BJE: Builders of Jewish Education

Calling All Teens!

This program is made possible in part thanks to a generous anonymous gift to BJE in memory of Barbara Yaroslavsky.

For more information contact Lily at [email protected].

IMPACT REPORT
January - June 2024
Landmark Conference: What’s Next for Our Schools
Post October 7th? On April 1, BJE convened educational leaders from 35 different Jewish educational institutions for a landmark conference exploring how best to move forward in the post-October 7th environment. Educators from local part-time religious schools and day schools, as well as youth professionals and camp personnel, were joined by national experts invited by BJE to examine the impact of the terror attacks in Israel, war in Gaza and rise in antisemitism on Jewish peoplehood and identity. Working sessions on educational implications were led by colleagues from ADL, iCenter, Moving Traditions, OpenDor Media, Tzedek America, and author and professor Dr. Sivan Zakai and Dr. Lauren Applebaum (from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at HUC-JIR), and psychologist Rabbi Dr. David Fox. To read about all the events that transpired during the past 6 months click the link.https://www.bjela.org/sites/default/files/2024-06/BJE%20Impact%20Report%20JAN-JUNE%20%202024.pdf

Calling all 7th-9th Graders!

Torah, Shavuot, and Jewish Education
Shavuot (literally, "weeks") is linked to Passover by a counting of days and weeks from the second night of Pesach until the onset of this next pilgrimage holiday, 50 days later. While Pesach marks liberation from bo***ge, Shavuot celebrates the covenant of Torah and all that it represents. The exodus from Egypt is the beginning of the Israelites' journey to Sinai, where the mission of the nation-in-the making – to become "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6) – is given expression.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks aptly comments that "no historical investigation will ever resolve the question of whether, at Sinai, the voice the Israelites heard was real or imagined." Yet, the Torah – as interpreted and applied – has guided the lives of Jews across time and place. In Rabbi Sacks's words: "The story of the Jewish people, especially after the second Temple, is about one of the great love affairs of all time, the love of a people for a book, the Torah."
For more click the link: https://www.bjela.org/blog/torah-shavuot-and-jewish-education-0

BJE Wishes each of this season’s graduates Mazel Tov!
And very special gratitude to the educators, parents, grandparents, mentors, and everyone else who supported you along the way to this momentous achievement!
Best wishes for your bright future ahead.

BJE proudly congratulates Carly Rosenstein, our Director of the Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Education and Special Projects, and wishes her great, continued success! To read more click here https://www.bjela.org/blog/bje-professional-leader-named-a-wexner-davidson-fellow

Mazal tov to the 15 outstanding Jewish professionals selected for Class 1 of the Wexner Davidson Fellowship, our newest leadership development program created in partnership with the William Davidson Foundation. Over the next three years, these dynamic Fellows will grow as Jewish professionals, deepen their leadership skills, and develop a rich community of colleagues across North America and Israel. The complete list of Class 1 Fellows is available here: https://bit.ly/WDFClass1Announcement.

GRADUATION DAY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS As part of a two-part Mentor Teachers Program for early childhood educators (the first part taking place at AJU), in the summer of 2023, twelve educators from BJE-affiliated early childhood programs became students again!

On May 21 they completed the Mentor Teachers Program at AJU, and are now on their way to forming the first ever cohort for ECE mentor educators in 2024-25!

Mazal tov to all!

Learn more about this exceptional professional development opportunity.
https://www.bjela.org/blog/graduation-day-for-bje-early-childhood-educators

BJE Convenes Milestone Conference as Part of Positive Education Initiative
After initial training and certification in Positive Education and implementation of lessons learned by participating educators in their respective school communities, BJE invited the educators from the program’s two cohorts to gather for a day of learning about current trends in the state of mental health of children post-COVID, to reflect on their work implementing Positive Education during the past year, and plan for the future of Positive Education in their schools. Learn more about the long-term impact of this BJE program.https://www.bjela.org/blog/bje-educators-reflect-on-positive-education-efforts

What is a Community of Practice (CoP)?
Like any organization, BJE uses jargon that becomes a shorthand among professionals, but can be mystifying to the broader community. One example is the use of the term “Community of Practice.” What does it mean for the educators who work with thousands of Jewish students in BJE-affiliated schools across the LA area? Learn more here.

https://conta.cc/4dqELkU

BJE Insider: What is a Community of Practice (CoP)?     What is a Community of Practice? Like any organization, BJE uses jargon that becomes a shorthand among professionals, but can be mystifying to the broader community. One example is the use of the

BJE's March of the Living Adults visit the Jewish Cemetery Wall Made of old Gravestones. Street in Kazimierz, the historic Jewish quarter of Krakow Poland.

