Kesher Hadash students will explore the philosophies and pedagogies of cutting-edge approaches to teaching about Israel in different educational settings. They will deepen their knowledge of Israel’s history, culture, sociology, and politics, while studying with Israelis who are also training to become Jewish educators. Together, these new colleagues will learn about the challenges they share and the differences among them.
An Experiential Program
Kesher Hadash students will intern in Israeli schools, experiencing the thrill of Jewish education in an immersive Hebrew environment, and gain insights into the nuances of the Israeli education system. They will visit places they have never been to before, and see places they think they already know through more sophisticated lenses. They will experience a series of cultural activities with a savvier educational eye: museums, theater, concerts, and more.
Kesher Hadash students will experience a radical new approach to Hebrew language instruction. The experiential ulpan will help them make great strides in their command of Hebrew. They will also take part in social activism programs in which they will work with Israelis who are trying to better Israeli society.
The Experience of Living in Israel
Kesher Hadash students will live in one of the beautiful neighborhoods of South Jerusalem, where they will be able to enjoy daily and Shabbat experiences like no other. They will spend Shabbatot at Kibbutz Hanaton, a remarkable new pluralist Jewish educational community in the Galilee.
Through the Kesher Hadash Semester-in-Israel program, students will develop a proficiency in Israel Education that will make them more marketable and attractive as candidates for an increasing number of key positions in the American Jewish community.
The Kesher Hadash program is the result of a generous gift from the Jim Joseph Foundation Education Initiative, which provided a total of $45 million in grants to JTS, Yeshiva University, and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion for the purpose of increasing the numbers and enhancing the quality of Jewish educators working with Jewish youth and young adults in North America.
To learn more about The Davidson School’s Kesher Hadash Semester-in-Israel program, please contact Dr. Ofra Backenroth, associate dean of The Davidson School, at email@example.com or Dr. Alex Sinclair, adjunct assistant professor of Jewish Education, at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Visit The Davidson School and JTS at www.jtsa.edu/davidson/kesherhadash.
Visit JTS at www.jtsa.edu.