JEDucation - Conversations in Parenting and Jewish Education

This week we focus on teens in the high school years with an extremely seasoned educator, Rabbi Eliezer Rubin. This episode is an absolute must listen, because of Rabbi Rubin's vast vas wisdom and insight into the teenage years, for both parents and educators. 

You will learn about:

• A new challenge with parenting teens.
• A fundamental approach towards parenting teens.
• A fascinating take on the difference between 9/10 and 11/12th graders
• How to deal with defiance, apathy, Tefillah and so much more at this age. 

Rabbi Rubin has so many years of experience, and this experience shows throughout this episode, especially at 1 hour 13 min in, with an extremely important take within parenting. I am so excited to share this episode with you, and can’t wait to hear your feedback.

Rabbi Rubin began his career in Israel, where he studied at Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav before receiving semicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. In addition to teaching many young men and women at Israeli yeshivot and seminaries for their gap year, he served as an officer in Tzahal and as Chaplain of the renowned 13th Brigade (Golani).

Rabbi Eliezer Rubin is currently the Head of School at The Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy/Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, NJ, as well as the principal of the high school.

Prior to leading JKHA/RKYHS, Rabbi Rubin enjoyed an 18-year-long career at the Ramaz School, where he served as Headmaster of both the Lower and Middle Schools, as well as Dean of the Upper School—a distinction that is exceedingly rare in Jewish or secular education. At Congregation Kehillat Jeshurun, his Shabbat shiurim and other lectures routinely attracted scores of enthusiastic teens and adults from all parts of Manhattan. Rabbi Rubin earned two Masters degrees, one in Administration and Leadership from New York University, as well as a Masters in Jewish Studies from Touro College

In this second episode of season two, we focus on Lower School/Middle School children.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to deal with technology impacting our children
• How to children in this stage develop their middos
• How parents can help children of this age develop a relationship with Hashem
• Best practices of discipline

and much more!

Rabbi Chaim Hagler is the head of school of Yeshivat Noam, one of the premiere yeshiva day schools in Paramus New Jersey.

If you have a parenting question, please call our new parenting hotline 833-737-1293.

A reminder to follow the new Instagram @TheJewsNextDor and on Twitter @YairMenchel

In this new season of JEDucation, each episode will focus on a different age/stage. As such, in this first episode of season two, we focus on toddler/daycare aged children. 

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to facilitate individual expression in your toddlers
• How to build their confidence
• How to get toddlers excited about Judaism

and much more!

Rabbi Levi Neubort is the Executive Director of Anshei Lubavitch, a popular daycare in Fair-lawn, New Jersey.

If you have a parenting question, please call our new parenting hotline 833-737-1293.

A reminder to follow the new Instagram @TheJewsNextDor and on Twitter @YairMenchel                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

In this episode we give you the Spark notes on the whole season, discussing one favorite takeaway from each episode, to help concretize and sum up all of the amazing advice we learned over this past year.

Looking forward to season two which will be divided by ages, looking at the different developmental stages of children and how that effects our parenting of them.

To sponsor an episode, please reach out at JEDucationpodcast@gmail.com or via our website JEDucation.org

Did you know that that the most important thing you can do as a parent has nothing to do with how you interact with your children, but rather how you interact with your spouse? Rabbi Dr. Yosef Lynn, a marriage and performance coach, who has authored books on marriage and parenting, explains that he has given many classes on chinuch, and they all sound like shalom bayis classes, because when the marriage is healthy, strong and growing, what that does for children is huge.

Check out more about Rabbi Dr. Lynn at https://www.yoseflynn.com/

Enjoy!

Dovid is a writer, a professor, and the podcast host of 1840, an incredible podcast with so much substance to it. Dovid is also the Director of Education of NCSY. In this episode we discuss how to build grit in children, the importance of talking to our children about their feelings and helping them to articulate themselves. Dovid gives an amazing mashal for children’s emotions which really helps to understand children and what they are going through in their formative years. We discuss how social media effects him and his family, the Shabbos culture he has in his home, and the important role children books can have in helping parents to become better as parents. If you are into Dovid’s Top 5 book or column he used to have in Mishpacha, you are in for a real treat. 

Dovid Bashevkin is the director of education for NCSY, and the Clinical Assistant Professor of Jewish Values at the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University, where he teaches courses on public policy, religious crisis, and rabbinic thought.  He completed rabbinic ordination at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, as well as a Master's degree at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies focusing on the thought of Rabbi Zadok of Lublin under the guidance of Dr. Yaakov Elman. He received his doctorate in Public Policy and Management at The New School’s Milano School of International Affairs, focusing on crisis management. Dovid has published four books, Sin·a·gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought, a Hebrew work B’Rogez Rachem Tizkor (trans. In Anger, Remember Mercy), Top 5: Lists of Jewish Character and Character, and Just One: The NCSY Haggadah. He is the host and founder of 18forty, a new Jewish media site. Dovid has been rejected from several prestigious fellowships and awards.

