Kol Hamercaz 21 זכרמה

קול המרכז 21 Tammuz 5776 KOL HAMERCAZ July 2016 Newsletter of the Melton Centre for Jewish Education The Hebrew University of Jerusalem University of Chicago delivered the Melton Centre’s bi- annual lecture in memory of Prof. Seymour Fox, entitled “The Hermeneutic Self: An Old-New Pedagogic Vision.” The lecture was particularly well attended since it took place on the 10th anniversary of Prof. Fox’s passing and on the same day that the School of Education was formally named after him – becoming the Seymour From the Director: Fox School of Education. Prof. Jonathan Cohen Towards the end of May, two new books, jointly published by the Melton Center and the Mofet Institute within the framework of the Michael It is my privilege once again to report to our readers Rosenak Memorial Series in Jewish Education, were on the main events that took place at the Melton launched. One book, by Dr. Gad Ofaz, narrates the Centre during the past academic year. With the history of Jewish texts study in kibbutz circles. The readers’ permission, I will also dwell on “major other, by Prof. Ehud Luz, is a collection of articles on the trends” that have been developing at the Centre of interpretation of Jewish canonical texts, on themes in late, trends that will have a profound influence on Jewish and Zionist thought, and on guiding principles the course of the Mercaz in the future. for Jewish education. The academic year began in October 2015 with our As far as major trends and developments are annual faculty meeting – this time on the topic concerned: After much discussion together with of the attitude of Israeli students in non-religious the Rector of the University, Prof. Asher Cohen, the schools to the pluralistic approach to Judaism Director of the School of Education, Prof. Moshe Tatar, promoted by the Mercaz and other institutions. In and myself, it was decided that the Melton Centre will sessions led by Dr. Eilon Schwarz, a member of our be reintegrated into the School of Education, where staff, together with selected teachers from the field, it originally opened as a department in 1968. It has it became clear that many students in the non- become clear that this is the most effective path for religious stream, especially those from traditional ensuring that Jewish education as an area of research, backgrounds, have internalized certain intensively teaching and professional development can continue particularistic attitudes current in Israeli society. to grow at the Hebrew University. Teachers representing more open approaches to Judaism will have to learn the interpretive As of 2017, the School of Education will comprise four languages of the more traditionalist communities academic sub-units of which Jewish education will be in order to remain educationally relevant. one. Each sub-unit will have a center for research and development attached to it. While other sub-units will In November, Sir Mick Davis, a prominent lay leader have to build these centers, the Melton Centre is in the of the British Jewish community, addressed our fortunate position of already having a well-developed staff and students. He gave a most interesting and experienced center in operation. The Melton Centre and informed talk on the role, both potential and will continue to carry out research, teach towards actual, of lay leadership in promoting the Jewish MA and PhD degrees, and conduct development “oxygen” of a Diaspora community. This invitation projects with communities around the world. All was extended in keeping with the Melton Centre’s endowments donated to the Centre will continue to policy of maintaining contact with key Diaspora be administered by the Centre and its directorship as leaders who can advise us of the state of the Jewish before. This development is for the mutual benefit community in their part of the world. of all parties. We will benefit from the research, teaching and professional experience of the School of March 2016, was especially rich in activity and Education, and the School of Education will gain from important events. In a gathering, conceived by Prof. the theoretical and practical activity undertaken in the Marc Hirshman, Head of Academic Studies, Dr. area of Jewish education at Melton. I am most pleased Ruth Calderon, former MK and Director of Alma, to be working with such a fine educator as Prof. Moshe was invited to speak on her cultural-educational Tatar on the staged implementation of this process. approach to Judaism and her path to recognition as The Melton Centre for Jewish Education Jewish for Centre The Melton a woman authority on the Talmud and its teaching. I am also proud to report that our new flagship Later on that month, Prof. Michael Fishbane of the program, the Melton Blended Masters (MBM) continued on page 4>>> 1 The Michael Rosenak Memorial Series in Jewish Education When considering the most appropriate manner in interpretation of Jewish canonical