Jewish students to benefit from new and expanded programs
The new program by BJE utilises a creative and engaging teaching and learning approach based on Jewish values of tikkun olam, integrity, and kindness.
IT’S been an exciting start to the year for thousands of Jewish students enrolled in public primary and high schools in Sydney, with the NSW Board of Jewish Education (BJE) updating its range of Judaism and Hebrew education programs, and introducing some new ones.
Jo Gluckman, BJE’s Head of Experiential Jewish Life and Learning, told The AJN a new program has just commenced called Natif, which translates in Hebrew to pathway.
“Natif is a brand new program BJE offers as an alternate to, or an addition to, traditional-based bat and bar mitzvah lessons,” Gluckman said.
“It’s designed for bar and bat mitzvah-aged students to further explore their Jewish values.”
Tailored to any level of previous knowledge, the program utilises a creative and engaging teaching and learning approach based on Jewish values of tikkun olam, integrity, and kindness, and explores how to integrate those principles and practices into daily life.
Gluckman said BJE is also implementing its new Special Religious Education (SRE) and SRE Extension curriculum, “to offer students more experiential and tangible ways to connect on their personal Jewish journey”, and collaborating with the Sydney Jewish Museum to enrich the learning experience for HSC students enrolled in a Studies of Religion course.
She said BJE has a team of dynamic young madrichim (youth leaders) “that will breathe new life into Jewish education and engagement”, and personalise connection for each individual student.
“At BJE, we have redefined our vision of a Jewish journey – a tailored roadmap for each child, student and family to connect in a way that is significant to them.”
BJE is busy planning the Nesiah Year 10 Israel Program, which provides an opportunity of a lifetime for Jewish students in year 10 to spend five weeks on an educational experience in Israel with other Jewish youth, learning about Israel and their Jewish heritage.
Its family engagement program, Jwave, continues to provide the opportunity for families to meet up and connect at various events, including a tenpin bowling session for families with a year 7 student prior to their first day of high school, and the first ‘Magical Picnic’ event for families with a child starting kindy, year 1 and year 2.
BJE also hosts many overnight camps, day camps, shabbatons, and social activities for Jewish students, like ‘Milkshake Madness’ at a local cafe, and an ‘Amazing Race’ style fun day.
For more information about BJE’s programs, visit bje.org.au. To check out what family activities Jwave has to offer, go to jwave.org
comments