Through a program run by the Israel Ministry of Education and the organizations Makom and Shazur, a group of about 20 principals from Israeli high schools all over the country visited The Idea School to learn about the school’s innovative approach to Jewish education.

Idea School Judaic Studies Principal Rabbi Tavi Koslowe shared in particular the Judaic Studies projects he has done in his beit midrash classes, including a recent one, the parsha companion project, in which students learned various midrashim about Parshat Bereishit and then chose different media through which they represented what they had learned. The Israeli educators were struck by how, using their talents and passions and engaging in the activities they love, students were able to connect to their Judaism more deeply and personally. (You can listen to a student-composed song about the creation of man here: https://bit.ly/BereishitSong.)

Twelfth grader Yehuda Zinberg shared his perspective, noting that the school’s focus on group work has developed skills in communication and collaboration that he will need and benefit from throughout his life.

It’s always meaningful for The Idea School to welcome visitors from Israel, and interesting as well to learn of the many Israeli schools that are also using Project-Based Learning.