WASHINGTON, May 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The Jewish Education Innovation Challenge (JEIC) has announced Rabbi Dr. Berel Wein will be the keynote speaker for their May 22, 2014 Annual Innovators Retreat in Bal Harbour, Florida. Founder and director of the Destiny Foundation since 1996, Rabbi Wein is credited with popularizing Jewish history through more than 1,000 recorded lectures, 15 books, numerous history courses, educational tours and films. Rabbi Wein's address is entitled "Jews, Education, and the Way Forward." Retreat attendance is by invitation only, but Rabbi Wein's keynote address will be streamed live on the organization's website, JewishChallenge.org.
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140501/83155
JEIC is a program that rewards innovators in Jewish education who challenge and improve the way core curriculum and foundational thinking of the religion is transferred to the next generation. The first two JEIC grants were awarded in 2013. This year's event will feature progress reports from last year's two grantees and presentations from this year's four finalists. One or more new grantees will be selected to pursue their vision for a ground breaking pilot project for Jewish day schools. Dr. Rabbi Wein will join several other distinguished panelists to evaluate the grant presentations: Dr. Shani Bechoffer, Rabbi Joshua Lookstein, and Rabbi Dr. Shmuel Mandelman.
Rabbi Shmuel Feld, JEIC managing director says, "As we approach the end of our second grant cycle, the program is really gaining momentum. We are proud to have Rabbi Wein as well as other notable leaders in Jewish education joining our workshops and grant evaluation process. As a renowned expert in Jewish history, Rabbi Wein will undoubtedly offer unique perspectives on how new models for education can draw upon ancient knowledge to return us to the intended path."
The JEIC grant program provides grants of up to $50,000 to winning applicants to further develop and test their proposal. Rabbi Feld says, "The program places a strong emphasis on revolutionary yet practical solutions – we seek fresh ideas that are both scalable and accountable." The JEIC is the brainchild of the Mayberg Family Charitable Foundation. Rabbi Feld explains, "Through the JEIC grants we seek to disrupt complacency. We track and evaluate each project closely, with the ultimate goal of finding scalable solutions that will drive Jewish education forward. "
2014 Finalists
Brauser Maimonides Academy, Ft. Lauderdale, FL – "HTML – Holistic Torah and Mesorah Literacy"
Oakland Hebrew Day School, Oakland, CA – "Workshop Based Beit Midrash"
The Binah School, Sharon, MA – "The Binah School's Digital Access Project"
Weinbaum Yeshiva High School, Boca Raton, FL – "The Test-Free Torah Classroom"
About the Mayberg Family Charitable Foundation
The Mayberg Family Charitable Foundation is a grantmaking family foundation with particular interests in Jewish outreach and Jewish education. Trustees Louis and Manette Mayberg serve on a variety of boards and are deeply involved in many issues and initiatives impacting the future of the Jewish people.
Contact: David Cyphers, 443-280-5451, Email