Linking the Silos: How to Accelerate the Momentum in Jewish Education Today

After more than a decade of new initiatives aimed at strengthening programs geared towards Jewish identity, Jack Wertheimer, Provost and Professor of American Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary, suggests it is time to re-examine these programs. The current study addresses the broader Jewish environment in which schools and educational programs function by examining the intersection between families and educational institutions in ten local communities across the United States. Researchers investigated: recruitment and motivation for involvement; the decision-making process; and the impact of Jewish education. Wertheimer challenges many assumptions about Jewish education and finds that the impact of education differs depending on family values, denominations, schools, and social and communal contexts. The article provides policy implications based on results, and poses questions for consideration by policy makers.

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