Let's Take a Step Back

The Truth about Religious Growth- Inside the Teen Mind: Day School Students Explain Part I

What actually helps students grow religiously? I asked Yeshiva Day School students: “Can you name one or two things your school has done that helped you grow religiously?” Their answers were eye-opening. Tune in to hear directly from students about what helped them grow and why. This episode highlights the most common themes from interviews with students at Orthodox schools as well as the patterns that emerged among Pluralistic school students. A valuable listen for educators, parents, and community leaders interested in strengthening religious development and improving school programming. Time Stamps: 3:10 -The top hits of means of religious growth mentioned by students in Orthodox Schools 14:31-The secondary hits (Orthodox Schools) 23:27- The final repeating theme (Orthodox Schools) 24:36- Pluralistic Schools- The results & how they differed from the results in Orthodox Schools 26:10 Summary of the Findings & lessons to take-away Credits: Music- Higher by Thank You Hashem & Aryeh Rubin

Just Ask

We often guess what motivates people and don’t realize how much we could learn if we simply asked. In this introductory episode, you’ll hear what inspired the upcoming series “Inside the Teen Mind: Day School Students Explain”—where the idea came from, what you can expect to hear, and how its core message can help parents and educators better understand the teens in their lives. Join the conversation about how we can more effectively support our teens in reaching the goals of Torah observance and character development—by asking them what truly helps them grow, and what challenges stand in their way.

I Am Right! : The New Way Students Engage with Opposing Opinions

Recent crises make it easy to blame student incivility on stress. But is something deeper happening? Are we seeing a broader shift in how students communicate? In this episode, we break down what’s really driving these tense exchanges, explore the roots of the problem, and share practical steps educators can take. You’ll hear about compelling programs developed by innovative educators Jonah Hassenfeld and Rachel Dingman to help students build the skills needed for deeper, more empathetic conversations. Don’t miss the end—Rachel shares what teens had to say after experiencing her new program. Leave a comment about your thoughts on this issue-something you noticed about how kids talk, a story you have, or a solution you can imagine. Respond to others' comments to keep the conversation going. Scroll down for the episode timeline & more ways to get involved...Episode Timeline: I.Analysis of the Problem 0- Introduction of the incident: tension between students over the politics in the current situation in Israel 4:07- What to make of this/Why our students started acting this way 5:46- What was the ultimate cause of these troubling student exchanges about the war in Israel 8:28- Did this shift happen in all schools? 9:46- Why didn’t we notice this shift happening? 11:04- Now that we notice a change in communication is there something to do? 12:35- If we want to give it a try, what should we do about it? II.  Potential Solutions 14:17- Dr. Jonah Hassenfeld’s program that focuses students on the “why” of their positions 16:33- Rachel Dingman’s program that trains students to listen instead of argue 20:51-  Summary * https://forms.gle/RfiEpr5xikvz6uFL9 [https://forms.gle/RfiEpr5xikvz6uFL9] * Answer the poll on this episode! (only visible on the Spotify mobile app) * Leave feedback, share ideas for new episodes, or initiatives you are considering on this issue at letstakeastepback25@gmail.com

Gemara is not my thing.

Gemara Is Not My Thing It’s hard to ignore how many high school students say, “Gemara just isn’t my thing.” Whether they openly resist Gemara class or quietly disengage, we need to take a closer look. Are their feelings simply a sign that Gemara is passé — or is there something deeper going on? In this episode, Gemara Is Not My Thing, we explore what’s really behind students’ lack of connection. You’ll hear stories of teens who went from Gemara-haters to Gemara-lovers, an inspiring experiment that points to a solution, and practical steps you can take to make a difference. We shouldn’t settle for “you have to learn it because your ancestors did.” Our goal should be to make every student’s Talmud learning a meaningful experience that strengthens their connection to Judaism.

Why Don’t My Kids Sit Quietly When We Go to Shul on Shabbat?

Have you ever sensed that something’s not quite right—but couldn’t put your finger on why? Maybe you’ve felt it while attending a Day School Tefillah service: on the surface, everything seems normal—just as you’d expect. But beneath that, there’s a nagging sensethat something’s missing. What is it? "Why Don't My Kids Sit Quietly When We Go to Shul onShabbat?" explores what might be missing in how prayer is approached in day schools—and why so few seem to notice. This episode examines whether the current reality can change and highlights a recent pilot program that puts a new theory to the test. Tune in to explore what a quiet revolution in Tefillah education might look like—and whether you want to be part of it. Time-Stamps: 1:21 What's missing in our Tefilla education 3:41 Why has this issue not gotten a lot of attention 8:41 Here's where your role comes in 13:37 What moved me from denial about Tefilla education to a sense of urgency and action 18:28 A glimpse of the pilot program 23:35 Summary More information: To learn more about the spirituality awareness one-session program that was piloted at Maimonides School and to get advice how to design a similar program for your school, contact those involved in the pilot: * Visionary of the program and facilitator: Yael Asen (yael@asenweb.com) * Head of School at Maimonides School: Rabbi Yaakov Green- a facilitator of the sessions (ygreen@maimonides.org) * Podcast Host: Yael Jaffe - coordinator of the pilot program (jaffe.yael@gmail.com) Music Credits: Ten li Tefillah by Shmuel