Blog

by Dr. Gil Graff

Jewish tradition associates Shavuot with the experience of receiving Torah at Sinai, 50 days after liberation from slavery in Egypt.  Passover marks freedom from bondage; Shavuot celebrates freedom to lead purposeful lives.  As the Israelites are about to encounter Torah, the Torah describes Israel’s mission with the phrase: “kingdom of priests; holy nation.” 

The 37th Annual BJE Bebe Feuerstein Simon Early Childhood Institute convened at Adat Ari El on Monday, March 12th, 2018. Upwards of 300 early childhood educators from across Los Angeles gathered for a day of professional development, and the presentation of the Lainer Distinguished Educator and Smotrich Family Foundation Awards.

The day's events began with the presentation of the Smotrich Family Foundation and the Lainer Distinguished Educator Awards by BJE's own Betty Winn, Director, Center for Excellence in Early Childhood & Day School Education.

Millennia ago, Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) opined that “there is nothing new under the sun.”  Though, occasionally, it might seem as if something is new, Kohelet maintained that the matter was recognized in times past but simply forgotten.  To be sure, humankind acquires new knowledge.  For example, while we know more about child development today than in former times, Koheleth might suggest that seeking and applying such knowledge is a contemporary expression of the ancient wisdom of the Book of Proverbs, "educate each child in their way."
 

The 2018 BJE Gala was a resounding success thanks to you our donors. Close to 450 people attended and over $450,000 was raised, surrounding this memorable, 80th anniversary year event..
 
Gala Co-Chairs Jennifer Elad, Jill Lasker, and Rena Slomovic put together an unforgettable program, while MC Mark Goldenberg led the evening with humor and insight. 
 
The Gala honored Jean & Dr. Jerry Friedman and Bennett Spiegel for their decades of impact on Jewish education in Los Angeles and recognized Keren Dunn for next generation leadership. 
 

The 15th of the Hebrew calendar month of Shevat (Tu B’Shevat), this year, corresponding to January 30/31, marks the new year in the agricultural cycle, for purposes of various Jewish legal requirements relating to produce.  The date has, in more recent times, been embraced as a Jewish Arbor Day.  This year, Tu B’Shevat coincided with a striking, early morning eclipse of the moon.

On November 13th, over 250 parents and early childhood education professionals gathered at Westwood's Sinai Temple for a talk given by Dr. Alicia Lieberman, one of the foremost experts in the field of early brain development.

This talk was sponsored by the Simms/Mann institute, a field leader in the application of neuroscience research to parent education. BJE, a partner in the work of disseminating this research to Parent & Me educators in Jewish early childhood education settings, was proud to promote Dr. Lieberman's talk to its network of affiliated schools. 

The new year was sweetened for four exemplary Los Angeles Jewish day school educators when they were surprised before their entire school communities with the prestigious Milken Family Foundation Jewish Educator Award (JEA). Those honored are (from right to left):

•    Yehudis Blauner, General Studies principal, Cheder Menachem    

After ten days of introspection and working toward teshuvah – turning/recommitting to becoming our best selves – we prepare for Sukkot, “time of our joy.”  Despite the fragility that is inherently part of the human condition, we celebrate the bounty tht we enjoy and invite guests to join us in our temporary dwellings.  The sukkah inspires reflection on the constant and the transitory in the world of which we are a part.