Philosophical Dilemmas in Jewish Education

Catalog description

This course engages students with primary and secondary Jewish texts to examine critical educational dilemmas. Each session focuses on a specific dilemma, supported by a review of seminal articles on the topic. Students analyze the practical and theoretical implications of each dilemma, fostering meaningful discussions on its relevance to their classrooms and educational approaches. Students will also discuss teaching strategies exploring key dilemmas including; when religious education crosses into indoctrination, balancing faith commitments with critical thinking in religious pedagogy, gender issues in the classroom, the limits and possibilities of integrating general and Jewish studies, how knowledge acquisition may contribute to the erosion of religious practice, the impact of role modeling on teacher identity and authenticity. Students will develop a deeper understanding of complex educational challenges in Jewish day school education, enhanced ability to critically evaluate different perspectives, and gained practical insights to inform their educational practice.