28 August 22 • 2019
jn
Connecting Students
to Israel
The iCenter welcomes new schools into iNfuse.
T
o help more Jewish day
schools infuse Israel into all
aspects of school life and
learning, the iCenter, a national Israel
education organization, is welcoming
eight new day schools across North
America into the third cohort of its
initiative “iNfuse: Israel in Jewish Day
Schools,
” including the Hebrew Day
School of Ann Arbor, which joins
Hillel Day School in Farmington Hills
as a participant.
Each school creates a plan to make
Israel education and experiences a
deeper part of all aspects of school life,
including classes such as science, the
arts, Jewish studies, Hebrew language,
all-school Israel engagement and Israel
travel. The initiative is funded in part
by The AVI CHAI Foundation and
through matching funds raised in the
schools’
communities.
“iNfuse offers a framework for stu-
dents, educators and the greater school
community to build personal, endur-
ing connections to Israel and Israelis,
”
says Dr. Lesley Litman, a consultant
with the iCenter. “
An initial step in
this process is for schools to map out
what is currently happening in Israel
education throughout the school and
to explore ways, such as articulating
meaningful learner outcomes, weaving
Israel into additional aspects of school
life, and creating opportunities for all
faculty to engage with and learn about
Israel, to deepen the children’
s person-
al connection to and deep knowledge
of Israel.
”
Representatives from Hebrew Day
School of Ann Arbor will gather
with other schools in the cohort in
September to begin their work and to
create a sense of community among
the schools. iNfuse also will provide
site visits from Israel education experts
and other specialists, online seminars
and one-on-one mentorship.
Educators will have a range of
resources and various approaches
from which to draw on to engage
their learners in content-rich and
contemporary Israel experiences. The
initiative frames a school’
s Israel trip
as an integral component of the cur-
riculum throughout students’
tenure at
the school. A school-appointed Israel
coordinator will oversee both the ini-
tiative and support the work of faculty
and staff.
The 2016 Hearts and Minds study
on Israel in day schools affirmed
that even young children can build a
meaningful relationship with Israel by
blending powerful experiences with
strong content.
iNfuse works with schools across
grade levels — from high schools to
middle schools to elementary schools.
The initiative especially encourages
schools serving primary and middle
elementary age children (K-5) to
enrich and expand their Israel content,
not waiting until the middle school
years to bring in rich content.
“We bring a learner-centered
approach to all of our work,
” adds
Litman. “
And regardless of age, educa-
tors can help learners develop personal
and authentic connections to Israel.
” ■
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