One of the core educational questions related to Jewish Peoplehood is how to cultivate it. A recent blogcast convened by CASJE – the Consortium for Applied Studies in Jewish Education, raised this very question. The blogcast brought together several educators and policy-makers with an interest in the Peoplehood practice of Jewish educational travel. Over the course of several days they considered the questions: what does a sense of Global Jewish Peoplehood look like? How would you know it when you see it? what are the stimuli of Peoplehood experiences? and what research do you think we need in order, more smartly and more effectively, to do the work of Jewish Peoplehood education as so richly described here?
And here are a few excerpts from the conversation:
Travel is a uniquely powerful means for opening rich explorations of existential questions about values. At its best, Jewish travel education will be about conversations, not speechifying; multivocality, not a singular narrative; and ethical engagement, not egoism and self-love.
There are so many Jewish conversations about ultimate questions of what it means to be human, and so many places that can open these conversations and ground them. Jewish travel education has only begun to scratch the surface.
Dr Shaul Kelner, Associate Professor of Sociology and Jewish Studies, Vanderbilt University.
I'm interested in the relationship between inspiring individuals, giving them the tools to acquire knowledge and the option to engage in Jewish ritual AND the ability to build communities from this investment in people. If JP education is idiosyncratic and for the self, of what use it is to the broader sustainability of communities?
Sally Berkovic, Chief Executive, Rothschild Foundation (Hanadiv), Europe.
I suggest three categories of peoplehood stimuli: Ceremonies, Conversations, Objects. In the best Jewish educational or community building programs, ceremony, conversation and Jewish objects are used consciously and intensively to stimulate Jewish Peoplehood experiences.
Dr Ezra Kopelowitz, CEO, Research Success Technologies (ReST).
For the full transcript of the blogcast, see here.
