Comments on: Why I love to hate (Jewish) lists? http://bryfy.net/?p=466 An Interactive Educational Experience Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:55:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: bryfy http://bryfy.net/?p=466&cpage=1#comment-30 bryfy Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:02:57 +0000 http://bryfy.net/?p=466#comment-30 Thank you to an anonymous person who recommended taking a look at: (Rabbi) Jon Stewart's The Year in Preview. http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-january-13-2010/the-year-in-preview Thank you to an anonymous person who recommended taking a look at: (Rabbi) Jon Stewart’s The Year in Preview.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-january-13-2010/the-year-in-preview

]]> By: Howard Wohl http://bryfy.net/?p=466&cpage=1#comment-29 Howard Wohl Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:36:50 +0000 http://bryfy.net/?p=466#comment-29 You have described not only the challenges that Western Jewry faces but the opportunities as well. The very notion of community has changed and along with it the need for a continuing physical instituitonal presence. When the last Temple was destroyed nearly 2,000 years ago, we created a sense of Peoplehood that was able to be transported beyond the geographic limits of Israel. Now, when Jews have returned to Israel in large numbers and the Internet has created new modes of relationships, we need to be responsive to change. We must be able to articulate what it means to be Jewish under these circumstances. Unless and until we do we will find Judaism subsumed by being Israeli or simply a citizen of the world. You have described not only the challenges that Western Jewry faces but the opportunities as well. The very notion of community has changed and along with it the need for a continuing physical instituitonal presence. When the last Temple was destroyed nearly 2,000 years ago, we created a sense of Peoplehood that was able to be transported beyond the geographic limits of Israel. Now, when Jews have returned to Israel in large numbers and the Internet has created new modes of relationships, we need to be responsive to change. We must be able to articulate what it means to be Jewish under these circumstances. Unless and until we do we will find Judaism subsumed by being Israeli or simply a citizen of the world.

]]> By: Lisa Colton http://bryfy.net/?p=466&cpage=1#comment-27 Lisa Colton Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:27:23 +0000 http://bryfy.net/?p=466#comment-27 David, excellent questions. My guess is that the tensions here are more about how we've developed our institutions, and the assumptions they are based upon, than questions about human nature, quality, or impact. A group of people who are all members of a congregation, or who all send their kids to the same denominational school do not necessarily make a "community". People may desire "authority and authenticity" but question whether those things can only be found within denomination-focused institutions. What we do know is that people have more choice than ever, and are making choices based on different characteristics than in the past (see our intern's blog post http://bit.ly/4nfOGD for one man's story). This completely changes the market for Jewish education. If we agree that, as Jonathan said above "we're in the transition period between educational paradigms", what is needed to embrace the shift, rather than resist it? David, excellent questions. My guess is that the tensions here are more about how we’ve developed our institutions, and the assumptions they are based upon, than questions about human nature, quality, or impact. A group of people who are all members of a congregation, or who all send their kids to the same denominational school do not necessarily make a “community”. People may desire “authority and authenticity” but question whether those things can only be found within denomination-focused institutions. What we do know is that people have more choice than ever, and are making choices based on different characteristics than in the past (see our intern’s blog post http://bit.ly/4nfOGD for one man’s story). This completely changes the market for Jewish education. If we agree that, as Jonathan said above “we’re in the transition period between educational paradigms”, what is needed to embrace the shift, rather than resist it?

]]> By: Jonathan Woocher http://bryfy.net/?p=466&cpage=1#comment-26 Jonathan Woocher Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:50:08 +0000 http://bryfy.net/?p=466#comment-26 David, I think you've kicked the ball right through the posts (actually, I have no idea what they say when you score in Footie). Fun as it was to try to identify some of the groundbreaking ideas and trends of the past decade, it's even more important to think about what's coming. Your list is a great starting point. We're in the transition period between educational paradigms, which I think is an exciting place to be. Many of the answers we're seeking, I believe, will require us to learn how to unite apparent opposites - choice and community, innovation and tradition, post-denominationalism and compelling visions, global communication and face-to-face intimacy. It's going to be an interesting decade ahead. David, I think you’ve kicked the ball right through the posts (actually, I have no idea what they say when you score in Footie). Fun as it was to try to identify some of the groundbreaking ideas and trends of the past decade, it’s even more important to think about what’s coming. Your list is a great starting point. We’re in the transition period between educational paradigms, which I think is an exciting place to be. Many of the answers we’re seeking, I believe, will require us to learn how to unite apparent opposites – choice and community, innovation and tradition, post-denominationalism and compelling visions, global communication and face-to-face intimacy. It’s going to be an interesting decade ahead.

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