United Synagogue Sponsors Institute For New Synagogue Education Directors

AUGUST 2006 - Thirty new principals of after-school Hebrew school programs met at the Manhattan headquarters of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for the five-day New Directors' Institute from August 1 to August 5.

"The program is aimed at people who are entering the profession with little or no experience as educational directors," said Rabbi Robert Abramson, United Synagogue's director of education. "This is meant to give them a big-picture view of their profession, and to get them ready for their first year."

The group included new directors from across North America; some came from big congregations and some from small ones, and some had more formal educational training than others. Participants joined in exercises, listened to speakers, role-played, and studied Jewish classic and modern texts as they worked on sharpening their skills and relaxing their jitters.

"It gave everyone a chance to feel good, to feel 'I can get over this anxiety, I can really succeed,'" Rabbi Abramson said.

Serene Victor, United Synagogue's consultant for synagogue education, led the institute, which she created six years ago. Ms. Victor, who serves as mentor to new Jewish educators as part of United Synagogue's Initiative for Excellence in Synagogue Education, said "We run this institute because we believe in the power of synagogue education to transform lives. New educators haven't been supported in this way; we want to support them so that they, their schools, and their synagogues succeed."

Rabbi Stuart Seltzer, director of education at Chizuk Amuno Congregation in Baltimore, Md., and Wendy Light, United Synagogue's education consultant, also led the institute.