Check out Dovid's Twitter feed @dbashideas at https://twitter.com/dbashideas 

Check out Dovid's website: https://18forty.org/

JEDucation.org

Alex Fleksher is one of the most real people I have ever met, as you will see during this great conversation which contains so many great nuggets. It is no coincidence that Alex co-hosted the normal frum women podcast, which is now deep meaningful conversations. Alex is a very passionate writer and influencer within the Jewish community and has a very refreshing perspective on education and parenting.

Mrs. Alex Fleksher is a columnist for Mishpacha magazine, the Co-host of the @dmc.podcast, and the Creative Director of the famous Instagram account @faces.of.orthodoxy. Follow her on Instagram and twitter @Alexfleksher.

Enjoy!

"One of the most important things in education is the home you come from becasue you get more from the home than you get from the school."

This weeks episode is very special and dear to me, as I had the opportunity to sit down with my wife’s grandfather, Zaida, the patriarch of our family. Zaida was a principal in Winnipeg for many years, as well as very involved in Moshava as the Rosh Mosh. It was so special to sit down with Zaida and hear his story of how his parents and him made it out of Europe before the war, and what it was like growing up in the house of immigrants, and the special upbringing he had. We discuss how Zaida got involved in education, and hear many sagely pieces of advice and wisdom from a true educator and father par excellence. You are in for a real treat. Enjoy!

"I should say my father had a lot to with the Jewish education even though he himself was not an educator, but he insisted we went to Jewish school and learn. He didn’t make a lot, but the first thing he would do would put money towards the education."

Rabbi Menachem Bombach went from being raised in Meah Shearim, in a completely Charedi world, to starting the first Charedi school with secular studies. What inspired Rabbi Bombach to do that? What drove him to want this? The first half of this episode, we will learn the answers to these questions, and hear a tremendous amount of educational wisdom from Rabbi Bombach. In the second half, we discuss how Rabbi Bombach parented, especially when dealing with one of his children going off the derech (as he wrote about in Times of Israel), and how that affected his other children. 

Rabbi Bombach's article in Times of Israel can be found here: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/thou-shalt-love-your-child-who-leaves-religion/

Rabbi Menachem Bombach is a community leader and educational entrepreneur in the Haredi community. He heads the 'Netzach' Haredi educational network, which he founded, and which combines religious and secular studies, and aims to educate students to become observant, Torah-loving Jews who are also prepared for practical life. He also heads the Hasidic girls’ seminary affiliated with the network. Menachem has served as principal of the award-winning 'Le’Zion Be’Rinah' high school; founded the preparatory program for Haredi students at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; and directed the youth department of the Beitar Illit local authority. Menachem studied at the Vizhnitz “Ahavat Yisrael” yeshiva and at the Mir yeshiva, and holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Moreshet Yaakov College and a master’s degree in public policy from the Hebrew University. He lectures in Israel and abroad on education and society.

Do you want to help your children become excited about Torah this Shavuos? Have their own Kabbolas HaTorah? If yes, this episode is for you. We will go through 5 simple, yet important, tips for parents to help their children gain an appreciate for the Torah. 

#1 - It Starts With Us

#2 - How to Make Torah Exciting

#3 - Sacred Time

#4 - Celebrate

#5 - The Real Definition of Chinuch

Listen to this episode to elaborate on these 5 fundamental tips. Enjoy!

Adolescence. Maturation. Emotional Turbulence. Family Values. And Much More. JEDucation gets into the teenage mind with Rabbi Micah Greenland, the International Director of NCSY is here. 

"It's really about recognizing that each teen is on their own journey and appreciating and recognizing that"

Rabbi Micah Greenland is the International Director of NCSY, a position he assumed in 2013, after serving for twelve years as Regional Director of Midwest NCSY. During his tenure as International Director, NCSY has dramatically increased its reach and impact, nearly doubling the numbers of participants in weekly events and summer programs, as well as doubling the organization's fundraising revenue.

Rabbi Greenland is an alumnus of Fasman Yeshiva High School/Skokie Yeshiva, of Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh, and of Yeshiva University. He holds rabbinic ordination from RIETS, as well as a Master's degree in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School, and he is a sought after speaker on a variety of Jewish topics, especially in the fields of outreach and informal Jewish education. His vision and integrity in leading NCSY have earned him the respect of the staff and the lay leadership of the movement, and he has additional ambitious goals for the organization moving forward. In addition to his professional work in NCSY, Rabbi Greenland serves on the Board of Education of Arie Crown Hebrew Day School in Chicago and is past president of the Chicago Rabbinical Council.

