TABLE OF CONTENTS1 FROM YOUR NEWSLETTER EDITOR Helena Miller

2 APPRECIATION AT A TIME OF TRANSITION Jeffrey Kress

3 NRJE AT YESHIVA UNIVERSITY 2009 David Schnall

3 2009 ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM RE-CAP Miriam Heller-Stern

4 YOUNG SCHOLARSrsquo AWARDS AN UP-DATE Diane Tickton Schuster

4 KrsquoNEH LEKHA HAVER Gail Dorph

5 WHAT DOES ldquoSUCCESSrdquo LOOK LIKE Leora Isaacs

6 JOURNAL OF JEWISH EDUCATION CALL FOR PAPERS

7 BALTIMORE HEBREW UNIVERSITY REINVENTS ITSELF Hana Bor and Rebecca Shargel

8 OBITUARY RABBI JOSEPH LUKINSKY ZrsquorsquoL

8 NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS

8 NEW MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY FOR NRJE

9 MANDEL CENTER AT BRANDEIS NEWS Janna Dorfman

9 NEW MASTERSrsquo PROGRAMS AT NYU Wendy Paler

This time of year is typically one of refl ection change and renewal In our professional lives we gear up for a new academic and working year and in our personal lives Rosh

Hashanah and Yom Kippur give us plenty of opportunities to think about the year that has passed and the one that is to come

Within the Network for Research in Jewish Education you will see particularly from Jeff Kressrsquo article that the Network is also

at a point of change and renewal in terms of personnel and roles Th ese changes are also refl ected within the Network in Diane Schusterrsquos article about the Young Scholarsrsquo Award and outside the Network in Hana Bor and Rebecca Shargelrsquos article about Baltimore Hebrew University

In terms of changes within the Network this will be the last Newsletter that I edit I have very much enjoyed the job It has given me the opportunity to be in touch with so many

colleagues in between the annual conferences and my thanks go to you all for your emails and articles Even those of you to whom I have occasionally () had to send one or two reminders for contributions have always delivered by the time the copy has had to be fi nalised

My warmest thanks go to Lisa Grant for all her support and advice over the years to Jeff Kress for his recent support in his new role and to the folk at JESNA for regularly sending out the Newsletter I would also particularly like to thank Nicole Ray who receives all the raw articles and information from me and then formats them into a cohesive and attractive Newsletter She has done a superb job over the years and I could not have edited the Newsletter without her

I am delighted that the new editor for this Newsletter will be Renee Rubin Ross who I am sure will do a great job Look out for an email from her in early Spring inviting you to submit your news and articles

Finally although I wonrsquot have the excuse of the newsletter to be in touch with you I hope we wonrsquot lose contact and I look forward to seeing you at the 2010 NRJE Conference next year

Shana tovaHelena

ARTICLES FOR THE SPRING 2009 NEWSLETTER SHOULD REACH RENEE RUBIN ROSS RJR300NYUEDU BY FRIDAY MARCH 20 2010

NEWSLETTER OF THE Number 32 Fall 20095770

FROM YOUR NEWSLETTER EDITORHELENA MILLER helenamillerujiaorg

NETWORK EXECUTIVE

JEFF KRESS ndash Network ChairBEN JACOBS ndash 2010 Conference Program ChairHAROLD WECHSLER ndash 2010 Conference co-ChairERICH DIETRICH ndash 2010 Conference co-ChairLEORA ISAACS ndash SecretaryELI SCHAAP ndash Treasurer

JEN AUERBACH ndash 2010 Graduate Assistant SHANI BECHHOFER ndash 2008 Program Chair LISA GRANT ndash Immediate Past Network ChairMIRIAM HELLER-STERN ndash 2009 Conference Program ChairCAROL INGALL ndash Emerging Scholars AwardDAVID MILLER ndash 2009 Conference co-ChairHELENA MILLER ndash Newsletter Editor (until Spring 2010)ALEX POMSON ndash Past Network ChairRENEE RUBIN ROSS ndash Newsletter Editor (from Spring 2010)DAVID SCHNALL ndash 2009 Conference co-ChairSIMONE SCHWEBER ndash Membership committee co-Chair MICHAEL ZELDIN ndash Senior Editor Journal of Jewish Education

