Who’s in Charge? Making Hebrew School More Like Summer Camp

Last Updated on Friday, 27 May 2011 08:14 Written by bryfy Friday, 27 May 2011 08:14

I frequently get asked the question of how to make Hebrew School more like summer camp. Good question! After all summer camp is fun and Hebrew School is, well, at least in our collective narrative – not. If only life were so easy.

There are of course some core elements of summer camp that can’t be replicated in a conventional complementary school environment. First and foremost summer camp takes place in the summer, and for any of you have waited in carpool on those dreary winter evenings you know exactly what I mean. Second, by and large summer camp is voluntary. Very rarely do children, especially older ones, or those returning to their second plus summer, feel as if “they have to go.” And third, and this is not a flippant comment, summer camp is often deemed so successful largely because it is not school.

But all is not lost. Even with these core “unreplicable” elements there are some aspects of summer camp that can, and I believe should, be introduced to Jewish complementary schools –not just because they work at summer camp – but because they constitute good learning (and yes summer camp, when done well, is good learning).

Ke-ilu (as if): An Experiential Educational Dilemma

Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 April 2011 07:37 Written by bryfy Wednesday, 13 April 2011 07:36

“Bechol dor va dor hayav adam lirot Et Atzmo Ke-ilu hu yataza mi mitzrayim”

In every generation one is obligated to see oneself as if they personally went out from Egypt.

There are many instances when the participants in the Passover seder are implored to enact aspects of the Passover narrative “ke ilu” (as if) they themselves were part of the original exodus from Egypt…

Actually, as a stand-alone the haggadah text is actually not very experiential – in fact it is fairly didactic in nature – it tells a story, directs the players, and above all else we know how the story turns out. The true experiential learning that can takes place during the seder depends on you…

To find out more about my insights on this portion of the Haggadah and how it relates to experiential Jewish education click here where you will taken to an exciting new website: www.haggadot.com.

The Passion of an Experiential Educator

Last Updated on Friday, 8 April 2011 09:23 Written by bryfy Friday, 8 April 2011 09:23

Often when I ask groups to articulate the most important qualities of educators the word “passion” rises to the top of the list. Up there with charisma it is one of those elusive elements that many claim helps to make for great educators.

I am reminded by a colleague that the word “passion” has its origins Middle English/Old French/Medieval Latin and stems from the word passiō that describes Christ’s pain and suffering on the cross – hardly the qualities that many of us would associate with that which is necessary to be a great educator (although perhaps reminding some of us of those terrible classroom moments we may have experienced at some stage of our careers).

This week I had the fortune to explore the word “passion” in real time. Combining it with my affinity for experiential education and my ongoing curiosity of learning things from the “other”  I found myself at The Holyland Experience, a theme park in Orlando – a “biblical museum that takes you 7000 miles away and 2000 years back in time to the land of the Bible. Its unique sights, sounds and tastes stimulate your senses and blend together to create a spectacular, new experience.” And that it certainly did. Some of you might recognize the theme park from Bill Maher’s “Religulous.”

Before visiting the theme park I had told a receptionist that I was (a Jewish educator) and that I was mainly interested in the first half of the park. He didn’t find that quite as amusing as I thought he might but he also insisted that I would enjoy the whole experience if I allowed myself the chance to feel comfortable. But it was in this experience that I was confronted by the origin of the word “passion.”