Dr. Rena Novick, dean of Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School of Education and Administration, is quite enthusiastic about the upcoming “Jewish Education Night of Networking” to take place on Wednesday, February 17, 6-10 p.m. The evening will allow for 90 presentations across nine time slots of 20 minutes each, with a break of five minutes between each presentation to provide time for networking and presenting credentials. The presenters will include members of the Azrieli faculty as well as educational leaders in the field of Jewish education. Though educators in different time zones, such as those in Europe and Israel, will not be able to attend, selected recordings will be made available to them.
According to Novick, the goal of the evening is to introduce highly successful learning innovations to a large swath of Jewish educators as well as to facilitate the introduction of young educators to the growing opportunities in Jewish education throughout the country. Novick shared, “At Azrieli we believe that ‘Teaching is sacred and learning transforms.’ We look forward to seeing colleagues and all those interested in Jewish education at our Night of Networking, where we will benefit from our shared learning and celebrate our shared efforts in transforming the field of Jewish education into the best it can be.”
Included among the Azrieli presenters of the evening are: Dr. David Pelcovitz, who will address “Loss During COVID: Jewish and Psychological Perspectives”; Dr. Scott Goldberg, who will collaborate with Rabbis Ari Segal, David Block and Noam Drazin on “Planning and Implementing a Head of School Transition”; Dr. Mordechai Schiffman, who will speak of “Pirkei Avot and Social-Emotional Learning”; Dr. Karen Shawn and Dr. Shay Plinik, who will address “A Conversation on Teaching the Holocaust: Resources and Realities in 2021 and Beyond”; and Dr. Moshe Krakowski, who will speak to “The ABCs of Problem-Based Learning.” Novick will present on “Teaching in Tough Times: What Educators Need, Deserve and Can Do for Themselves and Their Students.”
Participating schools will also present, sharing their particular perspectives and successes. To date, the following schools will be represented: Addlestone Hebrew Academy, Charleston, South Carolina; The Builder School, New Jersey; Fuchs Mizrachi, Cleveland, Ohio; Harkham Hillel Academy, Los Angeles, California; Magen David Yeshiva, Brooklyn, New York; Maimonides School, Boston, Massachusetts; Margolin Hebrew Academy, Memphis, Tennessee; Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School, New York; SAR Academy, Riverdale, New York; Westchester Day School, New York; Yeshiva Har Torah, Queens, New York; Yeshiva Netivot Montessori, New Brunswick, New Jersey; and Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael High School for Boys, Queens, New York. More schools are expected to sign up as the date approaches.
The Azrieli Graduate Program offers a full array of graduate programs catering to the needs of all populations of educators. The master’s programs include full-time, one-year programs, evening programs, online programs, joint BA/MA programs with YU and Stern, joint RIETS semicha and MA programs, and joint Bernard Revel and G-Pats Programs. On the doctoral level, Azrieli offers an Executive Model EdD in Jewish educational leadership and innovation as well as a PhD in Jewish Education. Non-matriculated programs, summer fellowships and week-long intensive courses as well as professional development sessions are continuously available through Azrieli.
In addition to her position as dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Novick holds the Raine and Stanley Silverstein Chair in Professional Ethics and Values at YU. She also holds an appointment as associate clinical director of child psychology at North Shore Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Novick also serves as the co-educational director of the Hidden Sparks Program, providing consultation to day schools and yeshivas.
She urges young registrants to participate in all or even part of the upcoming program. “This is an excellent opportunity for the young educator to get a professional window into a rewarding career in Jewish education through the prism of skilled educators. All registrants will be able to share their resumes with the participating schools.”
To register for evening, go to yu.edu/nightofnetworking_attendees or www.yu.edu/nightofnetworking.
By Pearl Markovitz
