Blog

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.

Help celebrate BJE's 80th anniversary by participating in a series of community and donor events, culminating with BJE's 80th Anniversary Gala.

BJE Impact's Teen Service Corps recently concluded its final summer session of meaningful community service grounded in Jewish learning. The two-session day camp was in partnership with Sinai Temple (Session 1) and Valley Beth Shalom (Session 2). 

"It's about cultivating a mindset," said Jordan Grant, Summer 2017 BJE Teen Service Corps Camp Director. "We take different activities like pulling weeds, interacting with Holocaust survivors, or handing out water bottles on Skid Row, and see them through a Jewish lens - tikkun olam, repairing the world."

On the heels of June's successful conference on religious school innovation, which brought together nearly 150 religious school lay leaders and staff members from 45 synagogues to address this crucial issue, the Union for Reform Judaism and BJE have received a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles to take next steps to support religious school innovation.

Thank you!  Through your support, BJE has reached its $1.275 million goal in unrestricted funds for the fiscal year that closed June 30th.  The generosity of new and continuing donors allows BJE to connect with nearly 40,000 children and families through high quality Jewish educational opportunities.  For full highlights of YOUR contributions at work, please click here.

At this season of graduations, BJE congratulates the students and families marking graduation milestones in their Jewish education.   We hope each child and family will continue on their Jewish educational journey through life. 

BJE is proud to partner with 37 day schools,  49 part - time religious schools and 56 early childhood centers educating more than 25,000 children each year. 

Mazal tov!

Dr. Alan M. Spiwak
BJE President

Learn about the impact of a Jewish High School education on one family thanks to the Jim Joseph Foundation and BJE. 

Share the impact. 

Click on the link to view video.  

Registration is open for BJE Impact: Teen Service Corps, a two session, week-long summer day camp engaging rising 7-10th graders in direct service and Jewish service learning.

Session 1: June 26-30 @ Sinai Temple

Session 2: August 7-11 @ Valley Beth Shalom

Campers earn 12 hours of community service credit while 10th graders in the CIT (counselor-in-training) Leadership program earn 15 hours.