New iFellow Graduates

Fifth Cohort of iCenter’s Master’s Concentration in Israel education represent spectrum of educators from different backgrounds and universities.

A new cohort of iFellows graduated from the iCenter’s iFellows Master’s Concentration in Israel Education (iFellows) with fresh approaches and skills to bring dynamic Israel experiences to their learners. Including students from eight leading academic institutions across 12 campuses, members of the fifth cohort work in varied settings, from camp, to university to day schools. Now certified as Israel educators, they employ a learner-focused approach to Israel education in which they help build authentic, personally meaningful connections between the learners and the land, the people and the State of Israel.

“The iCenter provided me a new set of tools, methodologies and ways to look at and explore Israel Education together with my students,” said Lihi Gordon, former Israel Fellow (Shlicha) to Hillel Foundation of Orange County. “Working with college students requires an educator to have an open mind, to ask the right questions that stimulate a conversation and to allow the students to think and form an opinion.”

She added, “As an Israeli, the iFellows program allowed me to expand my own horizons, and to go on a journey of my own and explore together with my peers what Israel is, what Israel Education means, and how we can continuously improve it. I believe Israel Education, like general education, is a very dynamic field that constantly changes. The iFellows seminar allowed me to experience and see this fluidity and equipped me to help my students, friends, and colleagues experience it as well.”

“Coming to this seminar to cap off the year of learning gave me not only the tools and the language that I was missing, but the power, confidence, and legitimacy to teach about Israel in a uniquely personal way,” says Nasya Milller, graduate of the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. “The mentorship of the Master’s Concentration and ongoing application of the educational language of the iCenter has really helped shape my future path as an educator.”

5th Cohort of iCenter’s Master’s Concentration in Israel education represent spectrum of educators from different backgrounds and universities

The 37 students in the fifth cohort are in education, rabbinical and cantorial studies, representing the spectrum of Jewish denominations and a diversity of opinions. They come together as a cohesive group within this unique institutional collaboration, based on a shared commitment to and passion for Jewish education and to Israel. The program integrates rigorous academic study, ongoing mentorship, learning opportunities in Israel and creation of a final Israel education project, which students presented at the seminar. Throughout the year, over the course of three seminars, the students are given the opportunity to examine the core issues of the field, including various approaches to Israel education and its fundamental principles. There are now a total of 152 iFellows.

“Each year I am more and more impressed with the iFellows program and what our students are able to bring back to HUC as a result of their participation,” adds Michael Zeldin, senior national director of the schools of education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and Director of the Rhea Hirsch School of Education and DeLeT. “Our students bring various passions to their work as Jewish educators. Some are passionate about social justice, some about camping, some about music. As a result of the year they spent at our Jerusalem campus, all of them bring a passion about Israel to their work. What the iCenter does so beautifully is to provide a forum for students to marry their personal passions to their passion for Israel.”

The program was initiated in 2010 and has been growing exponentially every year. Through the current creation of an alumni community, the iCenter is ensuring an ongoing framework in which graduates share ideas, resources, experiences and work in the field over the years to come. The iFellows program offers students unprecedented access to a national network of experts in the field. For students who have spent years studying the work of these leading thinkers—many of whom are pioneers in the field—the opportunity to engage with them directly is a key component of the educational experience.

“The iFellows Master’s Concentration in Israel Education opportunity has been a real game-changer in both my graduate education as well as my future career working for the Jewish community,” says Naomi Rosenfeld, a member of iFellows cohort 5 and a graduate student at the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership program at Brandeis University. “Through its creation and consistent enhancement of the field of Israel Education, the iCenter’s renowned faculty members provided us with knowledge, resources, a common language, a network, and confidence we can rely upon to both educate about and foster life-long relationships with Israel. I feel very fortunate to have participated in such an inspiring yet practical learning opportunity.”

“This collaboration brings together educators across denomination and political lines who now share a common language about Israel education,” says Anne Lanski, executive director of the iCenter. “The result is a broad community of empowered educators who create a deeper connection to Israel with their learners and help shape Jewish life for future generations.

Source: “New iFellow Graduates,” KosherOCMagazine, June 27, 2016