Educator Development
The Educational Services Department of the Bureau of Jewish Education of Rhode Island offers an array of programs and services for greater Rhode Island Jewish educators.
2010 Professional Development Grants for Israel Study
The Educational Services Department has limited funds available to subsidize educators participating in an approved professional development program in Israel. Click here to download the application. Contact Larry Katz or Beth Brier for more information.
Larry Katz: 401-331-0956 x179 or lkatz@bjeri.org
Beth Brier: 401-331-0956 x223 or bbrier@bjeri.org
The 2010 Zelniker Conference: Social Justice Throughout the Curriculum
Teachers in local Jewish schools will learn how to integrate Jewish values of social justice into their curricula at the Joseph and Leba Zelniker Educators Conference. The keynote speaker will be Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block.
Kimelman-Block is the Director of the PANIM Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values, a division of BBYO, which is dedicated to building a teen movement committed to service, advocacy, and philanthropy, rooted in Jewish values. He has worked extensively to expand the field of Jewish service-learning through the establishment of intensive summer service experiences for Jewish teens (PanimWorks), year-round service-learning (Jewish Civics Initiative), and J-Serve the flagship day of service for Jewish teens, which engages 10,000 participants annually. He is the co-editor and co-author of Just: Judaism. Action. Social Change and his articles have been published in Sh'ma and Newsweek.com. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Grinnell College and rabbinic ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He serves on the board of Jews United for Justice, the Advisory Board for The Selah Leadership Program of the Jewish Funds for Justice, and is a founding member of Eastern Village Cohousing, an award-winning, green cohousing community in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, where he lives with his wife Devora and their three children.
The conference will be held at Temple Emanu-El on Sunday, January 31, from 8:30 am to noon. To register or ror more information, please contact Diane Cerep at dcerep@bjeri.org or 401-331-0956 x182.
BJE/RI Fellowships
BJE/RI Fellowships are available annually to area educators who meet requirements established by the Educational Services Committee. Each fellowship provides an annual stipend of approximately $750 for coursework in a degree program. To apply for a fellowship, contact Lawrence Katz, Associate Executive Director, at 401.331.0956 x179 or via email at lkatz@bjeri.org.
Creativity Center and Library
The Bureau’s Creativity Center and Library offer a treasure trove of materials, references and resources for area Jewish educators. Whether you’re looking for engaging classroom activities, videos on a particular subject, or materials to brighten your classroom, we can help. Consultations in the Library are by appointment only and should be scheduled with Lawrence Katz, who can be reached at 401.331.0956 x179. For Library and Creativity Center open hours, click here.
Educator Awards
Each year, the Bureau of Jewish Education offers awards to teachers for creativity in curriculum design and lesson planning or general excellence in teaching. If you would like to nominate a teacher in your school for an award, contact Lawrence Katz, Associate Executive Director, at 401.331.0956 x179 or via email at lkatz@bjeri.org.
Foundation for Jewish Day Schools
Established in 2006 as a scholarship granting organization to benefit families of the Jewish Community Day School and Providence Hebrew Day School, the Foundation for Jewish Day Schools is administered by the Educational Services Department of BJE/RI. Qualified corporations interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to this SGO should contact Lawrence Katz, Foundation Administrator, at 401.331.0956 x179 or via email at lkatz@bjeri.org.
Elaine and Sanford Kroll Conference
The Elaine and Sanford Kroll Conference is offered annually and focuses on a specific theme or educational area.
Joseph and Leba Zelniker Conference
The Joseph and Leba Zelniker Confrence is offered annually and focuses on a specific theme or educational area.
Morim Seminar
Offered in alternating years, the Morim program is a monthly professional development opportunity for teachers relatively new to the profession of Jewish education. The sessions offered through the Morim program will help teachers develop the practical skills they need to succeed in the classroom, covering topics such as lesson-planning and classroom management, among others. Stipends are available to teachers who complete at least eighty percent of the sessions. If you are interested in participating in the Morim program, please contact Lawrence Katz, Associate Executive Director at 401.331.0956 x179 or via email at lkatz@bjeri.org.
Principals Council
The Educational Services Department operates a Principals Council for all professional school leaders as a forum for study and discussion of educational leadership matters.
Special Education Program
The Educational Services Department oversees the Bureau’s Special Education program for pre-Bar/Bat Mitzvah students in area synagogue schools. We can work with area educators and administrators to identify students who may benefit from the one-on-one instruction offered by the experienced teachers on the Bureau staff. Beth Brier coordinates the Special Education program and can be reached at 401.331.0956 x223 or via email at: bbrier@bjeri.org.
For more information on any Educational Services Department program or service, contact Lawrence Katz, Associate Executive Director, at 401.331.0956 x179 or via email at lkatz@bjeri.org.