Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education

The Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE)[1] was granted funding to give guidance and assistance to Jewish educational institutions. The organization's present focus is on STEM[2] and they operate their own science competitions for students in co-ed schools, Orthodox all-boys schools,[1] and all-girls schools.[3] Their most recent multi-school STEM competition (December 2019) expanded, reaching down to the middle-school level.[4]

The multi-organization task force from which CIJE was initiated had as their driving focus, according to their 1990 report, to go beyond the single-gender schools, and reach out to "the segment of the Jewish population which is finding it increasingly difficult to define its future in terms of Jewish values and behavior."[5]: p.73 

The way their work contrasts with that of Torah Umesorah – National Society for Hebrew Day Schools, another non-profit organization, was described[6][7] as "from life back to the Torah.”[8]

History

Commission on Jewish Education in North America

The Commission on Jewish Education in North America, a newly formed group, "met six times .. from August 1, 1988 to June 12, 1990"[5]: intro  and appointed a director[9] to "a new entity, the Council for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE).": p.22 [10]

Council for Initiatives in Jewish Education

The Council for Initiatives in Jewish Education[11] was the first of two organizations to use the initials CJIE.[12] Its director, Alan David Hoffmann, one of the 24 individuals providing "individual consultations" to the commission, served from 1994[7] to 1996.[13] It scheduled annual review meetings, while seeking to enhance the outcome from the "some estimates say 30,000": p.32 [14] involved in Jewish education in North America.

Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education

The Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) was formed in 2001,[2] as a New York-based followup to the first CIJE. Unlike the earlier organization (which, after much analysis, was seeking to focus on "three to five model communities": p.67 ), this organization has a much larger focus. In 2015 it opened its CIJE-Tech Middle School Program as a "groundbreaking ... across the denominational spectrum in more than 180 schools nationwide" effort "to promote inquiry and project-based thinking, and curiosity."[15] The goal, however, still remains from the first CIJE: "new personnel .. new programs .. teaching of Hebrew, the Bible, and Jewish history.": 69 [16]

Providing lab equipment is a part of the CIJE program.[2][17]

Innovation Day

Innovation Day is a CIJE program that began in 2013, in which students from North American Jewish high schools present competing innovations within six categories.[18] More than one location hosts competing students. The largest for 2019 was in Holmdel, NJ (over 1,000 students from the Northeast); the Boca Raton, Florida site was for "eight South Florida Jewish day schools."[19] Both 2019 events were on May 1.

Effectiveness

The original report's listed goal was to involve "all sectors of the Jewish community." It was multi-dimensional: stream/denominations,[20] roles,[21] and lastly Jewish organizations and foundations.

As of 2010, it was noted that most Jewish children receive (and will continue to receive) "Jewish education in supplementary settings" rather than in day schools.[22] Additionally, programs of a similar nature, though less time-intense were developed, including Birthright Israel (a 10-day program) and several summer-camp programs. [23]

A 2019 report by Avi Chai Foundation indicated ongoing participation by boys and girls at schools identified as Orthodox, Conservative and Reform, covering "16 states" (albeit largely from the Northeast, Florida and Texas).[24]

One criticism of many programs is instructor turnover, especially in non-Orthodox schools, where an estimated 25% of those teaching are in their first year.[23]

See also

References
  1. "Darchei Torah Students Shine At Science Competition". 5tJt.com (Five Towns Jewish Times). May 18, 2018.
  2. Leila Meyer (October 3, 2013). "Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education Expands Science Programs in California". THE Journal magazine (Technological Horizons in Education).
  3. "Bais Yaakov High School Robotics Club Takes First Place in Inaugural CIJE Robotics Competition". Baltimore Jewish Life. May 30, 2019.
  4. Jeff Bessen (January 9, 2020). "Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education holds robotics competition at HAFTR". Long Island Herald.
  5. "A Time To Act עת לעשות The Report of the Commission on Jewish Education in North America" (PDF). BJPA.org Berman Jewish Policy Archive. November 1990.
  6. in an article by the dean of the recipient of a $15 million grant for Jewish education
  7. David Gonzalez (October 13, 1994). "American Jews Focus on Preserving Their Identity; A New Gift of $15 Million for Graduate Studies in Jewish Education Should Help". The New York Times.
  8. Bill Robinson (May 4, 2017). "The New Purpose of Jewish Education".
  9. Alan David Hoffmann
  10. Funding, and the initial idea for "the Commission" is accredited to "Morton L. Mandel and his brothers.": intro 
  11. "Foundations target Jewish education". JTA.org (Jewish Telegraphic Agency). August 27, 1997.
  12. "Mandel foundations give $400,000". Cleveland Jewish News. November 6, 2015. two 1980s initiatives: the Commission on Jewish Education in North America and the Council for Initiatives in Jewish Education
  13. "Hoffman New DG of Jewish Agency". IsraelNationalNews.com (Arutz Sheva). March 3, 2010.
  14. "Mandel Commission on Jewish Education Releases Study Recommending Overhaul". JTA.org (Jewish Telegraphic Agency). November 15, 1990.
  15. "Engaging STEM education at Soille". L'Chaim Magazine.
  16. "prepares .. for every aspect of successful 21st Century living.. Jewish values and ideals."
  17. A 2011 Jewish Press story about Torah Academy of Boca Raton, whose goal is "a lifelong commitment to and passion for Torah study and ethical growth" described their new computer lab, whose hardware and software were "made possible by a generous donation by" CIJE. Shelley Benveniste (December 15, 2011). "Torah Academy Of Boca Raton Dedicates New Computer Lab". The Jewish Press. The software is SuccessMaker (Pearson Education), published by Computer Curriculum Corporation. George Judson (March 9, 1995). "Hartford Schools Enter New World". The New York Times.
  18. "Scientific Engineering, Eldercare, Arts, Eco-innovation, Healthcare and Assistive Technology, and Consumer Products." "CIJE Innovation Day Celebrates Student Innovations". The Jewish Link (NJ). May 30, 2019.
  19. Faran Fagen (June 11, 2019). "Jewish high school hosts STEM invention competition in Boca". The Palm Beach Post.
  20. "Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Reform"
  21. "scholars, educators, rabbis"
  22. Jack Wertheimer (June 2010). "Recent Trends in Supplementary Jewish Education" (PDF).
  23. Roberta Louis Goodman; Eli Schapp (2006). "Jewish Educational Personnel" (PDF).
  24. Lori Silberman Brauner (June 14, 2019). "How Jewish day schools are now minting future engineers".
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