First Web-based Hebrew School

Children from Watertown-New York, Bognor-Ontario and even a far-flung U.S. military base in Germany have one thing in common other than being Jewish kids growing up in remote locations: They attend the Jewish Online School.

The Jewish Online School, the world’s first full-fledged online Hebrew School, provides dozens of Jewish kids ages five to 12 with a well-rounded and exciting curriculum that imparts to them the basics of being Jewish.

It also comprises a Bar Mitzvah program and a special program for teens.

“Jewish children from all walks of life, no matter their location, should have the Jewish education that they deserve,” says Sima Silverstein, the Jewish Online School’s director.

The Jewish Online School is built upon the experience and technological platforms that drive the Shluchim Online School, a full-sized international Web-based school that provides the children of Chabad shluchim worldwide with the Jewish education to which they otherwise would have no access.

Like the Shluchim Online School, the Jewish Online School uses cutting-edge exclusive software and live streaming audio and video to create the astonishing phenomenon of dozens of children all across the United States and world interacting live via their webcams with live teachers based in the U.S. and Israel.

The state-of-the-art technology allows Jewish Online School teachers to see and hear students in live real time. It also turns students’ computer screens into interactive white boards, allowing teachers to display texts, graphs, charts and other images live—making the school even more exciting and high-tech.

“We focus on using this technology to engage the students and give them a fun, interactive and exciting learning experience,” says Yossi Goodman, Director of Technical Development.

The Jewish Online School uses the Adventuring through Torah Hebrew School curriculum developed by Devora Krasnianski, director of Hebrew School programs for The Shluchim Office, the international Chabad-Lubavitch resource center.

“Dassie loved the class,” says parent Trish Kozuch of Bognor, Ontario of her daughter’s first Jewish Online School experience. “In fact she came out during break jumping up and down saying, ‘I love it! I love it!’ You couldn’t ask for a better endorsement.”

“I am beyond impressed,” wrote school mom Mrs. Gelbman of Albany, New York. “I got such nachas from watching my son learn today. This was the first time I have had hope in a long time. He was interested, focused, and very happy with the experience.”

Directed by Rabbi Gedalya Shemtov, The Shluchim Office offers a number of leading shlichus resources, including the Jewish Online School. The School is backed by Founders Committee members Motti Korf, Eliezer Kornhauser, Uri Laber and Dovid Smetana.

Visit us at www.jewishonlineschool.com.

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