• To view these videos, you will need the QuickTime player installed on your computer. Download it for free here.
• You are welcome to use any materials on this website for educational purposes (for example, in professional development settings). Please drop us a note about how you used them.
Conference Videos
January 27, 2008 – morning
Plenary 1: Opening Session [video–26:48]
- Jon A. Levisohn (Brandeis University)
- Sharon Feiman-Nemser (Brandeis University)
Concurrent Sessions A
- Session A1: Teaching Halakha
- Chair: Daniel Reifman (Midreshet Lindenbaum) [bio]
- Nathaniel Helfgot (Yeshivat Chovevei Torah), “A Systematic Approach to Teaching the Laws of Holidays” [video–15:21] [abstract] [bio]
- Rahel Berkovits (Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies), “Teaching Halakha and Respecting Student Autonomy” [video–25:16] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
- Respondent: Jacob Cytryn (Brandeis University) [video–2:19] [bio]
- Q&A [video–34:04]
- Session A2: Teaching Mishnah
- Chair: Jeffrey Spitzer (Gann Academy) [bio]
- Claudia Marbach (JCDS, Boston’s Jewish Community Day School, “Enacting the Mishnah: Teaching Skills and Ethics in a Middle School Classroom” [video–16:33] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
- Judd Kruger Levingston (Perelman Jewish Day School), “The Moral Mishnah” [video–23:05] [abstract] [PowerPoint] [handout] [bio]
- Respondent: Avraham Walfish (Herzog College, Alon Shvut, Israel) [video–13:07] [bio]
- Q&A [video–34:40]
-
Session A3: Teaching Rabbis
- Chair: Scott Bolton (Reuben Gittelman Hebrew Day School) [bio]
- Yehuda Kurtzer (Harvard University), “Rabbinic Judaism for Rabbinic Jews: Teaching Ancient Jewish History to Rabbinical Students” [video–27:25] [abstract] [bio]
- Aryeh Cohen (American Jewish University, LA), “Some Things Rabbis Should Know about Mishnah and Tosefta, and How They Might Learn Them: A Report from the Field” [video–21:23] [abstract] [PowerPoint] [bio]
- Respondent: Susan P. Fendrick (Brandeis University) [video–9:45] [bio]
- Q&A [video–32:37]
- Session A4: Teaching in a Beit Midrash
- Chair: Jane Kanarek (Hebrew College Rabbinical School) [bio]
- Orit Kent (Brandeis University), “Co-Constructing Meaning: Hevruta in the DeLeT Beit Midrash” [video–39:05] [abstract] [bio]
- Elie Holzer (Bar Ilan University), “What Does It Mean to Design a Beit Midrash?” [video–30:38] [abstract] [PowerPoint] [bio]
- Q&A [video–17:13]
Concurrent Sessions B
- Session B1
- Chair: Marjorie Lehman (Jewish Theological Seminary) [bio]
- Dov Linzer (Yeshivat Chovevei Torah), “Learning to Wear Many Hats: Integrating the Intellectual, Pastoral and Spiritual in a Rabbinic School Curriculum” [video–25:20] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
- Respondent: Sharon Cohen Anisfeld (Hebrew College Rabbinical School) [video–14:17] [bio]
- Q&A [video–19:47]
- Session B2
- Chair: Claudia Marbach (JCDS, Boston's Jewish Community Day School) [bio]
- Ellen Pildis [bio] and Dan Brosgol [bio] (The Rashi School), “The Introduction of Mishnah Teaching in a Reform Jewish Day School” [video–24:25] [abstract] [PowerPoint]
- Respondent: Jon A. Levisohn (Mandel Center, Brandeis University) [video–11:18] [bio]
- Q&A [video–23:25]
- Session B3
- Chair: Deena Sigel (University of London) [bio]
- Pinchas Hayman (Bonayich Educational Services), “The Power of Shinun in the Study of Mishnah” [video–23:19] [abstract] [bio]
- Respondent: Moriah SimonHazani (University of Pennsylvania) [video–13:12] [bio]
- Q&A [video–22:32]
- Session B4
- Chair: Helen Plotkin (Swarthmore College) [bio]
- David Kraemer (Jewish Theological Seminary), “How Could the Rabbis Do That?: Domesticating the Strange in the Teaching of Rabbinic Literature” [video part I–22:47] [video part II–33:55] [abstract] [bio]
