LeV: Getting to the Heart of Education
By Elana Rivel, Associate Director / On Wednesday, October 22, our second Cohort of LeV congregations met for their first network meeting. LeV: Getting to the Heart of Education is our change initiative for congregations looking to rethink congregational education.
Text as a Lens
By Elana Rivel, Associate Director / Two are Better than One, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 / This quote was written on the front of my bat mitzvah invitation. It was not anything I would be reciting during my ceremony, but it emphasized an important part of who I am – a twin. My brother and I celebrated this milestone together and our parents found a way to further connect who we were to our rich, Jewish tradition. The significance was not lost on me and, in fact, it helped strengthen the lens of how I continue to connect to the world.
Elana’s Venture
By Elana Rivel, Associate Director / The story of my Jewish venture begins when I was about 8 years old and I accompanied my mother to her religious school class. As a day school kid, I was able to help the 4th and 5th graders she taught with their Hebrew and prayer studies. I loved being helpful and, more importantly, loved teaching Hebrew and prayer. I knew then that my life path would take me somewhere in Jewish education. Throughout high school and college, I progressed along this path.