JEDCast

Don’t Give Up On Skills In Jewish Education

In this essay, Hillel Rapp discusses the importances of teaching skills in Judaic learning. Read this essay on Substack. [https://hillelrapp.substack.com/p/dont-give-up-on-skills-in-jewish] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hillelrapp.substack.com [https://hillelrapp.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

JEDCast Episode 7: Do Our Kids have a Drinking Problem?

In this episode, Rabbi Yosef Kurtz, Chaim Rutman, and I discuss a 2021 JTA article, “The data don’t lie: Yeshiva high school students have a binge-drinking problem [https://www.jta.org/2021/02/23/ideas/our-yeshiva-day-schools-have-a-binge-drinking-problem-heres-what-we-can-do-about-it]” by Rivka Press Schwartz and Rabbi Tully Harcsztark. Our previous episode: Why Aren't Our Kids in Shul? [https://hillelrapp.substack.com/p/jedcast-episode-2-why-arent-our-kids] About Rabbi Yosef Kurtz: Rabbi Yosef Kurtz is a graduate of Yeshivat Or Chaim and has been teaching at Bnei Akiva Schools since 2015. After graduating from Yeshivat Or Chaim, Rabbi Kurtz studied at Yeshivat Hakotel for two years and completed his degree at York University. While at York, he discovered his passion for Jewish education and began working with NCSY Canada. Previously, Rabbi Kurtz taught Jewish Philosophy, Religious Studies and Jewish Ethics at Torah High. While working for NCSY, he completed an MBA at the Schulich School of Business, specializing in Marketing and Finance. Rabbi Kurtz is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Yeshiva University. In addition to teaching and managing religious programming in the school, Rabbi Kurtz currently serves as the Mashgiach Ruchani of BAS and Director of Israel Guidance. Rabbi Kurtz lives in Toronto with his wife Stephanie and their three children. About Chaim Rutman: Chaim Rutman is a community leader in Toronto’s Jewish community and has spent the last twenty years specializing in education and community welfare. As past president of one of Toronto’s largest Jewish day schools, he led the school through a critical financial and structural transformation, leading to the development of the largest capital campaign in its history. Chaim serves as CEO of the Burning Bush Foundation where he oversees critical community initiatives. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of several community institutions and countless individuals and is recognized internationally for resolving some of the most pressing issues and delicate situations. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hillelrapp.substack.com [https://hillelrapp.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

JEDCast Episode 6: The "Kiddush Hashem" Speech

In this episode, Rich Dlin and I discuss his post “Jewish Identity and Excellence: The Challenge of Impossible Standards [https://richdlin.com/2024/10/08/jewish-identity-and-excellence-the-challenge-of-impossible-standards/]” from his blog, Experience Has Made Me Rich [https://richdlin.com/]. About Rich Dlin: Rich Dlin is a veteran education who believes that guiding young people along their path is one of the highest honours and greatest responsibilities. This is why he is drawn to education and why he has been so focused on improving the student experience. Rich’s journey as an educator includes university lecturer, international lecturer, high school teacher and math department head. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in mathematics from the University of Waterloo and a degree in education from the University of Western Ontario. Rich is passionate about the joy of learning and has found that the study of mathematics is a perfect path to discovering that joy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hillelrapp.substack.com [https://hillelrapp.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

JEDCast Episode 5: The Dying Humanities

In this episode, Sarah Zahavi and I discuss Tyler Austin Harper's 2023 article in The Atlantic, "The Humanities Have Sown the Seeds of Their Own Destruction [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/12/humanities-university-conservative-critics/676890/?gift=vwYkfGiEEFqMpcIeVWIvP6xF1J_sYpm4XVbd1Fz8NcA&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share]." About Sarah Zahavi: Sarah Zahavi is a graduate of Ulpanat Orot. She completed a Bachelor of Technology in Graphic Communications Management from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), and is currently pursuing a Professional Master of Education at Queen's University. Sarah has been teaching at Bnei Akiva Schools since September 2022, and currently heads the Art and Technology Department. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hillelrapp.substack.com [https://hillelrapp.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

JEDCast Episode 4: A Conflict of Visions

In this episode, Jonathan Parker and I discuss Thomas Sowell’s 1986 book, A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3047.A_Conflict_of_Visions]. About Jonathan Parker: Mr. Jonathan Parker was born in Buffalo, New York, and has been teaching in Toronto since 2003, when he began at Yeshivat Or Chaim and Ulpanat Orot as an English teacher. After four years of teaching English at Bnei Akiva Schools, Mr. Parker taught Judaic Studies at Associated Hebrew Schools. Following that, he taught Social Sciences at TanenbaumCHAT and was the Dean of Students, in addition to being Advanced Placement Program coordinator. Mr. Parker returned to Bnei Akiva Schools in 2017. As Principal, in addition to his teaching, he oversees compliance with standards set by the Ontario Ministry of Education, implements the school's educational vision in alignment with our Mission Statement, and coordinates the professional development and oversight of all faculty. He also coaches the Junior Volleyball team and coordinates the Duke of Edinburgh program. He has undergraduate degrees in English and History from S.U.N.Y. Binghamton, a Master’s Degree in Teaching English from Boston University, and is a graduate of the Senior Educators Program at Hebrew University where he wrote his thesis on Tanakh education. Mr. Parker received his Principal’s Qualification from York University. He recently graduated from the Mandel Teacher Education Institute, with a focus on evaluation and professional development practices. Mr. Parker has presented on the exciting innovations at Bnei Akiva Schools both at MTEI and the Network for Research in Jewish Education (NRJE). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hillelrapp.substack.com [https://hillelrapp.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]