- Session B5
- Chair: Shai Cherry (American Jewish University) [bio]
- Moshe Sokolow (Yeshiva University), “Tradition and Innovation in Rabbinic Literature: The Or ha-Hayyim on parshanut ha-mikra (Biblical Exegesis)” [video–24:32] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
- Respondent: Aryeh Klapper (Gann Academy) [video–13:08] [bio]
- Q&A [video–16:31]
- David Stern (University of Pennsylvania), “The Talmudic Page and the History of the Study of Talmud” [video–30:18] [abstract] [bio]
- David Stern Q&A [video–11:32]
- Jon A. Levisohn (Brandeis University), “Orientations to the Teaching of Rabbinic Literature” [video–12:54] [abstract] [PowerPoint] [bio]
Concurrent Sessions C
- Session C1: The Contextual Orientation
- Chair: Dvora Weisberg (HUC-JIR, Los Angeles) [bio]
- Yaron Eliav (University of Michigan), “Archaeology and the Study of Talmudic Literature” [video–22:44] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
- Respondent: Marc Z. Brettler (Brandeis University) [video–12:26] [bio]
- Response by Yaron Eliav and Q&A [video–24:22]
- Session C2: The Literary Orientation
- Chair: Elliot Kaplowitz (Brandeis University Hillel) [bio]
- Avraham Walfish (Herzog College, Alon Shvut, Israel), “A Literary Orientation to Teaching Rabbinic Literature: An Inquiry into Its Use with Orthodox Students” [video–24:16] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
- Respondent: Reuven Cohn (Maimonides School) [video–10:58] [bio]
- Q&A [video–25:18]
- Session C3: The Torah/Instruction Orientation
- Chair: Elyse Winick (Koach, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism) [bio]
- Jeffrey Schein (Siegel College), “Using Rabbinic Texts as Pedagogic Triggers: From Pedagogy to Content Knowledge and Back Again” [video–28:34] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
- Respondent: Benjamin Samuels (Congregation Shaarei Tefillah) [video–10:31] [bio]
- Q&A [video–24:22]
- Session C4: The Cultural Studies Orientation
- Chair: Mara Benjamin (Yale University) [bio]
- Gidon Rothstein (HAFTR), “Helping Students Get Their Feet in the Door: Geertz' 'Thick Description' and the Use of Academic Scholarship in the Teaching of Rabbinic Texts” [video–19:20] [abstract] [bio]
- Respondent: Beth Berkowitz (Jewish Theological Seminary) [video–10:50] [bio]
- Q&A [video–35:04]
- Session C5: The Halakhic/Legal Orientation
- Chair: Barry Wimpfheimer (Northwestern University) [bio]
- Daniel Reifman (Midreshet Lindenbaum), “Teaching Talmudic Hermeneutics Using a Semiotic Model of Law” [video–25:56] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
- Respondent: Elie Holzer (Bar Ilan University) [video–14:39] [bio]
- Q&A [video–21:35]
Concurrent Sessions D
- Session D1: Teaching Talmud
- Chair: Lisa Schlaff (SAR High School) [bio]
- Michael Chernick (HUC-JIR, New York), “Brisk, Jacob Neusner, and the Stam: Significant Methodologies for Meaningful Talmud Teaching and Study” [video] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
- Aryeh Klapper (Gann Academy), “How Should Ethically Challenging Texts Be Taught? Reflections on Student Reactions to Academic and Yeshiva-style Presentations” [video] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
- Respondent: Lawrence Kaplan (McGill University) [video] [bio]
- Q&A [video]
- Session D2: Preparing Compelling Learning Sessions
- Chair: George Nudell (Congregation Beth Israel) [bio]
- Carl Perkins (Temple Aliyah), “The Pedagogy of Serendipity: Presenting the Weekly Parasha through the Eyes of Rabbinic Texts” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Elyse Winick (Koach, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism), “Mediating the Text and Fostering Organic Discussion: The Challenge of Creating Rabbinic-Text Study Guides” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Respondent: Elyse Goldstein (Kolel: the Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning) [video] [bio]
