Resources for Adult Jewish educators

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Resources for Adult Jewish educators

There are a few good books out there that everyone who teaches and/or organizes adult Jewish education programs should have read or at least skimmed. I'll mention a few of these over the next few weeks. If anyone has suggestions, please send them along.

First is: The Adult Jewish Education Handbook: Planning, Practice, and Theory
Latest edition is dated 2004 (not 1990 like it says in some places).

From the Behrmann House web page: "This comprehensive guide presents theory from the field of secular adult education in light of the questions and concerns of all aspects of adult Jewish education, including learning theory, curriculum, programming, planning, budgeting, and educational philosophy. Includes chapters on the history of adult Jewish education by Dr. Lois Zachary and Dr. Meredith Woocher, and on technology in adult Jewish education by Caren Levine."

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About Mike

I have lived in Northern Virginia since 1973. Adult Jewish education is my second career and I do it first because teaching is, for me, the best motivation for learning and now that I have the time for learning, there is nothing that is more enjoyable. But the other reason is that teaching adults about the Jewish tradition is an important part of helping with Jewish continuity: the more that Jewish adults know, the more we can teach our children and grandchildren. And the more that non-Jewish adults know about the Jewish tradition, the fewer stereotypes and negative images they're likely to hold and transmit to others.

I have taught Jewish history, philosophy and mysticism at adult education programs at a variety of locations in the Baltimore-Washington, DC area. Additionally, I lecture on topics that include Reconstructionism, Jewish Mysticism, Jewish music, Jewish Ethics, and Jews in the Hellenistic period. I have been a lay leader of Conservative, Reconstructionist, and independent services. In 2001, I edited Kabbalah and the Art of Being, by Dr. Shimon Shokek, published by Routledge Press.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009