Multiple Tanakh sessions were given in Hebrew to people who traveled from near and far to learn Chumash from learned Rabbis and exceptional female educators.

In 2009 an English track was added to the complicated schedules that usually covered four weekdays. During Covid, the entire program had to go online. 

This year despite the war and difficulty traveling there were approximately 5,000 participants. For the first time, there was an in-person schedule for Russian speakers with 660 participants. Also, for the first year a French schedule is online.

The annual problem is to decide which classes to attend when the choices are so impressive. BJL was invited to participate again this year in the Herzog Global Educators sessions on Monday, August 5th. A good decision was to remain in the Yeshiva Auditorium and not try to race around the campus to hear other speakers based on the topic “Affective Education in the Kodesh Classroom.”.

The program and lineup were geared toward all English speakers interested in Jewish education and included locals plus international teachers. Fifteen teachers from Jewish schools around the world came to Israel in July for an intensive 2-week study program and shared their common experiences of antisemitism in their communities. They participated in “Rimonim” - a year-long online professional development program, led by Tanakh and pedagogy experts from Herzog College and funded by Israel’s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism.

Education Director Rabbi Reuven Spolter said: “This has been an amazing opportunity for educators from around the world to share best practices and enjoy meaningful conversations about shared challenges. They have discussed pedagogy problems that arise in the classroom, and also the external challenges thrown up by the war, including helping their students to deal with toxic antisemitism in their physical and online environments. Jewish Studies teachers are on the front line in this worldwide battle: they have to answer difficult questions – similar to those that arose during the Holocaust – and they need to motivate their students to stay strong.”

Amihai Bannett CEO Herzog Global opened the program.  Rabbi Spolter, originally from Maryland, led the first session with "The Power of Storytelling." 

The day included lectures and practical workshops by Dr. Deena Rabinovich, Yeshiva University; Rav Dovid'l Weinberg, Yeshivat Orayta; and Rav Menachem Leibtag and Sarah Golubchik.

The afternoon panel moderated by Rabbi Spolter included Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Rav Dovid'l Weinberg, Dr Rabinovich, and Gitta Neufeld. 

While the audience varied during the day for the various presentations, the room was full for the last event on the full-day schedule. "Lessons from Biblical personalities" was a fascinating discussion between Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein and her daughter Rebbitzen Esti Rosenberg. 

Given the topic by Rabbi Shalom Berger, the women were asked to select two biblical personalities from the Chumash. Dr. Tovah mentioned she comes from the world of social work, not education, and chose Rivka and Zipora. Presenting interesting insights suggesting these Biblical women had husbands who were kedoesim. How difficult their lives were with such holy men tasked to work for the people. She ended with an analogy of the young wives of current reserve soldiers, serving and dying since October 7 - the wives the unsung heroes at home.  

Rosenberg discussed the lives of Noah and Avraham and the building of Am Yisrael, stating of all the Avos only Avraham Avinu had nachas. How Avraham was "active not passive" and brought in meforshim, by contrast, Noah was passive. Coming from the ark to a different world, perhaps we should have empathy for Noah, being post-traumatic, she suggested.

The conversation was stimulating, and even as the dinner hour approached after a long day, the audience remained engaged and enthusiastic, even as they traveled home by bus and car. 

The photo essay includes the speakers mentioned, workshop interactions, and scenes from the Yeshiva campus on a beautiful summer day. 

The sessions were recorded to be shared for later viewing.