Blog

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. 

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.

The unlimited availability of information at the push of a button makes teaching and learning altogether different, today, than in the (ever more remote) 20th century.  Education is not about mastery of a body of knowledge; it’s about processing, synthesizing and wisely applying abundantly available information.  Project-based learning and collaborative problem solving are, appropriately, increasingly at the core of students’ educational experiences.

by Dr. Gil Graff

This year marks 80 years since BJE was established by the Jewish Community Council, in a Los Angeles Jewish community that would be virtually unrecognizable today.  The 1930s were fraught with challenges, locally and throughout the world.  One of BJE’s Past Presidents, the late Bernard (“Bernie”) Levin, recalled, as a young man, joining the Anti-Nazi League, as one response to the threatening conditions of the era; this, at the same time BJE was created.

In many Jewish communities - as the Jewish holidays of the month of Tishrei near their close -- it is customary to read the book of Ecclesiastes (Koheleth) during the shabbat of sukkot. A holiday known as "z'man simhateinu" - the time of our joy - is, paradoxically, celebrated in part by reading reflections, traditionally ascribed to King Solomon, that suggest that the human condition is utterly inexplicable. In the face of an uncertain and often frustrating world, the book ends by counseling the reader to maintain awe of God and to observe God's commandments.

With the approach of the new year, BJE installed its Officers and Directors for the 2016-2017 term. We are fortunate that Dr. Alan M. Spiwak will continue as President for a 3rd one-year term and are  pleased to welcome to the elected board of forty-one directors and officers four new directors: Ilana Goldschein, Dr. Simona Heumann, Amy Leibowitz and Sheilah Miller.

By Dr. Gil Graff

With Pesach on the near horizon, thoughts of the haggadah and its call to include, hear and relate to multiple voices take on heightened consciousness.  The haggadah opens the Passover narrative with an invitation to all who are in need, whether materially or in spirit, to join the seder experience.   Shortly thereafter, we expressly recognize (at least) four different attitudes among children with regard to the seder proceedings.   While calling for differentiated responses, each child is to be included in the broader conversation.