odDRABAs and enDRABAs

In the process of getting ADRABA started, I learned even more about blended learning, Jewish engagement and how ADRABA’s approach to Jewish learning is truly unique in Toronto, if not all of Canada.  I’ve also had to content with a lot of math. Remember word...

The month of Elul is dedicated to introspection, for ḥeshbon nefesh - an accounting of the soul.  The intervening days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur provide us with yet another opportunity to reflect on one’s past actions and seek forgiveness as we look ahead...

We can be many things at this time of year. We can be humble. We can be introspective. We can be reverential. We can be forgiving. The one thing we’re NOT supposed to be is complacent. Complacency, that is, the uncritical satisfaction with oneself and one’s...

One of the most salient pieces of feedback we’ve heard in the process of launching ADRABA is: “No one I know goes to ADRABA.”  It’s true!  No one you know goes to ADRABA… because ADRABA is a brand new program for Jewish high schoolers. And yet, this tidbit of feedback...

Many phenomena accompany the hottest weeks of summer. The inevitable traffic jam on the way up to the cottage - and back. The sunscreen-stained scrawl of camp letters assuring one and all that fun is being had. However, with certain children, that list would not be...

I am a basketball fan. However, being from Chicago, and having experienced Michael and Scottie and Dennis bring the Larry O’Brien trophy to the Windy City FIVE TIMES… what can I say? I am happy for y’all and the Raptors. I hope Kawhi stays. But it’s been eleven days...

In the previous edition of the ADRABA Newsletter, I shared a piece from Jack Wertheimer about the need for “truly disruptive Jewish education.”  We’re doing that - by design.   Today’s eJewishPhilanthropy delivered additional affirmation of our vision. What we call...

Jack Wertheimer recently penned a piece about the need for “truly disruptive Jewish education.” Here’s a choice quote which captures what ADRABA is about top to tail.  Emphases mine. If we focus the conversation around what Jews need in order to become active...

In today’s eJewishPhilanthropy, Josh Miller and Seth Linden make the case  to funders that supporting Jewish online learning is worthwhile.   Miller and Linden represent the Jim Joseph Foundation, an organization “devoted exclusively to supporting Jewish education of...

In the process of getting ADRABA started, I learned even more about blended learning, Jewish engagement and how ADRABA’s approach to Jewish learning is truly unique in Toronto, if not all of Canada.  I’ve also had to content with a lot of math. Remember word problems?  “Two trains leave the station at the same time, one heading west and the other east.”?  Here’s one for you to ponder that I cannot seem to crack. There are thirty-five weeks in an academic year. The Ministry of Education...

The month of Elul is dedicated to introspection, for ḥeshbon nefesh - an accounting of the soul.  The intervening days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur provide us with yet another opportunity to reflect on one’s past actions and seek forgiveness as we look ahead to judgment - and improvement! It is in this spirit of reflection that I turn to you, dear reader, to ask for your forgiveness - and your thoughts. If we fill your inbox with too much verbiage, please excuse us.  We don’t mean to...

We can be many things at this time of year. We can be humble. We can be introspective. We can be reverential. We can be forgiving. The one thing we’re NOT supposed to be is complacent. Complacency, that is, the uncritical satisfaction with oneself and one’s achievements, is antithetical to everything the High Holyday season is about.  We are supposed to look within, consider what we’ve done and how we can do better. The same is true on the communal level. We (that is Toronto’s Jews) have been...

One of the most salient pieces of feedback we’ve heard in the process of launching ADRABA is: “No one I know goes to ADRABA.”  It’s true!  No one you know goes to ADRABA… because ADRABA is a brand new program for Jewish high schoolers. And yet, this tidbit of feedback highlights something very basic about the human condition - the ongoing battle between neophobia and neophilia - and the drive for “safety in numbers.” I came across the first two concepts when I was doing my doctoral research. ...

Many phenomena accompany the hottest weeks of summer. The inevitable traffic jam on the way up to the cottage - and back. The sunscreen-stained scrawl of camp letters assuring one and all that fun is being had. However, with certain children, that list would not be complete without a trip to Canada’s Wonderland. Apparently, fun is had at Canada’s Wonderland. Even by people who queue up for more than two hours to experience less than sixty seconds of simulated terror. For me, roller coasters...

I am a basketball fan. However, being from Chicago, and having experienced Michael and Scottie and Dennis bring the Larry O’Brien trophy to the Windy City FIVE TIMES… what can I say? I am happy for y’all and the Raptors. I hope Kawhi stays. But it’s been eleven days since the wild Game 6 win and eight days since the city shut down to celebrate. Eleven days. …And it seems like so much has happened since then. Perhaps this is a side-effect of the frenetic news cycle that once, I’m told, used to...

In the previous edition of the ADRABA Newsletter, I shared a piece from Jack Wertheimer about the need for “truly disruptive Jewish education.”  We’re doing that - by design.   Today’s eJewishPhilanthropy delivered additional affirmation of our vision. What we call “Jewish literacy,” Alex Pomson calls “cultural virtuosity.”  Tomato, tomahto!     Here’s a choice quote: Hundreds of miles apart, these students were being initiated into the essentials of Jewish culture: the ability to tell stories...

Jack Wertheimer recently penned a piece about the need for “truly disruptive Jewish education.” Here’s a choice quote which captures what ADRABA is about top to tail.  Emphases mine. If we focus the conversation around what Jews need in order to become active participants in Jewish religious and communal life, rather than what they may think they want, we will inevitably spark conversations about expectations and what kinds of literacy an active Jew requires. Our liturgy and formative texts of...

In today’s eJewishPhilanthropy, Josh Miller and Seth Linden make the case  to funders that supporting Jewish online learning is worthwhile.   Miller and Linden represent the Jim Joseph Foundation, an organization “devoted exclusively to supporting Jewish education of youth and young adults in the United States.”   So what’s the ḥiddush here?  Wouldn’t foundations interested in supporting Jewish learning embrace online learning?  Not necessarily…  Like many legacy institutions, the Foundation...