Strengthening Jewish identity one New Yorker at a time
Jerusalem educators help strengthen Jewish identity in New York Jewish schools as part of unique educational initiative
A delegation of 10 Jerusalem educators arrived in New York at the beginning of of December as part of the ‘Psifas Yehudi’ (Jewish Mosaic) initative sponsored by the Community Administration of Ginot Hair.
This project is aimed at nurturing Jewish identity among Jewish students in the Diaspora, who often find themselves immersed in a predominantly non-Jewish environment, through joint efforts by Israeli and American educators.
The Jerusalem educators frequented eight Jewish schools of different denominations, in the city, as well as various community centers in the tri-state area, and were by and large impressed with the schools’ efforts to foster Jewish identity in their students, as well as with the educational environment provided for New York’s Jewish children.
Ronit Dagan and the homeroom teacher, Fairfield (Photos: Beryl Baron)
Ronit Dagan, principal of the Gymnasia Rehavia High School in Jerusalem notes that: “What we (the delegation) experienced in New York’s Jewish community was a unique and heartwarming experience. The Jewish education in New York’s schools is indeed top-notch, and their students long for close, warm bonds with the state of Israel.”
The ‘Psifas Yehudi’delegation included teachers, kindergarten teachers, as well as school principals from various Jerusalem educational facilities including Beit-Chinuch Middle School, the Tali School, The Jerusalem high school for the Arts, The Sold School, Yehuda Halevi state religious school, the Paula Ben-Gurion School in Rehavia, and the Gymnasia Rehavia High School in Jerusalem.
Lighting the First Hannukah candle at the JCC on the Hudson
During their New York visit, delegates participated in various cultural events related to Jewish Holidays as well as Israel, and participated in various Jewish community events aimed at strengthening the bonds between New York’s Jewish community and Israel.
The Jerusalem educators, in turn, acted as both teachers and students, contributing their expertise in Jewish education to their NY hosts, and learning about efforts to maintain and enhance Jewish identity in various US communities.
The ‘Psifas Yehudi’ (Jewish Mosaic) initiative is a joint venture of the Jewish Agency, the Jerusalem Association of Community Councils and Centers LTD, and the New York UJA.