Check out Rabbi Greenland's Op-Ed in USA Today that he mentioned in the episode here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/10/04/faith-based-teen-engagement-can-foster-better-relationships/5944518001/

How can we raise children who are more respectful? How can our education system fix the lack of respect in our children? Mrs. D’vorah Miller, an educator, author, and mentor, answers these questions and more, with perspective and tips to help our children be more respectful. As Mrs. Miller explains, “when I request that my child say something respectfully, I am not being mean, I am giving them the opportunity to be better” because “Sometimes were going to say things to them that will be make them uncomfortable and thats ok”.

Mrs. Miller has been teaching children and adults about Judaism, relationships, self-esteem, and spirituality for over thirty years across four continents. She has edited several books, published articles, and posted videos on effective parenting and personal growth based on Torah teachings. Most recently, she published a book called Up to God with Mosaica Press.

D’vorah served as assistant to the Regional Director and Alumni Coordinator for New England NCSY. D’vorah and her husband, Rabbi Shmuel Miller, served as a rabbinical couple of Ohr Somayach synagogue in Cape Town, South Africa, and she was Director of Jewish Studies at Irvine Hebrew Day School in Orange County, California.

At present, D’vorah designs curriculum, teaches, and mentors educators for Ikaron, an Orange County–based Hebrew school, as well in St. Louis at Epstein Hebrew Academy and Torah Prep. She holds a Judaic studies teaching certification from Bnot Chayil College in Jerusalem, Israel; a general teaching certification from New South Wales Board of Education in Sydney, Australia; and a certification in therapeutic counselling from MST College in London, England.

Mrs. Miller's article on raising respectful children can be found here: https://jewishaction.com/family/parenting/bringing-up-a-mensch-how-to-raise-respectful-children/

#Raisingrespectfulchildren #respect #expectations #parentyourchildrennotbefriendthem #parentingadvice #parentingtips#Podcast #Jewishpodcast #newpodcast #Torah #newepisode #Jew #Jewish

What type of Pre-Pesach person are you? Did you already begin your planning, or does the mention or thought of Pesach stress you out? Regardless of which type you are, there is one aspect of Pesach prep which does not need to be stressful or anxiety provoking, and is something we all need to do, as Mrs. Sharon Richter describes in this episode - the prep needed to make the seder a joyous and meaningful experience. Mrs. Richter takes us through the necessary steps to do the seder right, along with various practical tips and Medrashim and ways to make the words of the Hagaddah come alive, as she does for so many in her spiritual sparks workshops that she presents around the country, to help parents enhance their children’s Shabbos and yuntif experiences.

#Pesach #Pesachprep #failtoprepareispreparingtofail #prep #Jewishpodcast #newpodcast #Torah #newepisode #Jew #Jewish

As director of one of the largest and most successful camps, Jeremy Joszef is an informal educator par excellence, a position which he takes very seriously, to always make sure the educational components are real and not fluff. Jeremy combines creativity with execution in total perfection to make every summer meaningful and fun for the campers of Morasha. Jeremy discusses how he creates the culture in Camp Morasha, and how that can be replicated in our homes through being intentional about our values and adding new and unexpected things. Jeremy discusses how he creates a drama-free environment in camp, as well as the the way camps have changed, both for the positive and negative, over the years. Jeremy has a hot take on the areas missing in our Jewish education system, as well as the reason that there is so much apathy in this generation (and a preview to this summer’s theme at Morasha 2022). Jeremy is extremely intentional about everything he does, which offers an amazing model for us to learn and gain a tremendous amount from.

Jeremy Joszef is the Director at Camp Morasha, supervising all aspects of camp programming, staffing, facilities, fundraising, alumni development, board development, recruitment, and marketing. After studying at Sha’alvim, Jeremy attended Yeshiva University, where he graduated with a BA in Marketing. During his time at YU, Jeremy ran Yeshiva University's Torah Leadership Network, Torah Tours.

