere of Jewish Family Education, as well as Judaic knowledge and concrete ideas to implement within their home communities.

Due to the success of the seminar, a Jewish Family Education Planning Program Guide is being developed.