ADDITIONAL COPIES MAY BE OBTAINED AT httpjesnaorgjpdfsre_netres32pdf

or by contacting JESNA at318 W 39th Street 5th Floor New York NY 10018 t 2122846878 | f 2122846951 | nrjejesnaorg

HELENA MILLER

NEWSLETTER DESIGN Nicole Ray

fall 2009 gtgtgt the network for research in jewish education lt 2 gt

am honored to embark on my role as Network chair I take on my new responsibilities with a deep sense of

humility and gratitude particularly to those Network members who have served in this role before me and who have been my mentors over the years (and to whom I continue to turn frequently for advice) As someone whose primary professional affi liation was not originally as a Jewish educational researcher I benefi ted greatly from the Network which served and continues to serve as a crucial community of colleagues I welcome the chance to ldquogive backrdquo to the Network in my role as chair In my fi rst Newsletter column I will focus on expressing gratitude and the fi rst most general ldquothank yourdquo is to the Network as an organization that helped to shape my career in Jewish educational research

As I write during the waning days of the ldquoacademic summerrdquo (that span between submitting grades and student orientation) I want to thank the organizers of the 2009 Conference for creating a high note that kicked-off the summer season Th e program organized by program chair Miriam Heller Stern was both deep and wide with a diverse group of presenters and topics Th e YU Team ndash led by David Miller and David Schnall ndash made sure that all the logistics ran smoothly and hosted a wonderful evening at the YU Museum at the Center for Jewish Heritage Also Ada Maradiaga helped enormously with the logistics (and in so many other ways)

I also want to thank my predecessor Lisa Grant not

only for helping to orient me to the role but far more importantly for all she has done for the Network and for the world of Jewish educational research Lisarsquos work with adult Jewish education and with Israel trips and education (to name what might be the two best known of her many research areas) has

made an enormous contribution to the fi eld Her tenure as Network chair was marked by the fl ourishing of the Journal of Jewish Education stronger connections with our Israeli counterparts the registration of the Network as an independent non-profi t organization and increased involvement of the graduate student community

Th is issue of the Newsletter marks the last for Helena

Miller as editor Th e Newsletter is a key vehicle for

communication among Network members between

conferences and is an essential part of maintaining our

sense of community Its pages contain topical discussions

as well as news and updates from members Helenarsquos hard

work is the driving force behind each issue and we have

all benefi ted from this Helena we owe you many thanks

Th ank you also to Renee Rubin Ross for taking on editorial

responsibility beginning with the next issueFinally Diane Tickton Schuster who has greatly

strengthened our Emerging Scholars award program is stepping down as its coordinator My thanks to her for her hard work coordinating the review process and to Carol Ingall who will be the new coordinator

Best wishes to all for a Shana Tova ursquoMetuka

Appreciation at a time of transition

JEFF KRESS

FROM THE CHAIR

JEFFREY KRESS jekressjtsaedu

I

fall 2009 gtgtgt the network for research in jewish education lt 3 gt

DAVID SCHNALL Conference co-Chair dschnallyuedu

T he Network for Research in Jewish Education hosted its 23rd Annual Conference on June 7th-

9th 2009 convening close to one hundred academics practitioners and researchers to share the latest in the fi eld of Jewish educational research Participants hailed largely from the United States but such countries as Canada Israel and England were also represented

As in previous years the program included panels which featured papers presenting completed work ldquospotlight sessionsrdquo ie interactive presentations regarding key issues in Jewish education and ldquoconsultations over coff eerdquo mdash collegial discussions of research in progress or preliminary fi ndings Perhaps the most gratifying aspects of these various sessions were the collaborations

between colleagues at the same or diff erent institutions alongside several facultystudent collaborations

For the fi rst time ever the conference was hosted by Yeshiva Universityrsquos Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration at its Beren Campus in midtown Manhattan and proved to be an exciting venue for exchanging ideas and research fi ndings Th e Sunday evening plenary session topic was ldquoTh e fate of Jewish education in a challenging economyrdquo chaired by Carol Ingall with discussants Harry Bloom Yossi Prager and Jonathan Sarna On Tuesday evening participants were bused to the Yeshiva University Museum for a Reception and Presentation of Young Scholarsrsquo Award followed by a guided tour of the museum and social dinner Th e conference was a wonderful success with many exciting and new ideas on Jewish Educational Research exchanged and discussed

