Qushiyot Israel Education Fellowship
Description:
Qushiyot, the Israel Education Fellowship, is a 10-month network experience that offers participants the opportunity to connect with colleagues of diverse perspectives and partake in a range of learning opportunities to spur innovation. It is a comprehensive, open approach to Israel education that embraces the vibrant complexity of Israel. Participants will:
- Benefit from individual coaching and professional development for teaching Israel in part-time settings in grades 2-12.
- Experience an intensive 6-day workshop in Israel, based around Makom's Four Hatikvah Questions (4HQ) method.
- Develop contemporary, meaningful, and relevant Israel curriculum.
- Learn how to build support from key lay and professional leadership.
- Address controversial issues and your own relationship to Israel.
Additional information:
- This is a closed, cohort-based network for the educators in the Qushiyot Israel Education Fellowship.
- Applications for the Hey track (final cohort) are available on our website and will be accepted on a rolling basis. Click here to learn more.
About the facilitator:
Abby Pitkowsky is the Director of Israel Education and Westchester Region. Abby earned her BA from SUNY Binghamton and her MA degree in Jewish Education from JTS. Abby began her career in Jewish Education in both informal and formal frameworks in the NY area. She lived in Israel for nine years where she worked for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, serving Jewish communities overseas primarily in Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. After returning to the U.S. Abby shifted her professional focus to her local NY Jewish community. Abby’s current work is supporting educators to develop meaningful and relevant Israel educational opportunities for their institutions.
Testimonials:
I am now able to frame the Israel conversation in a way that both students and adults can understand without going directly into politics and personal feelings.
The 4HQ training and the Qushiyot seminar has helped me to think about Israel in the here and now better, and avoid irrelevant past issues and spend more time on really current issues.
I am [now] attuned to the importance of teaching about authentic Israel, without shying away from complexity.
The 4HQ training has significantly impacted my ability to create curriculum and implement Israel education by providing me with conceptual frames, updated content and pedagogical strategies to authentically explore the complexity, depth and breadth of Israel with my students, teachers and parents. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a participant.