Is Your Hebrew School Ready for Tomorrow?

I once read that during the hectic days of Kissinger’s diplomatic shuttle to get the Arabs and the Israelis to the negotiations table, he was asked a question about creating a two-state solution. His answer? “I am glad I won’t be around for that.”  In many ways I am hearing the same thing today from many synagogue boards when asked about the future of Hebrew School.

I marvel at the ways in which public schools have truly embraced advances in technology. Yet despite broadening content and opportunities to leapfrog from the past to the future, many of our Hebrew Schools are stuck in the 1970’s by missing the technology opportunity that is here today.

Participation in most religious schools is at the direction of parents--not teachers, principals, or rabbis--many of whom opt out of regular participation because of competitive activities, private teaching, or a lack of connectedness to the importance of Jewish education. Today’s brick-and-mortar religious schools will only engage parents and students more successfully by breaking through their own teaching conventions and embracing the opportunities of technology.

Even a one- or two-day-a-week program can incorporate technology as a way to:

·         help students stay current on classroom studies when they miss a day

·         enable students to follow specific links to go deeper into areas of interest

·         engage parents in helping their children study

·         open and strengthen communication between parents and teachers

·         conduct classroom management online

While there are a number of online classroom options for your synagogue to consider, the most critical place to start is with your Board. They need to have the future of religious education at the top of their agenda for 5773.