BJE Teens at the Memorial and Museum AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU,
Former German N**i Concentration and Extermination Camp

Our teens visited the Lodz Jewish cemetery. Polish industrialist, born at Aleksandrow near Lodz. One of the most eminent entrepreneurs in the Russian-dominated part of Poland. The son of a Jewish merchant of Kowal, he built up a textile empire and became, next to Karl/ Karol Scheibler, the most important producer of Lodz, a 'multicultural' (as we would say today) city

BJE 2024 March of the Living has begun…

https://conta.cc/3UES89L

Honor your teacher with a tribute! Show a Special Teacher Some Love! Through nurturing our children’s minds and hearts, Jewish educators build our community and our future with profound dedication and impact. Let’s return the love a

https://conta.cc/3PRTvzd

The Passover Narrative: A Continuing Journey of Hope   The Passover Narrative: A Continuing Journey of Hope “History,” writes Jonathan Sacks, “is like a journey, with a starting point and a destination, or like book with a beginning and middle and dista

BJE’s upcoming Adult March of the Living delegation met today and started our profoundly meaningful learning journey together. Sincerest thanks to Dr. Michael Berenbaum, Father Ron Schmidt (producer of the incredible documentary film, Labyrinth, and to Ari Mark).

https://conta.cc/3U2F265

Now is a Critical Time to Support Jewish Education It's a Critical Time for Jewish Education Since the October 7th terror attacks, war in Gaza and rise in antisemitism, BJE has worked to meet an escalated call by LA's Jewish schools and families for h

https://conta.cc/3TzDhM7

Two BJE Teen Service Corps Summer Camp Opportunities! JOIN BJE FOR A SUMMER OF SOCIAL ACTION!! BJE is bringing back Teen Service Corps day camp, open to rising 7th – 9th graders looking to make a difference and earn service hours. Based out of a local co

https://conta.cc/3v8gP4z

BJE Honors Two Schools with Smotrich "What If?" Grants Learn more about the recipients of this grant! BJE Honors Two Early Childhood Centers with Smotrich Family Foundation "What If" Grants: Congratulations to Temple Judea Early Childhood Center and Yeshi

BJE Honors Early Childhood Educators with 2024 Lainer Distinguished Educator Awards.

With funds from an endowment established at BJE by the Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation, BJE annually recognizes three exemplary educators who have been teaching at least 7 years at BJE-affiliated early childhood centers with Lainer Distinguished Educator Awards.

The awards, announced each March at the annual BJE Bebe Feuerstein Simon Institute, include a $2500 cash prize. Learn more about these outstanding educators by clicking on the link. https://conta.cc/3wMZIWe

BJE Honors Three Early Childhood Educators with 2024 Lainer Awards BJE Honors Early Childhood Educators with 2024 Lainer Distinguished Educator Awards Dassi Bass, Pressman Academy Judy Harris, Aaron Milken Center at Wise Esther Servin, Temple Akiba ECC The Lainer fam

More than 130 high school seniors from Jewish and non-sectarian private and public schools across the Greater Los Angeles area are registered to join BJE's 2024 teen March of the Living 2024 delegation. In preparation, BJE educators recently conducted the first of three Farber Workshops, orientation sessions designed to prepare students and families for what they can expect.

https://conta.cc/3wIOL87

Learning to Stand Up for Oneself and Others Learning to Stand Up for Oneself and Others More than 130 high school seniors from Jewish and non-sectarian private and public schools across the Greater Los Angeles area are registered to join BJE's

6 Powerful Reasons to Send Your Child to Jewish Summer Camp Jewish summer camp fuses the activities, friendships, and communal life of traditional camps with the Jewish values, role models and culture our shared heritage

Get Ready For Purim! JKidLA Newsletter What are you doing with your kids? JKidLA is your connection to activities from birth through teens in Jewish LA. JKidLA is a program of BJE: Builders of Jewish Education. Learn More Here!   Raising a

Bottom row left to right: Honorees Alan Petlak, Sharon De Mayo, Dr. Rachael Gordon and Donald Snyder. Top row left to right: BJE Executive Director Dr. Gil Graff, Gala Co-Chairs Allison Samek, Gregg Bernstein, Adrian Miller, BJE President Craig Rutenberg.

Thank you to the 400+ people who supported BJE's 2024 Gala! Your spirit and generosity helped us honor Alan Petlak, Rachael Gordon MD, Don Snyder and Sharon De Mayo and raise critical funds to support Jewish education during a very turbulent year for our schools and our people.

We especially thank our amazing Co-Chairs, Adrian Miller, Allie Samek and Gregg Bernstein and Honorary Co-Chairs, Dr. Tamar & Edward Andrews, Ethie & Steve Hitter, Sharon & Leon Janks, and Sheila Baran Spiwak & Dr. Alan Spiwak, our Gala Committees, the BJE board, supporters, volunteers, partners and staff for an outstanding event. Each of you is an important builder of Jewish education who helps make it possible for BJE to continually enhance the quality of, increase access to, and encourage participation in Jewish education.

Thank you, again, from all of us at BJE on behalf of the 22,000+ children, their families, and educators we serve each year.

Click the link to register now. https://www.tfaforms.com/5104470