- Q&A [video]
- Session D3: Studying Teachers of Rabbinic Literature
- Chair: Benjamin Mann (Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan) [bio]
- Karen G. Reiss Medwed (University of Pennsylvania), “What Do Teachers Need to Know to Teach Talmud? An Inquiry into Teacher Knowledge” [video] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
- Michael Gillis (Hebrew University, Jerusalem), “How Do Teachers’ Backgrounds in Studying Talmud Affect Their Teaching of Talmud? Three Portraits” [video] [abstract] [PowerPoint] [bio]
- Respondent: Alex Sinclair (Shalom Hartman Institute) [video] [bio]
- Q&A [video]
- Session D4: Teaching Adults
- Chair: Elana Stein (Columbia University) [bio]
- Marcie Lenk (Harvard University), “Learning from Adult Learners: What Students Can Teach Us about How to Teach Rabbinics” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Jeffrey Rubenstein (New York University), “How Scholarship Can Contribute to Pedagogy: The Example of the Shifting Scholarly Paradigms in the Study of Rabbinic Narratives” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Respondent: Judith Kates (Hebrew College Rabbinical School) [video] [bio]
- Q&A [video]
- Session D5: Teaching Midrash
- Chair: Chaim Galfand (Perelman Jewish Day School) [bio]
- Deena Sigel (University of London), “Teaching Midrash Meaningfully in Elementary School: Investigating Children’s Understanding” [video] [abstract] [PowerPoint] [handout] [bio]
- Alvan Kaunfer (Temple Emanu-El), “Teaching Midrash to Children: Theory into Practice” [video] [abstract] [PowerPoint] [bio]
- Respondent: Joel A. Alter (JCDS, Boston’s Jewish Community Day School) [video] [bio]
- Q&A [video]
Plenary 3: How Goals Affect Pedagogy in Teaching Rabbinic Literature
- Moderator: Susan P. Fendrick (Brandeis University) [bio]
- Dvora Weisberg (HUC-JIR, Los Angeles), “Teaching Talmud to Future Jewish Professionals: Connecting Goals and Teaching Practices” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Elliot Goldberg (Chicagoland Jewish High School), “From Vision to Pedagogy in the Jewish Day School Setting” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Charlotte Elisheva Fonrobert (Stanford University), “Why the Talmud Matters: On Teaching Talmud to the Curious” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Respondent: Jay Harris (Harvard University) [video] [bio]
- Q&A [video]
January 28, 2008 – morning
Plenary 4: The Uses and Abuses of Academic Scholarship on Rabbinic Literature
- Moderator: Gail Zaiman Dorph (Mandel Foundation) [bio]
- Jenny Labendz (Jewish Theological Seminary), “Using Academic Scholarship in Introducing the World of the Rabbis” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Barry Wimpfheimer (Northwestern University), “Saving the Study of Bavli from Wissenschaft and Daf Yomi” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Respondent: Aaron Panken (HUC-JIR, New York) [video] [bio]
- Respondent: Ethan Tucker (Mechon Hadar) [video] [bio]
- Q&A [video part I] [video part II]
Concurrent Sessions E
- Session E1
- Chair: Jethro Berkman (Temple Aliyah) [bio]
- Jeffrey Spitzer (Gann Academy), “Developing Student Awareness of the Talmud as an Edited Document: A Pedagogy for the Pluralistic School” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Respondent: Lisa Schlaff (SAR High School) [video] [bio]
- Response by Jeffrey Spitzer [video]
- Q&A [video]
- Session E2
- Session E3
- Session E4
- Session E5
- Chair: Neal Scheindlin (Milken Community High School) [bio]