Watch the full episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/WkQnbGGZu-g

#informaleducation #campeducation #experiential #experientialeducation #camp #Morasha #campmorasha #intentionaleducation #intentionalparenting #valuesbased #values #Jewishpodcast #Jewisheducation #parenting #parentingtips #parentingadvice #creatingaculture #dramafreeenvironment

How do we not impose our own insecurities on our children? Rav Aryeh Lebowitz, discusses this and much more in this episode. Rav Lebowitz, set on becoming a shul Rabbi, tells his story of how he entered into the field of formal education. Rav Lebowitz discusses his goals as an educator, how becoming an educator helped his parenting, and what change he would make to the education system. Rav Lebowitz speaks about the importance of focusing on developing a love for learning in our students, and his thoughts on how to do that, including not lowering the bar for our students to feel success in learning. Rav Lebowitz shares some of the amazing ways his parents raised him, and other great parenting insights he learned over the years from Baal habatim and colleagues, as well as the way he devoted time and energy to raising his children despite being so busy.

Some memorable quotes:

• "It all comes back to what you talk about in the house"
• "Nothing makes up for quantity time. People always talk about quality time, but quantity time is important also"
• "It's good to have aspirations, but no greater aspiration then to effect the neshama in front of your right now”

Mrs. Billet started off as a college professor and ended up switching to Jewish education after going through a very painful time in her life. This episode comes with a trigger warning as we learn about Mrs. Billet’s strength overcoming loss of a child, and how she parented and supported her children during that time. One of the most remarkable things about Mrs. Billet is her growth mindset, taking such a tragic event, and using it to propel her to make her life more meaningful. We will discuss a major change in her approach to education because of a line in a book. Mrs. Billet went on to become a teacher and then administrator, having great impact on every institution that she was involved in. It is very clear throughout the episode how knowledgeable and passionate Mrs. Billet is, and how she used her passion to help her students connect to the Torah and Hashem. Mrs. Billet took pride in creating an atmosphere in her home that was open to conversation and a place of trust.

Mrs. Rookie Billet is a well known Jewish educator, as well as past rebbetzin of one of the biggest shuls in country, at Young Israel of Woodmere. Mrs. Billet was the Assistant Principal at HALB’s high school for girls, SKA for 9 years, the Principal at Ma’ayanot (6 years) and ended her career as Principal in the Shulamith Middle School. After retiring, Mrs. Billet and her husband made Aliyah and I want to give a huge thank you to Mrs. Billet for taking the time our of her trip to new york to see her children and grandchildren, to talk JEDucation.

Highlights:

• "Moving forward, not on" - mentality in dealing with challenges
• Goal as Jewish Educator
• Difference between educating High School and Middle School aged children
• "Do it well or not at all"
• Parenting advice: Being authentic when talking to children, and creating space for them to talk to you about anything
• AMAZING idea and mashal on Tefillah
• Should parents be involved in their children's peer groups?
• Change of her approach over the years
• Most proud aspect after years as Jewish educator

From Deloitte to YULA, learn why Rabbi Arye Sufrin left the field of accounting to join the field of formal Jewish Education. Both parents and educators can gain a tremendous amount from hearing Rabbi Sufrin’s approach to making children and teens excited about their Judaism. At the end of the episode, Rabbi Suffrin tells over a personal story about his first year- end review and the insight one of the board members provided regarding parenting, which is such an important message for us to all hear, whether you are formal educator or not. How do we make children and teens excited about Judaism? What is considered failure for YULA? What major changes would Rabbi Sufrin make to the education system? Listen to this episode to get JEDucated and make a profound impact on your home or school, or both. 

Rabbi Sufrin serves as the Head of School of YULA Boy's and Girl's High School, where he was the principal since 2009. Rabbi Sufrin gives shiurim locally and nationally. His previous experience includes being Rabbi of the Young Professional Minyan at Beth Jacob. Rabbi Sufrin offers tremendous wisdom in the field of education with many years of experience at YULA. 

Rav Judah Mischel is known for his inspirational ideas and shiurim, and for creating amazing moments of spirituality. In this episode Rav Judah brings us #Baderech to learn a bit about his methodology and how parents can create that inspiration and bring that spirituality into their homes and into their Shabbos by creating the right environment in our homes. Rav Judah also shares what he terms as his TED Talk about the necessity for us to be proud of our Judaism and to frame the actions we are doing in a spiritual and religious way. This is an episode you won't want to miss! 

Rav Judah is the Executive Director of Camp HASC, the Jewish community’s premier summer program for individuals with special needs, and is the  Mashpiah of OU-NCSY. Prior to assuming a full time role at Camp HASC, Rav Judah was a Maggid Shiur & Director of Programing at Yeshivat Reishit in Beit Shemesh. A talmid of Yeshivat Shaalvim, he received Semicha from the Jerusalem Rabbinate, a BA in History from Yeshiva University, an MA in Education from YU’s Azrieli Graduate School, and was a Graduate Fellow at the CUNY Center for Coexistence at the School for Public Affairs. Rav Judah was Director of Student Activities and a member of the Judaic Studies faculty at the Frisch School, in Paramus, NJ, and led Aish HaTorah Jerusalem’s Return & Learn Program. In addition, Rav Judah and his wife founded Tzama Nafshi. 