MIRIAM HELLER STERN 2009 Program Chair miriamhsterngmailcom

E ducational researchers practitioners and policymakers from across the globe gathered

at Yeshiva University in June for the NRJE annual conference to share and learn about current fi ndings and methods in the fi eld of Jewish educational research Th e conference program brought into conversation a wide array of research subjects sparking critical conversations around essential questions such as What is the role of experiential education in formal schooling How is Jewish identity developed in diff erent contexts from the beit midrash to the virtual reality of the Internet Should Jewish educators continue to be worried about assimilation Presenters explored the uses of various research tools and disciplines such as JData and ethnography Th e conference program

featured a signifi cant number of consultations over coff ee signaling the growth of our graduate student population as well as the spirit of collaborative colleagueship which our veteran members have come to expect from the Network As always the conference program showcased both innovations in education as well as new perspectives on enduring dilemmas

Conference goers had the opportunity to enjoy a tour of the Yeshiva University Museumrsquos collection of art and Judaica and a gala reception Th e annual gathering gave Network members a chance to reconnect with colleagues and welcome new members into the organization as well

As one cycle ends a new one begins Th e 2010 program committee is already preparing the Call for Submissions for next Junersquos conference to be hosted by New York Universityrsquos Steinhardt School of Education

NRJE 2009 CONFERENCE

NRJE at Yeshiva University 2009

NRJE 2009 Annual Conference Recap

fall 2009 gtgtgt the network for research in jewish education lt 4 gt

T he 2009 Young Scholars Award was given to Aliza Segal a doctoral candidate at the Melton Centre

for Jewish Education at Hebrew University in support for her ethnographic study of Talmud education in a religious high school in Israel Alizarsquos research employs tools and methodologies from the fi elds of ethnography and discourse analysis and places our understanding of the Talmud classroom within a broader theoretical and empirical body of research

Th e Awards Committee (consisting of Isa Aron Shira Epstein Carol Ingall Jeff rey Schein Diane Tickton Schuster Simone Schweber and Harold Wechsler) was particularly impressed by how Alizarsquos proposal demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of Jewish educational research issues Reviewing the proposal one committee member wrote ldquoI am familiar with the literature and studies upon which Segal is drawing

her study is very strongly contextualized in the current research and she seems to have a solid theoretical frameworkrdquo Another committee member commented ldquoI am convinced Ms Segal has what it takes to contribute to the research literature in the teaching of Talmudrdquo

It was with special delight that the Committee unanimously agreed to fund Alizarsquos full request for support for transcribing costs for her dissertation data

In the coming year the Young Scholars Awards Committee will face a number of challenges First at the urging of some members of the Network the name of the Awards will be under review given that researchers of all ages are invited to apply for awards discussion has begun about whether the word ldquoyoungrdquo should be changed Second because the total number of Awards applications was very low in 2009 the Committee will strive this year to encourage a broader application pool in the years ahead Finally aft er four years of chairing the Committee Diane Tickton Schuster has elected to step down she is thrilled to hand off the chair position to Carol Ingall who she knows will bring decades of NRJE commitment experience and insight to the job

NRJE Young Scholar Awards An UpdateDIANE TICKTON SCHUSTERCHAIR YOUNG SCHOLARS AWARD COMMITTEEdtschuster1verizonnet

GAIL ZAIMAN DORPHgaildorphearthlinknet

As far as Irsquom concerned a big perk of belonging to the Network for Research in Jewish Education is

receiving the Journal of Jewish Educationmdashfour times a year From the perspective of a practicing Jewish educator I look forward to reading about the questions and issues my colleagues are exploring From the standpoint of a Jewish educational researcher Irsquom delighted to have a journal that welcomes fi rst class articles about issues in our fi eld I think having such a venue has encouraged more writing and more research because we know that scholarship in Jewish education has a home

Th e upcoming themed issue on teaching and teacher development is a great example It includes a variety of articles both philosophical and empirical

Two of these articles are based on collaborative research undertaken by a veteran contributor to the journal and a colleague whose work had not yet appeared in our pages