- Dov Lerea (Abraham Joshua Heschel School), “The Pedagogic Conversation: How Student, Text, and Teacher Interact to Shape Student Understanding of the Mishnah” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Respondent: Shawn SimonHazani (Perelman Jewish Day School, Philadelphia) [video] [bio]
- Q&A [video]
- Session E6
Concurrent Sessions F
- Session F1: Teaching Rabbinic Literature in Jewish Day Schools: A Roundtable
- Session F2: Teaching Rabbinic Literature in Rabbinical Schools
- Chair: Ethan Linden (Camp Ramah of New England) [bio]
- Sarra Lev (Reconstructionist Rabbinical College), “Teaching Rabbinics as an Ethical Endeavour and Teaching Ethics as a Rabbinic Endeavour” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Jonah Chanan Steinberg (Hebrew College Rabbinical School), “Talmud Study as a Spiritual Endeavor in Rabbinical Training: Delights and Dangers” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Respondent: Marjorie Lehman (Jewish Theological Seminary) [video] [bio]
- Q&A [video]
- Session F3: Teaching Rabbinic Literature at the Margins: A Roundtable
- Session F4: Pursuing Relevance in the Teaching of Rabbinic Literature
- Chair: Joel A. Alter (JCDS, Boston's Jewish Community Day School) [bio]
- Michael Paley (UJA-Federation of NY) “Dilemmas of Relevance in Adult Jewish Education” [video] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
- Stephen Hazan Arnoff (14th Street Y of The Educational Alliance), “Rabbis, Rabble Rousers, and Relevance: Where Do Midrash and Popular Culture Meet?” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Respondent: Vivie Mayer (Reconstructionist Rabbinical College) [video] [bio]
- Q&A [video]
Concurrent Sessions G
- Session G1
- Session G2
- Session G3
- Chair: Solomon Schimmel (Hebrew College) [bio]
- Charlotte Abramson (Jewish Theological Seminary), “Developing Standards for Teaching Rabbinic Literature in Day Schools” [video] [abstract] [PowerPoint] [bio]
- Discussion [video part I] [video part II] [video part III]
- Session G4
- Chair: Alieza Salzberg (Matan / Bar Ilan University) [bio]
- David Starr (Hebrew College), “Making the Strange Familiar, the Familiar Strange: Teaching Rabbinics to Adults in Me’ah” [video] [abstract] [bio]
- Respondent: Michael Balinsky (Florence Melton Adult Mini-School) [video] [bio]
- Response by David Starr and Q&A [video]
- Session G5
- Chair: Michael Gillis (Hebrew University) [bio]
- Aaron Panken (HUC-JIR, New York), “Rabbis Studying Rabbinic Texts About Rabbis: An Exploration of Text, Context and Subtext” [video part I] [video part II] [abstract] [handout] [bio]
Plenary 5: Conference Conclusion
- Remarks: Jon A. Levisohn [bio]
- Lee S. Shulman (Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching), “Concluding Remarks on the Scholarship of Teaching Rabbinic Literature” [abstract] [bio]
- Concluding Comments: Jon A. Levisohn
- [video part I] [video part II]
• To view these videos, you will need the QuickTime player installed on your computer. Download it for free here.
• You are welcome to use any materials on this website for educational purposes (for example, in professional development settings). Please drop us a note about how you used them.
This conference was hosted by the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education, a partnership between the Mandel Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio, and Brandeis University. The Mandel Center gratefully acknowledges the support of the Mandel Foundation and its leadership. The Mandel Center also acknowledges additional support for this conference from Combined Jewish Philanthropies; from Targum Shlishi, a Raquel and Aryeh Rubin Foundation; and from the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion.
 |
 |
 |
Go to the Bridging Initiative main page