Have you ever wondered how to overcome your child's apathy? How to help children and students really connect to Tefillah and Hashem? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this episode is for you. Rabbi Phil Karesh, the Executive Director of the OU's Community Projects & Partnerships initiative, is a parenting and chinuch expert. In this episode, he shares many insights and reflections into parenting that can help you navigate various aspects of parenting. Don't miss an amazing parenting lesson Rabbi Karesh shares from a story with Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky, as well as an amazing parenting tip from Dr. Jerry Loeb. 

Rabbi Phil Karesh is the Executive Director of the OU's Department of Community Projects and Partnerships. Previously, he was the Director of Staff Onboarding; Alumni Coordinator for NCSY as well as the director of Education for Midwest NCSY. Rabbi Karesh is an educator with 20+ years of experience in Jewish education, in both formal and informal settings. Rabbi Karesh is a sought-after Mohel, and is known for giving one of the more engaging Daf Yomi shiurim in the Chicago area. 

Rabbi Hauer discusses how his parenting was different than his parents, and the importance of unconditional love and how to develop it. Look out for Rabbi Hauer's sharp line about technology. In addition, Rabbi Hauer discusses the new initiatives of the OU specifically in the realm of parenting.

This episode is part one of a two part series, hearing from the OU leadership about the new Community Projects and Partnerships initiative of the OU. Rabbi Hauer, the executive vice president of the OU, gives us an overview of these new initiatives, as well other things the OU is doing in the world of education. Stay tuned for next week's episode featuring part two of two-part series.

Rabbi Moshe Hauer joined the Orthodox Union (OU) as its Executive Vice President on May 1, 2020. In this role he serves as the organization’s rabbinic leader, heading its communal-oriented efforts and serving as its professional religious/policy leader and primary spokesman.

Prior to joining the OU, Rabbi Hauer served as the senior Rabbi of the Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation in Baltimore, MD for 26 years, where he was active in local communal leadership in many areas, with an emphasis on education, children-at-risk, and social service organizations serving the Jewish community.  Rabbi Hauer is an active teacher of Torah who led a leadership training program for rabbis and communal leaders, and was a founding editor of the online journal Klal Perspectives.

Rabbi Englander’s advice for parenting is a switch in mindset that is so fresh and enlightening. Rabbi Englander is all about empowerment and positivity, creating that culture in the home and at school. Rabbi Englander is very genuine and real, showing his personal areas of struggle and regret, which was inspiring to see. Rabbi Englander addresses a myriad of topics, like the importance of not parenting by a rule book, the need to step back and let children figure things out for themselves, an interesting take on tuition, and how there is no "crisis", separating the action from the child, and much more.

Rabbi Adam Englander is head of school at the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB) in Woodmere, New York. He previously served at the Katz Hillel Day School of Boca Raton for 12 years as a principal and head of school, and as a rebbe and student activities director at HAFTR High School. His areas of expertise include student and teacher motivation and coaching others to achieve their personal best.

Parenting through loss and single parenting give this episode a unique perspective. Listen to Sari Kahn discuss her experiences with this, as well as how she created her camp, the advice she would give to parents, and more!

An expert in teenagers, learn Rabbi Kaminetsky’s 3 pieces of advice to parents, the mistakes he made with his own children, how to deal with difficult children and much more in this episode. You will not want to miss the opportunity to hear from one of the greatest educators of our time, and his insightful views on the challenges of parenting and educating today’s teens. 

Rabbi Kaminetsky is the founding Menahel of HALB's high school for boys, DRS, as well the Rosh Yeshiva of all of HALB. 

Being the author of world known seforim like עולם המדות and עולם העבודה and heart of parenting, Rav Moshe Don Kestenbaum is someone who is deep, insightful, and really spot on when it comes to his various points on parenting, making him another great JEDucation guest.

Being the Director of Day School Engagement in New York and New Jersey NCSY, as well a seasoned teacher, Rabbi Josh Grajower has valuable experience in and out of the classroom. Rabbi Grajower is a very sharp thinker and has a great pulse on today's youth, making him another great guest to talk JEDucation, where parenting and Jewish Education merge.

As the Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Dr. Rona Novick, has a wealth of knowledge regarding education. In addition, Dr. Novick is a trained clinical psychologist, with special expertise in child behavior therapy and bullying, making Dr. Novick the perfect person to speak about and kickoff the JEDucation podcast - where parenting and Jewish education merges.