By happy coincidence their topics and the point I would like to make are congruent Th e article by Sarah Birkeland and Sharon Feiman-Nemser illuminates the necessary characteristics of induction into the fi eld of (day school) teaching as requiring more than just mentorship but an infrastructure of nested practices Another article is written by Miriam Raider-Roth and Elie Holzer It explores the role text study particularly hevruta practices as well as focused attention on teachinglearning relationships can play in helping teachers explore the fundamental relational dimensions of teaching and learning

I mention these two papers in particular as I write to you about the Journal One of the challenges we in the Network face is inducting more of our members and colleagues into the Jewish educational research family Perhaps these articles point us in the right direction In the words of Pirkei Avot ldquoKrsquoneh lekha haverrdquomdashlet us look for colleagues with whom we can collaborate and who will join us in making Jewish educational research the vibrant enterprise we wish it to be

Kneh Lekha Haver

fall 2009 gtgtgt the network for research in jewish education lt 5 gt

LEORA ISAACSlisaacsjesnaorg

MEASURING STUDENT OUTCOMES INJEWISH EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION

Both JESNA and the BJE of New York-SAJES believe that to be maximally eff ective in the fi eld of experiential Jewish education we must defi ne desired outputs and outcomes and be able to evaluate success Th is project aims to explore whether it is possible to create agreed-upon criteria by which a broad and diverse range of experiential Jewish education programs for Jewish teens can be evaluated It also seeks to investigate the feasibility of creating an evaluation tool (or set of tools) to assess such programs Toward that end Th e BJE of New York-SAJES and JESNA are collaborating on a project designed to assess ldquosuccessrdquo in experiential Jewish educational programs for teens One key component of the project was a consultation which took place on August 10th

Th e consultation was unique A heterogeneous group of more than 20 people were convened And this was no ordinary group It included academics who have been active in the fi eld for decades as well as graduate students with related experience and expertise Th ere were a wide range of perspectives affi liations and backgrounds represented as well

Further the consultation focused on conceptual thinking more than on ldquoproblem solvingrdquo though all present did help to tackle a challenge oft en not addressed in Jewish education measures of success Th rough a series

of guided exercises feedback was gathered from participants in regards to two primary questions1 What are the diff erent dimensions

of our aspirations for experiential Jewish education

2 What are some of the metrics for success in each of these dimensions

Th ose present agreed that the fi eld of experiential Jewish education needs a way to measure what is being done both to improve the educational off erings as well as insure their success And they begun to identify dimensions (such as connections and relationships teens have with peers and adult role-models) and metrics (such as supports provided during times of transitions and need in addition to times of joy and celebration)

In addition to fi ne tuning and building on the work begun during the consultation the next steps for the BJE of NY-SAJES and JESNA will include reaching out to program providers to determine whether (and how) we can develop an implementable tool to assess the success of experiential Jewish education programs

Please visit JESNArsquos website httpwwwjesnaorgmeasuring-success-in-experiential-teen-education to access resources used for the consultation and to ldquohearrdquo about the consultation via video blurb from three participants mdash Dr Barry Chazan (Professor of Education at Spertus College in Chicago and Educational Head of Birthright Israel) Amy L Sales (Associate Director for the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University) and Rami

Wernik (Dean of the Fingerhut School of Education at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles)

ARTICULATING OUTCOMES AND MEASURING SUCCESS IN ISRAEL ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION

In a similar vein JESNArsquos Learning and Consultation Center (LCC) and Berman Center for Research and Evaluation in Jewish Education is partnering with MAKOM the lsquothinkpractice tankrsquo of the Education Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel on a project to defi ne desired outputs and outcomes for Israel education and engagement programs to evaluate success and to plan curricula and activities to achieve them A thinkpractice tank is being convened on October 20 2009 to advance thinking about how to articulate desired outcomes for Israel education in a multiplicity of settings over a range of developmental stages - and to begin to envision indicators of success For further information about this project please contact NRJE members Alex Sinclair (SinclairAlexSijafi org) Renae Cohen (rcohenjesnaorg) or Leora Isaacs (lisaacsjesnaorg)

THREE NEW PUBLICATIONS FROM JESNA

Th e Publications and Dissemination Project (PDP) an initiative of JESNAs Learnings amp Consultation Center (LCC) brings JESNAs knowledge and expertise directly to you practitioners and policymakers

