The Facts
· Melton Centre of Jewish Education at the Hebrew University is widely considered to be the top institution in the world for academic research and teaching in Jewish Education.
· The Center’s faculty ranks amongst the global leaders in the field.
· Two semesters of the MA in Education specializing in Jewish Education (MA-JED) are taught in the distance learning format.
· MA-JED students from all corners of the globe congregate at Hebrew University’s Jerusalem campus for an intense 6-week summer seminar.
While the facts speak for themselves, and they indeed speak volumes, hearing what those closest to the ground have to say, reverberates more loudly and stronger than anything. The Melton Center of Jewish Education has made it standard practice to interview MA-JED students during their studies in the summer. A common theme throughout is that the program has brought the students closer, closer to their families and communities, closer to Judaism and the Jewish people, and, closer to achieving their career and life goals.
(see all student videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcTuy7xqE8Xe46rTZWg7Kqh7J5d7EZ53E)
Close to your home and job
It is not surprising that the mass majority of the students we spoke with mentioned not having to leave their current positions or families for an extended period of time, as a primary factor in choosing the MA-JDE program. This not only makes the program practical, but it is also a great stress reducer, giving the students more peace-of-mind to focus on their studies and get the most from the program.
Close to your students
Other than the physical proximity, our conversations uncovered other ways in which the MA-JED format contributes to the students’ interaction with their own pupils. For instance, Adam Cohen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEhLp89tVeU) , an informal UK and Australia Jewish educator, explained to us how he was able to apply what he learned the very next day in his classes in London. While students in “conventional” programs wait to use their learnings, MA-JDE students put their newfound knowledge to use immediately, making the materials more impactful and relevant.
Close to the thought leadership
The MA-JDE students had much and more to say of their teachers, including:
- Having online access to MA-JED faculty is equivalent to MBA or Masters of Robotics students being able to attend distance learning programs from Harvard Business School or MIT, respectively.
- It is a testament to the professors’ commitment and passion that they avail themselves to students online.
- When implementing concepts at home, students could immediately obtain valuable feedback.
Close to your classmates and people
A distance learning program that makes you feel close to your classmates? Yes! As one MA-JED student put it, virtually studying alongside your classmates for two semesters intensifies the social aspect of the 6-week seminar in Jerusalem. Moreover, the fact that students participate from all corners of the planet, means each student gains unparalleled exposure to a diverse set of ideas, cultures and beliefs, and can develop a new network of Jewish educator colleagues.
In summary, here is another quote from an MA-JED student, who puts it all together quite nicely:
“This program couldn’t be more perfect for me. The program is flexible, accessible, practical… even after 3 weeks in the program, I am thinking how I’m changing my vision, how I’m adopting everything, how I’m incorporating it into the curriculum, into my work, into my own ideology and philosophy as a Jewish educator.” Batel Leiberman (https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=TEzGCj-d54Q ) –7-8th grade Jewish Studies and Hebrew teacher at Bernard Zell Anshei Emet Day School, Chicago.
To read more about the program visit: www.majewisheducation.com
