Stories of Innovation

My Aspirations Playbook (MAP) frames the way we think about Jewish education and guides the community in helping our children to develop a strong sense of self, belonging, responsibility, and spirituality. Culminating in years of research from leading Jewish organizations on the impact of Jewish education in the formation of identities, MAP empowers today’s youth to explore, challenge, and grow with the support of Jewish educators, families, and communal stakeholders, asking themselves: 
 
Who am I?
How do I belong to my communities?
How do I navigate my spiritual journey?
How do I participate in the world?

“MAP illustrated to us as we asked the question: Does Zionism matter to you and your people and are you talking about the complexity of Israel in all its facets? The answer was no; we weren't doing that. So we took a hard look at what we were doing thanks to The Jewish Education Project, and now we've brought it in regularly into our curriculum and to our family programming.” 
-Rabbi Jeremy Ruberg, Rabbi for Lifelong Learning at Temple Emanu-El, Closter, NJ

Project Bet-A is a two-year professional development initiative designed to support educational leaders in synagogues, after-school programs, and independent models across Westchester, New York City, and Long Island. This initiative offers 28 hours of in-person learning, complemented by webinars, asynchronous learning, and curated resources. 

In its first year, participants develop a vision for Jewish education by defining learning outcomes using educational frameworks such as My Aspirations Playbook, and exploring approaches to innovation that can elevate their educational settings. 

In the second year, participants apply newly developed approaches within their organizations as they integrate the concepts and strategies explored during the first year. Project Bet-A aims to empower local leaders with the skills, tools, and mindset to reimagine and strengthen Jewish education. 

Since October 7th, we have brought over 400 educators to Israel on Mishlachot Areyvut (“Delegations of Responsibility”) to bear witness and, in turn, to bring their experience back to their classrooms and impact their Israel education curriculum.  

Each trip has offered meaningful encounters, such as: 

• Visiting multiple schools in Israel to experience how they are supporting their learners' social-emotional growth through their educational models
• Bearing witness to the atrocities of October 7th by traveling to the site of the Nova music festival
• Meeting with families whose loved ones are still hostages in Gaza 

“The words ‘we will dance again’ remain present in my mind in the days since I returned home from my trip... We need to keep talking, to keep unpacking what we know to be true, and to continue asking questions. Our learners depend on us to show them the way.” 
-Jen Schiffer, ECC Director, The Community Synagogue, L’Dor V’Dor Early Childhood Center, Port Washington, NY