HOW COULD ANYONE POSSIBLY DECIDE THAT THEY WANT TO PURSUE A CAREER IN JEWISH EDUCATION NOW? THIS IS THE QUESTION I ASKED MYSELF AS WE HAVE BEEN NAVIGATING THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. THE FIELD OF EDUCATION AS A WHOLE HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH MANY SHIFTS, CHANGES, AND UNKNOWNS, AND I WAS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME IMAGINING A SCENARIO WHERE ANYONE WOULD LOOK AT THE STATE OF THE WORLD AND SAY THAT THEY SAW THEMSELVES INVESTING THEIR TIME TO LEARN HOW TO BECOME A TEACHER OF TORAH.
I needed some encouragement, some drive, some spark. I needed to know that there were people out there who were still up for one of the most important jobs a person could ever do. And so I turned to those who I thought would be able to give me just that, through a campaign called #WhyITeach.
Melamedet’s #WhyITeach campaign is a series where we interview community Judaic Studies educators who are still in the field, working hard through some of the toughest challenges any teacher has ever faced. We interview them to understand why they still do what they do. We also hope to inspire and motivate our current Melamedet students, as well as others who may want to join the program to become Judaic Studies teachers themselves.
We asked community teachers about their paths to Jewish Education, what drives them, what inspires them, what they wish the world knew about their careers, and what message they had for the next generation of community educators in Jewish education. What they had to say left me with a newfound passion for Torah, an inspiring and insightful look into the hard work that our teachers do on a daily basis, and a tremendous sense of hope for the future of Jewish Education. You can watch the series on our Instagram page @melamedet_ or on our website Melamedet.org.
One of the foundational reasons for why we began Melamedet, an online learning platform with the goal of developing young community women into high level Judaic Studies educators and bringing them into our community schools, is the idea that community and relatability matter when it comes to creating lasting impact. We wanted specifically to help train community women to become Judaic Studies teachers, so that when their students walked out of their classrooms, they would see Torah not just as another subject in school, but as a way of life. The #WhyITeach campaign allowed us to gain insight and inspiration from fellow community teachers, helping to make the field of Jewish education relatable and attainable.
The courses at Melamedet range from In Depth Analysis and Pedagogy in Halakha and Tanakh, to Positive Psychology and Incorporating Technology in the Classroom, ensuring that we create teachers equipped not only with content and pedagogy, but social emotional skills as well.
Our staff includes top community rabbis and educators, who are there to guide and mentor each step of the way.
Our students are young community women with strong leadership skills, who are looking to become role models and mentors, teaching, guiding, and setting a positive example for the next generation.
Our semesters are designed to be flexible and cater to everyone, from full time college students to working mothers, with the ability to take all courses online and receive full scholarship awards.
Currently, we have been blessed with an incredible cohort of students, and are now accepting applications for students who would like to join us beginning in January 2021 for the spring semester.
You can apply today at Melamedet.org
Here Is What Some Of Our Students Have To Say About Melamedet:
“Joining the Melamedet program has opened the door for me to learn how to teach Judaic studies with the same, if not greater seriousness and depth, as a masters program. It has been a privilege to study closely with community rabbis and teachers, who encouraged and supported me even while working as a new mother. I look forward to, G-d willing, having the great privilege and opportunity to become a teacher of Torah”
Sally Choueka
“I recently joined Melamedet and have been truly loving it! I enjoy learning how to teach Judiac Studies in ways that I wouldn’t get from a conventional college education. I can remain a full time college student while taking Melamedet courses online in a flexible way, with amazing teachers and mentors. I can’t wait to become a teacher of Jewish education and share my passion for Jewish values, as well as my admiration for all the incredible sources we have to learn from. I am grateful I joined this program!”
Mary Jajati
“The individualized attention for each student guarantees her success. I look forward to continuing and passing forward the knowledge that Melamedet has taught and will continue to teach me.”
Judy Sitt
Esther Betesh
