Torah at the Center is a publication aimed at professional Jewish educators. It assumes familiarity with educational and Judaic language and ideas. We devote each issue to a single theme and provide articles and lessons by scholars and practitioners. Beginning with Volume 12, Torah at the Center also includes NATE News, the newsletter of the National Association of Temple Educators.
Latest Issue: Vol. 15, No. 2 - Youth Engagement
Follow up to the launch of the Campaign for Youth Engagement. Practitioners reflect on their experiences and lessons learned experimenting with new ways to engage youth and their families in our congregations.
Tools for conducting evaluations and case studies, including the logic model, empowerment evaluation and action research. Also includes an annotated bibliography of recommended reading.
Reflections on how to recruit, retain and train teachers as well as a budget planning worksheet. Also includes a "Dear Educator" column about integrating day school students.
Follow up to the launch of the Campaign for Youth Engagement. Practitioners reflect on their experiences and lessons learned experimenting with new ways to engage youth and their families in our congregations.
Reflections on a roundtable dedicated to this population, including descriptions of successful programs and several pieces on technology. Also includes background articles for the Symposium on Jewish Identity.
Pieces addressing every aspect, from special needs b'nei mitzvah to social justice projects to spiritual preparedness and planning the party. Also includes a "Dear Educator" column on involving parents in religious school education.
Teaching students to advocate for what is right, including standing up for themselves. Also how educators can advocate for themselves and a sample CHAI lesson.
The how and why of teaching Hebrew to children and adults, from traditional to unconventional approaches, as well as an annotated list of resources for teaching and learning Hebrew.
Ways to reach out to parents and involve them in learning and school community. Also, defining parent engagement and a successful parent-school relationship, challenges to teaching and involving parents, and innovative ideas.
How to include people with disabilities, including a text study, websites, personal essays and descriptions of community, camp and day school programs.
Articles about working with your interfaith, special needs, GBLTQ and ethnically diverse community, including a school audit and a list of recommended books and websites.
Addresses issues of including boys and men, girls and women in Jewish learning and leadership as well as GBLTQ populations. Also includes a "Dear Educator" column about choosing a teacher for the Sacred Choices curriculum.
Personal stories and practical tools, including an annotated bibliography of children's books about special needs and a piece on dealing with unusual behaviors in the classroom.
In honor of this leader of our movement, biographical essays and a lesson on inclusion women, interfaith families, GBLTQ members and Jews of patrilinial descent.
The theory behind spiritual development as well as how to design appropriate worship experiences and conversations about God with students of all ages. Also, teaching as a spiritual practice and a sample CHAI lesson.
A text study and lessons comparing Jewish and Christian beliefs and attitudes towards the Holocaust, abortion, God and suffering as well as an essay by Rabbi Yoffie with discussion questions for adults.
A report on the four task forces of the Commission on Lifelong Jewish Learning and a preview of the topics to be featured at the Education Summit at the December 2011 Biennial.
A project with HUC-JIR's Rhea Hirsch School of Education, experts respond to students' position papers on a variety of topics, including Israel, adult learning and the environment.
Multimedia: 