WHAT DOES lsquoSUCCESS LOOK LIKE

See SUCCESS next page

fall 2009 gtgtgt the network for research in jewish education lt 6 gt

C A L L F O R P A P E R S

Special upcoming themed issue of the Journal of Jewish Education

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN CONGREGATIONAL

EDUCATION

Manuscripts due by April 1 2010

Th e organized Jewish community has begun to recognize that congregational schools still enroll the majority of Jewish students and are likely to continue doing so for the foreseeable future despite the tremendous growth of day schools Accordingly the past two decades have seen the rise of innovation in congregational education accompanied by a growing body of research

Th e Journal invites articles that explore current issues and challenges in congregational education Research is to be understood broadly and submissions can fall into one of three broad categories empirical work including a variety of qualitative and quantitative approaches to research thick descriptions and analysis of programs and practices and conceptual analyses which may include philosophical or historical studies Successful articles will describe the context of their inquiry detail the research methods used highlight key fi ndings and discuss implications for the fi eld of religious education in general and Jewish education in particular

We also invite refl ections on and updates of Stuart Schoenfeldrsquos classic 1987 article ldquoFolk Judaism Elite Judaism and the Role of Bar Mitzvah in the Development of the Synagogue and Jewish School in Americardquo

Manuscripts should be submitted according to the Instructions for Authors available online at the Journal of Jewish Education website httpwwwtandfcoukjournalstitles15244113asp

Specifi c questions regarding submissions should be directed to JournalofJEdaolcom

in the fi eld of Jewish Education Snapshots amp Insights is JESNAs newest publication series designed to disseminate emergent data and understandings Th is issue focuses on Resource Centers for Jewish Educators Examining the history and current state of resource centers for Jewish educators alternative models and lessons learned about best practices Th e learnings are based on research and evaluations (performed primarily by JESNAs Berman Center for Research and Evaluation in Jewish Education) as well as on-the-ground knowledge (primarily gleaned from JESNAs Learnings amp Consultation Center staff who work directly with Jewish educators in the fi eld) You can fi nd this publication on the home page of wwwjesnaorg We welcome your comments and engagement We would also be very appreciative if you passed this on to your own list serves friends and colleagues

2010 Guide to Academic Programs in Formal and Informal Jewish Education

Jewish education tops the agenda of the Jewish community in North America Th e need to provide a quality product in both formal and informal settings requires talented and professionally trained educators who have experiences and degrees that have prepared them for their particular roles JESNA has therefore prepared the Guide to Academic Programs in Formal and Informal Jewish Education newly updated for the 2009-2010 school year to aid those seeking to prepare themselves for the fi eld You can fi nd this on the home page of wwwjesnaorg

New Making Connections Th e Los Angeles Bureau of Jewish Educations Concierge for Jewish Education Program

Th e newest working paper from JESNAs Lippman Kanfer Institute and Th e Berman Center for Research and Evaluation Th e report presents a detailed portrait of one of the countrys most innovative educational initiatives the Los Angeles Bureau of Jewish Educations Concierge for Jewish Education program Th e program is presented as an ambitious example of a range of activities that central agencies are undertaking to link educational silos in their communitiesYou can fi nd this on the home page of wwwjesnaorg

SUCCESS from previous page

fall 2009 gtgtgt the network for research in jewish education lt 7 gt

Baltimore Hebrew University (BHU) merged with Towson University in

the summer of 2009 Th e Master of Arts in Jewish Education (MAJE) is housed in the College of Education the largest teacher training school in the state of Maryland Two full-time education professors from BHU teach Jewish education within the College of Education Both are faculty affi liates of the new Baltimore Hebrew Institute of Towson University the central body at TU which supports students in their quest for Jewish learning and professional training preserves the studentsrsquo connections to the Baltimore Jewish community and directs adult and community programming within Greater Baltimore

Dr Hana Bor the Director of the Masters of Jewish Education and Jewish Communal Services Programs is also a member of the Department of Instructional Leadership for Professional Development Her colleague Dr Rebecca Shargel teaches in the Educational Technology and Literacy Department Both are excited about this new development in the history of the Hebrew collegesmdashan independent school transferring its programs to a state university campus of more than 20000 students

