Programs
MCSJE has developed programs that engage and inspire established and emerging researchers and practitioners with the goal of driving impact in the field of Jewish education scholarship.
Featured Content Slideshow
Research
MCSJE’s faculty and community of affiliated scholars conduct research that promotes a deeper understanding of learners and learning in Jewish education.
Conferences and Events
MCSJE offers a robust schedule of events throughout the year. Many events are open to the public, while others are tailored to audiences of scholars or educational leaders.
The Leading Research Center for Jewish Educational Scholarship
The Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education (MCSJE) is dedicated to advancing the field of Jewish educational scholarship through expansive research on teaching and learning and by convening and catalyzing other scholars and practitioners in the field through important programs, events and conferences.
Upcoming Events
Spotlight on Jewish Learning: Past, Present and Future | A panel of Brandeis faculty in recognition of the University’s 75th anniversary
November 30
What have we learned about Jewish learning in the past, where are we today, and what do we still need to learn for the future? Join MCSJE for this special Spotlight Session in honor of Brandeis University’s 75th anniversary, at which Brandeis scholars of Jewish education shared some of the most important developments in the field of Jewish education and why they matter for the flourishing of individual students and the vibrancy of the Jewish community. | Panelists: Jon Levisohn, Jonathan Krasner, Ziva Hassenfeld, Sharon Feiman-Nemser, Joe Reimer
Learning About Learning: A Conversation with Esther Friedman
December 7, 1 PM - 1:30 PM
Navigating Ideological Differences in Pluralistic Jewish Schools | How and why does the ability to navigate ideological differences within classrooms matter to Jewish education–and beyond? In this session, Esther Friedman will discuss her recent study on the lived experiences of Orthodox teachers who teach Bible in pluralistic community schools and the institutional-level challenges they face.
Featured Videos
Learning About Learning: A Conversation with Judd Levingston
November 15
Getting Serious about Play in Jewish Education | Beyond lifting the spirits of teachers and students, play in Jewish education spaces can also shape moral development and character. Drawing from his new research, Judd Kruger Levingston shares how teachers and administrators can cultivate "a moral ecology of play" in classrooms, hallways, gathering spaces, and playgrounds. In this session, Levingston speaks about ways in which a wide variety of approaches to play across the curriculum and throughout a school's culture can transform a young person's values and moral outlook.
Through the Lens of a Child: Understanding How Children View the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
September 15
What does the Israeli-Arab/Palestinian conflict look like through the eyes of Jewish children in the United States? How do children's thoughts and feelings about the conflict develop over time? This workshop led by Dr. Sivan Zakai explored these questions, helping Jewish educators understand how American Jewish children (K-8) learn, think and feel about the conflict. Toggling back and forth between a big picture understanding of children's development and a detailed case study tracing one particular child's development from kindergarten to 8th grade, educators had a chance to investigate both children's thinking and their own assumptions about conflict education, peace education and the role(s) of each in Jewish education.