Beit Midrash Research Project

Orit Kent and Elie Holzer

Orit Kent and Elie Holzer

The innovative Beit Midrash for Teachers component in the Master of Arts in Teaching: Jewish Day Schools engages students in close study of Jewish texts in pairs (havruta). The Beit Midrash Research Project is studying the design and implementation of this opportunity and specifically investigating two distinctive forms of Jewish learning: the interpretation of Jewish texts and havruta learning. The project is building knowledge that can inform the deliberate use of these modes of study in different teaching contexts and in professional education.  For five years, the project has been documenting the planning, teaching, and learning in the Beit Midrash for Teachers.  The project is also beginning to document text study and havruta learning in other settings.  The project is producing scholarly works and also developing research based tools and lessons for practitioners in the field.


Director: Orit Kent

Senior Research Associate: Elie Holzer