Th e MAJE program at Towson uniquely blends a strong foundation in core Judaic studies with the latest theory and practice in Jewish education BHUrsquos outstanding Judaica collection (some 80000 volumes) is now fully integrated into the Towson Library

In addition Towson now hosts the two other graduate programs from BHU the Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service and the Masters in Jewish Studies Five BHU faculty members teach Judaic

studies to both undergraduates and graduate students at Towson and hope to soon create an undergraduate major in Judaic Studies at Towson within the next two to three years

Th e leadership of Towson together with the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Greater Baltimore led the transition and collaborated to merge

the two institutions Erika Pardes Schon directs the Baltimore Hebrew Institute She oversees adult education special lectures and outreach for the Baltimore Jewish community

Th ese changes are extremely promising for a small institution with a dynamic 90-year history Founded in 1919 to train

teachers for local Jewish schools then ldquoBaltimore Hebrew Collegerdquo continually adapted its curriculum to meet the needs of the Baltimore Jewish community as well as North American Jewry in general Beginning in the 1990s Baltimore Hebrew College began to off er masterrsquos degrees and doctorates and offi cially became Baltimore Hebrew University

Many graduates of BHU are in leadership positions around the world

Th e leadership of Towson University together with the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Greater Baltimore negotiated the transition and collaborated to merge the two institutions

Baltimore Hebrew University Reinvents ItselfREBECCA SHARGEL RShargeltowsonedu and HANA BOR HBortowsonedu

DR REBECCA SHARGEL AND DR HANA BOR

The MAJE program at Towson uniquely blends a strong foundation in core Judaic studies with the latest theory and pratice in Jewish education

fall 2009 gtgtgt the network for research in jewish education lt 8 gt

NEW MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY FOR NRJE

We are announcing our new ldquorrdquo category of Retiree Membership of the NRJE at the reduced rate of $50 per annum If you would like to take advantage of this rate please indicate on your membership renewal

NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS

DEBORAH COURT School of Education Bar Ilan University and PAUL (SHAUL) R FEINBERG Emeritus Associate Dean and Associate Adjunct Professor of Jewish Education will present their paper ldquoDialogue of Colleagues Meaning and Transcendence Sanctifying Space and Time in Curricular Discourserdquo at the third Triennial Conference of the International Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies

JEFFREY GLANZ Professor of Education at the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration is co-editor with Karen Shawn of PRISM An Interdisciplinary Journal for Holocaust Educators Th is is a new journal that debuted this September For copies email glanzyuedu Jeff reyrsquos most recent publication is ldquoConstructivism and Diff erentiation Research and Practical Strategies for Assessmentrdquo appearing in the latest issue of Jewish Educational Leadership

RON KOAS is Education Director of Park Avenue Synagogue in NYC He is an alumnus of the UJA funded Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Th eological Seminary Leadership Institute for Congregational School Educators His recent work has been in the area of the needswants of parents of students at supplementary school For details or copies please contact Ron at RKoasPASynorg

AARON ROSS successfully defended his dissertation entitled ldquoMotivational Issues in the Study of Gemara among American High School Senior Boysrdquo at Yeshiva Universityrsquos Azrieli Graduate School

RENEE RUBIN ROSS gave birth to Rachel Natania Ross on 22 July 2009 a sister for Eliana Mazal tov to Marty and Renee In November Renee will be starting a two year fellowship as visiting research scholar at Brandeis Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education

Rabbi Joseph Lukinsky zrsquorsquol

W e are sad to announce the death of Rabbi Joseph

Lukinsky Th eodore and Florence Baumritter Professor Emeritus of Jewish Education at JTS August 2009 Professor Lukinsky was the teacher of many of todayrsquos leading Jewish educators and scholars His vision of Jewish education shaped the thinking and approach of the Seminary and he was an important infl uence on Camp Ramah and many other venues of our fi led Professor Lukinsky was an enormously creative thinker whose constant inquiry into new ideas and methods of education made him an extraordinary role model for Jewish educators throughout the world Aft er retiring from the seminary Professor Lukinsky and his wife Betty moved to Israel where he has been buried

