Convening on Jewish Spiritual Education
April 1-3, 2025
A small group of colleagues met to explore the teaching and learning that happen within adult Jewish spiritual education centered on engagement with Hasidic texts.
They explored:
- How Jewish spiritual educators teach Hasidic texts
- How learners encounter these texts
- What happens for teachers and learners through this process of engagement
The convening was a partnership of the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education, The Institute for Jewish Spirituality, and the R. Dr. Ochs Chair for the Research on the Teaching of Jewish Religious Studies at the Faculty of Education, Bar Ilan University based on the work of the Mandel Center Jewish Spirituality Working Group.
Participants
Convening Leaders
Rabbi Dr. Josh Feigelson, president & CEO, Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Rabbi Dr. Elie Holzer, associate professor, head of the R. Dr. Ochs Chair for the Research on the Teaching of Jewish Religious Studies at the Faculty of Education, director of the Eliezer Stern Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Education, Bar Ilan University
Professor Joseph Reimer, associate professor emeritus of Jewish education, Brandeis University
Teachers
Professor Sharon Feiman-Nemser, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Professor Emeritus of Jewish Education, Brandeis University
Rabbi Miriam Margles, senior core faculty, Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Rabbi Dr. Erin Leib Smokler, director of spiritual development and publications editor, Yeshivat Maharat
Convening Participants
Rabbi Dr. Jeff Amshalem, adult learning faculty, Tamid of Hebrew College
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, president, Hebrew College
Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell, senior faculty fellow, Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Rabbi Dr. Ariel Burger, founder and senior scholar, The Witness Institute
Rabbi Sam Feinsmith, senior core faculty, Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Rabbi Nancy Flam, co-founder and founding teacher, Institute for Jewish Spirituality
David Gottlieb, PhD, author speaker, teacher, Orot: Center for New Jewish Learning and Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership
Professor Ziva Hassenfeld, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Assistant Professor in Jewish Education, Brandeis University
Rabbi Daniel Klein, dean of the Rabbinical School, Hebrew College
Rabbi Myriam Klotz, former senior core faculty and senior advisor for special projects, Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Professor Jonathan Krasner, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Chair in Jewish Education Research, Brandeis University
Rabbi David Jaffe, founder and director, Kirva
Professor Jon Levisohn, director and Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Associate Professor of Jewish Educational Thought, Brandeis University
Rabbi Marc Margolius, vice president for faculty and programs, Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Dr. Jane Shapiro, co-founder, Orot: Center for New Jewish Learning
Rabbi Dr. Michael Shire, faculty, Jewish Education, Hebrew College
Rabbi Jonathan Slater, former co-director and teacher, Institute for Jewish Spirituality Clergy Leadership Program
Ms. Michal Fox Smart, spiritual educator, leadership trainer and coach, Yeshivat Maharat
Readings and Resources
Reading for Lesson 1:
Reading for Lesson 2:
Reading for Lesson 3:
At the Threshold of the Ineffable
At the Treshold of the Ineffable (Hebrew)
Resources
Small groups and reflection questions
Further Reading
Renewed Hasidism: Teaching Hasidic Homilies in a Post-Secular World, edited by Elie Holzer
