Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Mifgash means "Encounter"

During our time in Israel, the Fellows and Mentors of the Leadership Institute will be having a Mifgash with a group of Israeli educators in the form of a conference.

The title of the conference is: "Changing the Mindscape and Landscape of Jewish Peoplehood: New Paradigms for Educational Leaders."  It will take place at Oranim Academic College of Education on February 13, 2012.

The purpose of the conference is to engage Jewish educational leaders from different parts of the world in a meaningful discussion around topics of mutual interest to educational leaders.  We hope that the dialogue, the sharing and the thinking will afford all participants the opportunity both to teach and to learn from one another.

Both in small groups and as a community we will address the following questions:
  • How do we understand Jewish peoplehood in theory and practice? 
  • What commonalities and differences do we experience? 
  • What leadership dilemmas do we face in our work?
  • What we learn from each other to address these dilemmas?
  • How might we continue the conversation by creating initiatives that foster partnerships and joint learning for our students and faculty?
At the present we have about 100 participants including: 42 Leadership Institute directors of educational institutions from the United States, and 40 Israeli educators including principals of Israeli schools (some of whom are enrolled in an academic program at Oranim). In addition there will be 15 faculty members from Oranim College, and a number of Israeli rabbis and practitioners from neighboring communities, who are working to change the landscape of Israel Engagement and Jewish Peoplehood.

The day after the conference, many of the Israeli principals who participate in the conference will host small groups of American educators in their schools, to observe examples of educational innovation. We will have a chance to see Israeli schools in action and to engage in further dialogue about Jewish Peoplehood education, change and leadership.

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