Don’t Give Up On Skills In Jewish Education

JEDCast Episode 8: What's Causing Grade Inflation in Our Schools?

In this episode, Sarah Zahavi and I discuss “The Real Problem Behind Grade Inflation [https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-real-problem-behind-grade-inflation?utm_campaign=che-social&utm_content=20260330&utm_medium=o-soc&utm_source=bs,fb,li,th,tw]” by Beth McMurtrie, published in The Chronicle of Higher Education [https://www.chronicle.com/]. Other links: America Is Sliding Toward Illiteracy [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/10/education-decline-low-expectations/684526/?gift=vwYkfGiEEFqMpcIeVWIvP-bZVfdyPGoR157PcgHmhnw&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share] The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books [https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/11/the-elite-college-students-who-cant-read-books/679945/?gift=vwYkfGiEEFqMpcIeVWIvP5ZKJGBelC8UdMe1ma6Us0Y&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share] Our previous episode: The Dying Humanities [https://hillelrapp.substack.com/p/jedcast-episode-5-the-dying-humanities] 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]

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]