Great Jewish Minds Don't Think Alike
Vision / Description: Appreciation and knowledge of great Jewish leaders and thinkers who ideas revolutionized the Jewish community
Goals and Objectives
- Understand that Judaism and the Jewish people is ever-evolving
- Know key ideas and thinkers of Jewish history
- Analyze great ideas of Jewish history and of contemporary Jewry
- Mysticism and spirituality
- Zionism and Israel
- Hasidism
- Enlightenment and Liberal Judaism
- Reconstructionism
- Empower participants to become agents of innovative change for today¡¦s and tomorrow's Jewish world
Staff Goals and Objectives
- Value the teaching of an evolving Judaism and Jewish community
- Know selected Jewish historical leaders and thinkers, in order to include them in teaching
- Direct teaching practice towards empowering the next generation of Jews whose thoughts and actions will change Judaism and Jewish communities
Integration and Alignment with Other Learning, Including Subject Areas:
- Jewish ethics and values
- Biblical and rabbinic texts
- Jewish history
The Learning Experiences
- Study and discussion of selected Jewish historical thinkers and their writings
- Discussion of the big ideas that emerged from each thinker's works
Evaluation
- Formal evaluations through written tools and discussion
- Informal evaluation through discussion
Recommended Opportunities
- Retreats or programs for adults, youth, college age
- Adult Education
- High School leadership groups or classes
- Adult leadership development
- Staff Orientation and Professional Learning
- Jewish Connectivity in Residence weekend
A Success Story
A community leadership group gathered weekly over the course of several weeks to learn about what is Jewish about Jewish leadership. Each week, these young adult leaders read, analyzed, discussed and debated the works and revolutionary views of a different Jewish leader who had changed Jewish life forever. Over a period of time, participants deepened their understanding of many components of outstanding Jewish leadership: passion, risk-taking, ongoing learning and growth, and courage.