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Bonim Beyachad Fellowship

Join Our Inaugural Cohort: Launching August 2024

Bonim Beyachad is a 10-month cohort-based fellowship at Hebrew College in Newton, MA to support adults who are new to teaching in part-time and supplemental Jewish educational settings. The fellowship provides in-person and virtual professional development in pedagogy, content, and classroom management for new teachers. Download the flyer

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We established Bonim Beyachad to support lay people in becoming Jewish educators, empowering them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to enter classrooms ready to make a difference in children’s lives. We are excited to welcome our first cohort of Bonim Fellows, who will be part of a community of learners trained in pedagogy and Jewish content, and receive one-on-one, personalized mentoring.

 

Dr. Susie Tanchel, Hebrew College Vice President

We Need You!

More and more Jewish educational leaders, both affiliated and unaffiliated with synagogues, are turning to community members to teach in their programs. These community members are committed to a vibrant Jewish life, deepening their own Jewish learning, and are inspired to share their love for Judaism with children. Yet, they have little or no background in education. The Bonim Beyachad fellowship provides deep Jewish content and scaffolded learning in a robust community of learners.

About the Program

Every Bonim Beyachad seminar will introduce a theory or pedagogy, offer practical classroom applications, and provide content through a pluralistic lens. Fellows will engage with Jewish content and curricular materials, explore educational pedagogies, and be part of a community of educators who reflect on their practice with the goal of improving their teaching. At the end of the program, Bonim Beyachad Fellows will have gained knowledge, skills, colleagues, confidence, and resources which will benefit their home community.

Program Design

  • 18 synchronous Zoom seminars from 12-1:30 p.m. ET | 9-10:30 a.m. PT between August 2024 and April 2025. Zoom seminars will take place on a TBD weekday.
  • One in-person retreat at Hebrew College outside of Boston, MA from Tuesday, September 24 (11:30 p.m. ET) – Thursday, September 26 (2:30 p.m. ET)
  • 7 sessions of personalized mentoring
  • 10 hours of adult learning

Who Should Apply?

Adults teaching or volunteering in Jewish supplemental school settings with little or no training in education who want to contribute to their community, engage in meaningful work, and deepen their relationship with Jewish traditions and rituals.

Teams or multiple teachers from the same institution are encouraged to apply.

All fellows must be teaching or volunteering in a part time or supplemental setting during the 2024-2025 school year. Hebrew College will help with job placement as needed once an application is received. Applicants do not need a teaching position to apply.

Apply Now

  • Rolling admissions, applications due by May 24, 2024
  • Interviews conducted through May 31, 2024
  • Acceptances sent out no later than June 19, 2024
  • Signed Letter of Participation from applicant due by June 30, 2024
Apply Now

FAQs

Bonim Beyachad is a 10-month cohort-based fellowship developed by Hebrew College in Newton, MA, to support adults new to teaching in part-time and supplemental Jewish educational settings. The fellowship provides in-person and virtual professional development in pedagogy, Jewish content knowledge, and classroom management for new teachers.

Hebrew College hears the call. There aren’t enough teachers for synagogue and other part-time or supplemental Jewish schools. We are ready to usher more community members into the field by helping to support new and aspiring teachers into these Jewish education settings.

  • 18 synchronous Zoom sessions, 12:00-1:30pm ET | 9-10:30am PT between August 2024 and April 2025. Zoom sessions will take place either on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
  • One in-person retreat at Hebrew College in Newton, MA (a suburb of Boston) from Tuesday, September 24th 5 (2:30pm ET) – Thursday, September 26th (2:30pm ET)
  • 7 sessions of personalized mentoring
  • 10 hours of adult learning

Bonim Beyachad Fellows should plan to attend eighteen 90-minute sessions which will take place on Zoom. In addition, Fellows will have the opportunity to engage in seven personalized mentoring sessions, an in-person two-day retreat, and selected adult learning opportunities.

In between Zoom sessions, participants will be expected to reflect on their teaching and learning through journaling, short-reading assignments, and creating materials for use in their work with students.

Each Bonim Beyachad session will introduce a theory and/or pedagogy, offer practical classroom applications, and provide Jewish content through a pluralistic lens. Fellows will engage with curricular materials, explore educational practices, and engage with a community of educators who reflect on their teaching to improve student learning.

All Bonim Beyachad Fellows will receive a Certificate of Participation from Hebrew College upon completion of the program.

With gratitude to a generous funder, the cost of Bonim Beyachad is heavily subsidized. Participants (and/or their communities/institutions) are responsible for the subsidized cost of the year-long program ($875) plus travel expenses to and from the in-person retreat at Hebrew College in Newton, MA, including air and ground transportation.

Hebrew College will cover hotel costs and all meals and snacks.

*Limited scholarships are available.

“During this course, I saw myself as a teacher and a learner. Teachers are always learning.” (Elena, Detroit Area, Grade 3 Teacher, and Youth Choir Leader:)

“This course validated my decision to venture into Sunday School teaching. I am more enthusiastic about teaching and always find ways to bring content into the classroom. I changed the seating arrangement in my classroom to be more engaging and interactive. I added multi-sensory activities and questions into my lessons. I worked on being more present and intentional while teaching. I gained new ideas and perspectives on how to teach G!d, prayer and Israel lessons. Can we have Part II of this course? I’d love to learn more.” (Lisa, Boston Area, Grade 2 Teacher)

“I’m taking away awe and curiosity. Kids can think differently about the world. This course reminded me to leave space for kids to teach me in my lessons because they have that ability. I feel inspired.” (Micah, Boston Area, Grade 6 Teacher)

“Thank you for providing and delivering such a wonderful class. I always left knowing more than I had before and I felt like I had some real, tangible things to take away from our classes and apply to my teaching. I felt close to our group! I always felt very supported, cared for and heard during our sessions. I appreciate the ways that you facilitated our learning and helped us to grow and learn together. This was such a wonderful experience and opportunity!” ((Jared, Boston Area, Grade 3 Teacher)

“Highlights of the course: very practical, helpful, offered new perspectives. based on proven science or theory or examples of what works. I walked away with a lot of ideas and resources to enhance my teaching experience. Robin was encouraging, calming and very knowledgeable.” (Anonymous, Elementary Grade Teacher)

To apply to be a Bonim Beyachad Fellow, click here. Applications are due by May 24, 2024.

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Contact Us

Please reach out to Robin Kahn, Bonim Beyachad Program Director, at rkahn@hebrewcollege.edu.

Participation is heavily subsidized by a generous grant. Scholarships available.

Bonim Beyachad is a program of Hebrew College’s MaTaRoT Center for Jewish Professional Learning & Leadership.