Last month, nearly 1000 Jewish teenagers from around the world completed the “Israel 3-D: A journey though time, space, and beyond,” the latest JLI Teens course of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute.
Israel 3-D’s impact on the secular Jewish high school students who participated was immediate.
Students reported after the first class they felt empowered to confidently advocate for Israel in the face of de-legitimization, media bias, and anti-Semitism. Israel 3-D deepened formerly apathetic and uninformed teens’ appreciation for their national history and Jewish identity. It inspired them to actively engage in passionate, intelligent discourse about Eretz Yisrael both in the classroom and in the real world.
Like all JLI Teens offerings, the course is based on JLI’s model of developing relevant courses built on solid Jewish academics and made available to hundreds of communities around the world.
JLI Teens is not your average Hebrew school experience. The courses are written by experts in the fields of Torah, education, and psychology. The comprehensive teacher’s manual and classroom activities enable consistency in delivery across the globe. The classroom experience is conducted in a round-table discussion format that includes multi-media presentations, group activities which challenge students to participate and form their own opinions, and a social component designed to help students meet other local Jewish youth.
Rabbis and educators around the globe are broadening their reach by developing teen sub-communities in their areas. Focusing on teen education engages the community in a whole new way: Jewish youth education is an issue that the entire community, regardless of individuals’ affiliations and hashkafos, feel passionately about. Youth education is the number one priority in ensuring Jewish continuity.
JLI Teens has been wildly successful in pushing through organizational politics and denominations for the sake of enriching teens’ Jewish pride and identity.
This year, JLI Teens chapters created partnerships with local JCC’s, BBYO’s, and Federation Chapters to impact and reach the maximum number of teens.
According to JLI Teens Director Rabbi Benny Rapoport, “our programs appeals to Jewish high school students regardless of affiliation and previous background knowledge, bridging denominations and traditionally segmented communities.”
The teen years are when values are crystallizing and social and environmental influences are crucial. JLI students leave the classroom feeling excited, inspired, and empowered by Judaism. At the core of JLI lies the vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe who taught that youth possess a unique energy and passion that, if harnessed productively, can add a new level of excitement and vibrancy to Jewish life both in and out of the home.
The latest JLI Teens course is called OMG! A Battle Between Faith and Logic and will launch in March 2011 in 45 cities around the world.
Well done, we’re proud of you son!
us in the Holy Land! S&M
Where is information about bringing this course to my community?
Reuvi, with the help of his actor brother-in-law, has brought Israel close to Melbourne teens’ hearts.
Job well done Rabbi Cooper!!!!!
yay!!!! uncle benny! regards from mequon!!
go rapoports!! you are the best.
very very proud of you. Hatzlacha Rabba. Keep up the fantastic
work.
Keep up the great work.
Your Kingston fans.
Best of the Best!
sounds amazing!! great talent!!
so proud to be related!!
go rabbi benny!
Go Scranton!!