Ramat Gan, Israel—Five New York and New Jersey Jewish day schools are currently implementing Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy’s (LVJA) courses to connect middle and high school students to substantive Jewish learning beyond the classroom walls. With LVJA, these schools are differentiating and individualizing instruction, offering a greatly expanded Judaic studies course catalog and allocating resources responsibly. Today, LVJA, a project of Bar Ilan University’s Lookstein Center for Jewish Education, was named one of North America’s top 50 innovative Jewish organizations in the 11th annual Slingshot Guide.
The five schools currently on board are Magen David Yeshivah High School (Brooklyn, New York), Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School (Livingston, New Jersey), Westchester Day School (Mamaroneck, New York), Yavneh Academy (Paramus, New Jersey) and Yeshivat Noam (Paramus, New Jersey).
“The LVJA program has provided a wonderful addition to our Judaic studies elective program. In addition to the various classes that our own faculty offers, we can now offer our students a broader array of classes given by a diverse group of talented, experienced educators. Our students have found the classes challenging and rewarding, and especially like being able to interact with students from other schools as part of the learning process, as well,” said Rabbi Yaakov Mintz, Talmud department chair and Jewish studies elective program coordinator at Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School.
“The LVJA courses have given us an opportunity to provide Judaic studies enrichment options for our students who have a particular interest or who are capable of pushing themselves beyond what our normal curriculum demands. The courses are rigorous and thought-provoking, and our students who have participated in them over the past four years have uniformly found the experience to be an amazing addition to their course of study in middle school,” said Rabbi Dr. Aaron Ross, assistant principal of Yavneh Academy.
“[LVJA] gives our students an opportunity to learn Navi in a completely different way than the traditional classroom model. Our experience these past three years has been wonderful. The students enjoy learning in an all-new thoughtful and engaging way… These online units expand their minds in ways a traditional classroom model cannot. I love hearing our students discuss with each other, argue with each other over ideas and discuss what topics spoke to them the most. We appreciate the opportunity that LVJA has given our students,” said Aliza Weinberg, Yeshivat Noam Middle School Tanach Enrichment Coordinator.
The online curriculum is designed to support both community and Orthodox schools, as well as the multiple academic levels of students. LVJA has already worked with 700 students in 50 schools in Toronto, California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and many other states across North America in grades 6-12. Participants span multiple locations across the country and work in synchronicity (or not), independently or collaboratively. Whatever a student’s course of study, LVJA works closely with schools to ensure that their needs are being met and to support them through their instruction.
Selected from among hundreds of finalists reviewed by 93 professionals with expertise in grant-making and Jewish communal life, the guide called Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy “a leader in educational circles,” and continued, “it is using technology in the best way possible: to ignite positive educational change that is widely accessible.” Organizations included in this year’s guide were evaluated on their innovative approach, the impact they have in their work, the leadership they have in their sector and their effectiveness at achieving results.
“Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy is honored and inspired to be selected for this year’s Slingshot Guide and recognized as one of the most innovative Jewish organizations in America today,” said Chana German, director of Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy. “Our team has demonstrated that innovation, passion and perseverance can be transformative in the Jewish educational landscape. We are thankful to Slingshot, and thrilled to be joining a growing network of organizations that are deeply committed to innovation and bettering the Jewish community.
LVJA is supported by The Avi Chai Foundation, The Kohelet Foundation and The William Davidson Foundation, with additional support from The Joshua Venture Group.
About the Slingshot Guide
The Slingshot Guide, now in its 11th year, was created by a team of young funders as a guidebook to help funders of all ages diversify their giving portfolios to include the most innovative and effective organizations, programs and projects in North America. The guide contains information about each organization’s origin, mission, strategy, impact and budget, as well as details about its unique character. The Slingshot Guide has become a go-to resource for volunteers, activists and donors looking for new opportunities and projects that, through their innovative nature, will ensure the Jewish community remains relevant and thriving. The book, published annually, is available in hard copy and as a free download at http://www.slingshotfund.org.
