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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