Barry W HoltzDean William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish EducationTh eodore and Florence Baumritter Professor of Jewish EducationJewish Th eological Seminary of America

fall 2009 gtgtgt the network for research in jewish education lt 9 gt

JANNA DORFMANjannadorfmanbrandeisedu

SHARON FEIMAN-NEMSER Mandel Professor of Jewish Education at Brandeis and Director of the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education is on sabbatical during the 2009-2010 academic year Jon Levisohn Asst Professor of Jewish Education is serving as Acting Director of the Mandel Center in her absence Besides doing a lot of yoga and fi nishing some smaller writing projects Sharon is preparing a collection of pieces on teacher learning that she wrote between 1980 and 2000 She recently wrote a chapter ldquoMultiple meanings of new teacher inductionrdquo for Past Present and Future Research on Teacher Induction An Anthology for Researchers Policy Makers and Practitioners edited by Wang Odell and Clift

ORIT KENT senior research associate was awarded the 2009 Glatzer Prize for her exceptional dissertation Th e award presented to Dr Kent in May by the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Department at Brandeis recognizes Dr Kentrsquos dissertation ldquoInteractive Text Study and the Co-construction of Meaning Havruta in the DeLeT Beit Midrashrdquo Dr Kent based her research on data she gathered in the Beit Midrash for Teachers at the Mandel Center which she co-designed and has taught since 2003

Th e ldquoChoosing to Teachrdquo Project announces two upcoming papers

bull Tamir E (in press) Th e retention question in context-specifi c teacher education do beginning teachers and their program directors see teachersrsquo future career eye to eye Teaching and Teacher Education

bull Tamir E (in press) Choosing to teach in urban schools among graduates of elite colleges Urban Education 44(5)

ldquoChoosing to Teach Enacting Values in Practicerdquo is a research study that off ers a more nuanced understanding of what draws people into teaching and what keeps them there It explores how their work as teachers intersects with their personal background teacher preparation school context and evolving personal and professional selves to shape their practice and commitments

In August the INDUCTION PARTNERSHIP hosted the fi rst in a series of virtual seminars for its distant partner schools Now in its second phase of work the Partnership has taken a model of consultation honed with Boston-area day schools to a new nationwide approach with three pilot schools Lander~Grinspoon Academy in Northampton Mass Seattle Hebrew Academy in Seattle Wash and Frankel Jewish Academy in West Bloomfi eld Mich Partially supported by the Covenant Foundation the Partnership aims to help schools organize to better support and sustain new teachers and works with all school stakeholders to improve the new teacher experience

THE BEIT MIDRASH RESEARCH PROJECT has launched a new partnership with Kesher an innovative Jewish aft ernoon school in Cambridge Mass Orit Kent is leading a research and professional development eff ort with Kesher faculty to help them adapt her theory of havruta learning for use in their classrooms and enhance their teaching of Judaic content and the facilitation of students learning from one another Th is eff ort will be documented and analyzed to add to the Beit Midrash Projectrsquos growing body of research

THE INITIATIVE ON BRIDGING SCHOLARSHIP AND PEDAGOGY IN JEWISH STUDIES has recently published six new working papers by practitioners exploring their own practice Th ese papers are posted on its website wwwbrandeisedumandelbridginginitiativehtml

MANDEL CENTER AT BRANDEIS News September 2009

NEW MASTERSrsquo PROGRAMS AT NYU

WENDY PALER Assistant Director of Administration NYU Steinhardt

wendypalernyueduOn September 8 2009 NYU launched two new

masters programs Th e Steinhardt School of Culture Education and Human Development at NYU is now off ering an MA in Education and Jewish Studies which can be taken on its own or as part of a dual MA program with the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies in the Graduate School of Arts and Science which also eventuates in an MA in Hebrew and Judaic Studies Graduates of these two programs along with the PhD in Education and Jewish Studies which began in 2001 assume a variety of prestigious leadership positions in the fi eld of Jewish Education

Students in the Education and Jewish Studies programs come from a variety of religious backgrounds from secular to Orthodox and from many diff erent places from Utah to New York from Israel to Australia Th e Jim Joseph Foundation in San Francisco recently awarded the NYU Education and Jewish Studies programs a $5 million grant to provide support for promising graduate students

To learn more about the program please visit httpsteinhardtnyueduhumsocscijewish and RSVP for an info session on Tuesday October 27 2009 Applications for the 2010-2011 school year are due January 4 2010