texts, on themes in which to honor the memory of Prof. Michael Rosenak, Jewish and Zionist thought, and on guiding principles a central figure for so many years at the Melton Centre, for Jewish education. the idea of a book series in his name was proposed. This initiative, a library of books on Jewish Education from The first two books, both by close colleagues of Mike, different perspectives, was well received and regarded were recently launched at a special meeting of the as the most relevant way to perpetuate the memory of Jerusalem Forum for Jewish Education at the Melton Mike, a former Director of Melton, esteemed colleague Centre. Muki Tsur, author, historian and educator and most beloved teacher. introduced Gad Ufaz’s book, and Prof. Jonathan Cohen, Director of the Melton Centre introduced the book by A call for proposals for books in the field of Jewish Ehud Luz. Following on the success of this evening, it Education was announced and the number of was decided that each year, close to the date of Mike’s submissions received was overwhelming. The obvious passing, new books in the series will be launched. choice for the first book in the series, was one by Mike himself, written 30 years ago – “Teaching Jewish Work is already under way on the next book selected Culture: Values, Authenticity and Relevance.” The book for the series. “Silent Testimony” by Dr. Lilach Neistadt was launched in 2015 at a conference held in his honor Bornstein, a teacher at Seminar Hakibbutzim, brings on “Jewish Education: Continuity for Creativity.” to light a woman’s experience of the Holocaust, and the outlet she found in Germany for her testimony. Under the capable leadership of Dr. Asher Shkedi, chief Dr. Neistadt Bernstein has used this testimony to editor and initiator of this idea, a selection process develop a teacher training project on how to teach the began to find prospective books for publication, Holocaust through testimony. together with Dr. Yehudit Sheiman of the Mofet Institute, and the academic committee: Prof. Jonathan Prof. Eliezer Schweid will author the fourth book. Cohen (chair), Dr. Eilon Edelstein, Dr. Hanoch Ben Pazi, This will be a series of commentaries on the weekly Prof. Zeev Harvey, and Dr. Avinoam Rosenak. Torah portion. Prof. Schweid, who has written numerous books on Jewish philosophy, is a recipient The second book selected is by Dr. Gad Ufaz, past of the coveted Israel Prize and an esteemed professor lecturer at Oranim Academic College, a former emeritus of Jewish Thought at Hebrew University. member of Kibbutz Ayelet Hashachar, and an original member of the Shdemot group. His book, “From ‘Siach Also currently in the writing stage, is a book on the Lochamim’ to the ‘Jewish Bookshelf:’ Second and Third “Educational Thought of the Rambam” by Dr. Amira Generation Kibbutz Members in Search of Jewish Eran, a lecturer on Jewish Philosophy at Seminar Identity” - narrates the history of Jewish text study in Hakibbutzim and Levinsky College of Education. Kibbutz circles. Melton is honored to partner with the Mofet Institute, The next book, “Integrated Implements: Thoughts on a national intercollegial center for the research and Zionism and Jewish Education” is by Prof. Ehud Luz, a development of programs in teacher education, in well-known professor emeritus of Jewish Philosophy bringing this important series to fruition, and is at Haifa University and Oranim Academic College. extremely grateful to Reches Publications for the This book comprises a collection of articles on the production and design of the books in the series. --- Dr. Ashker Shkedi Prof. Marc Hirshman, Prof. Ehud Luz, Muki Tsur 2 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Names School of Education in Honor of Former Head Seymour Fox On March 14, 2016, the School of Education at the Prof. Ben-Sasson. The event included a symposium Hebrew University of Jerusalem was officially named entitled “Seymour Fox: Educational Architect the Seymour Fox School of Education in honor of the and Visionary – Perspectives on his Writings and School’s former head and innovative leader whose Achievements,” moderated by Dr. Eli Gottlieb, Director impact has benefitted education in Israel, the United of the Mandel Leadership Institute. States and around the world. Participants included: Seymour Fox served as head of the Hebrew University’s School of Education for 14 years, beginning in 1967. Prof. Jonathan Cohen of the Hebrew University of During his tenure, he demonstrated his creativity and Jerusalem and the Mandel Leadership Institute, entrepreneurial spirit by introducing new programs for Prof. Sharon Feiman-Nemser of Brandeis University, early childhood education and curriculum writing, also Prof. Barry Holtz of the Jewish Theological Seminary of establishing the Melton Centre for Jewish Education. America, and He believed in inspiring educators to creativity through Dr.

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