Revel Remote is a distance learning program that makes use of technology to bring the high-level scholarship that typifies Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies (Revel) to those who cannot attend classes in person. Dr. David Berger, dean of Revel, emphasized that, “Our program involves the use of a straightforward technology that enables students to sit at their computer and participate in classes as they take place. The student and professor can see and hear each other, and the student can take part in class discussions just like those who are physically present in class.” Dean Berger went on to explain that the purpose of this program is to “make our programs accessible to people who want to pursue a degree in Jewish Studies for professional advancement or simply out of a desire to enrich their Jewish education, but cannot attend classes at our Manhattan campus.”
The idea is that students learning remotely will have a very similar experience to students learning in the classroom. Rona Steinerman, director of admissions and student affairs, noted that remote students will have access to library services on par with in-person students. Course readings will be available online via the e-Reserve system. In addition, as one Yeshiva University librarian explained, “Long distance library service includes remote access to databases as well as reference services,” not all that different from regular services provided for in-person students. In fact, Dean Berger maintained that the only major difference between the academic experience of an in-person Revel student and a remote Revel student will be the interactions between students and professors outside class, as they “will have to take place via email or, on occasion, via telephone.”
Revel Remote began in late January with five Jewish Philosophy courses, and the administration hopes to expand their program further in the coming semesters to include other disciplines that Revel currently offers such as Bible, Jewish History and Talmud. Dean Berger explained that Revel chose to start with Jewish Philosophy as opposed to other disciplines “because it has a relatively small faculty of professors who are already comfortable with the technology. It also tends to generate interest.” In addition, Revel successfully piloted the program with Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky, a Teaneck native who is currently the Rosh Beit Midrash at Kohelet Yeshiva in Merion Station, PA, who is pursuing a master’s and eventually a doctorate in Jewish philosophy. This past summer and fall he took remote classes with Dr. Daniel Rynhold, professor of philosophy at Revel, and is continuing with Revel Remote this semester.
Rabbi Sinensky explained that he became a “test student” for Revel Remote because he reached out to Dean Berger and Dr. Rynhold, who knew him personally, stating that that although he has, “a very full-time job” and is “very involved with [his] school and community,” and is therefore unable to travel to YU to attend in person, he still wanted to take classes in Revel. Revel was already thinking about offering online courses and considered Rabbi Sinensky’s inquiry to be a great opportunity to pilot the program. As a pioneer student he worked together with Revel to set up the remote classroom using different technologies. He described: “At the beginning we used a variety of different modalities to connect digitally, even something as simple as Google Hangout. Sometimes we even had to switch over to the phone.” Now Revel Remote has their platform stabilized to allow remote students to have an in-class experience. Rabbi Sinensky found Canvas, the current platform, to be smooth sailing most the time and “altogether a positive experience.” In addition, Rabbi Sinensky felt that he really was able to participate in the give-and-take of the classroom. In fact, during a summer course, one assignment was to teach a lesson to the rest of his classmates, which he “was able to do from afar.”
Rabbi Sinensky pointed out that he has had a long relationship with Yeshiva University. He graduated from Yeshiva College, received his rabbinical ordination from RIETS, earned a Master in Education from Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, completed the Kollel Elyon and served as rabbi of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Synagogue. He concluded that as a current “non-local rav and mechanech” he appreciates that YU has given him, and now many others, the opportunity to “continue to learn and grow at a later stage of their personal and professional development. It is a tribute to Yeshiva University and I have a lot of hakarat hatov.”
The focus of many classes offered at Revel is the past. Students study Bible, Jewish History, Talmud and Jewish Philosophy, analyzing Jewish writings from the past. Yet Revel is also a forward-thinking school that is embracing modern technology to brings these writings to students no matter where they are.
By Sara Schapiro
Bergenfield’s Sara Schapiro is a Freshman at Stern college for Women and served as a Jewish Link intern during Summer 2017.
