The campaign to make Jewish education affordable encompasses all reasonable efforts aimed at bringing more children into Jewish education’s classrooms. In some communities those classrooms are changing to incorporate the new technologies and pedagogical approaches of our changing times. GAJE supports all such reasonable efforts where the intent is le shaym shamayim, for the true purpose, of enabling youngsters to obtain an intense, high-quality education.
In this vein, GAJE is pleased to share the news of a planned new Jewish High School, ADRABA, to open in Toronto in September 2019. The following is the press release that GAJE received announcing the initiative.
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ADRABA announced today that it plans to open Toronto’s first 21st century Jewish high school. With initial support from the AVI CHAI Foundation and Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation, ADRABA will provide a fully accredited high school experience with an emphasis on Jewish literacy and community engagement.
ADRABA’s vision is bold, forward looking and inclusive. With technology as the engine for learning, every student’s pathway will be personalized. What effectively is a “school of one” is networked to many – teachers, practitioners and peers.
ADRABA’s focus on “MAJESTY” combines Math, Arts, Science, Technology and Engineering with Jewish literacy and Yiddishkeit.
“Our students can engage with Jewish tradition, values and history. Through learning and doing, they will come into their own as members of our community on their terms,” said Frank Samuels, ADRABA’s Lead Educator.
Allan Weinbaum, Foundation director, agreed: “We support ADRABA because of their inclusive vision. ADRABA’s emphasis on literacy and sustainability captured our imagination.”
ADRABA will open its doors on September 3, 2019 with an inaugural cohort of 30 students.
ADRABA’s approach – blended learning – has been used effectively in almost 200 high schools across North America since the late 1990s. Blended learning combines traditional classroom methods with online digital media. ADRABA’s “blended Jewish” integrates face to face instruction with collaborative and project based learning as well as independent study.
And best of all, blending traditional Jewish learning and experiences with 21st century education can be delivered at a mid-20th century price point.
“21st century learning is powerful. It’s freedom. It’s choice. It’s relevance. But best of all, it’s sustainable,” said Sholom Eisenstat, ADRABA’s Lead Technology Consultant. “Designing a 21st century school from the ground up makes this possible.”
ADRABA is eager to share information with families, educators and community members. Pre-Registration for 21st century students and staff opens in September, 2018.
For more details, connect with ADRABA now at info@adraba.ca or check ADRABA’s website (adraba.ca) when it launches on September 4, 2018.
About ADRABA
ADRABA was founded by Dan Aviv, Sholom Eisenstat and Frank Samuels – three early-tech-adopter Jewish educators who believe that we can do more and better with technology. Though they have extensive experience in Jewish education in common, they also personally embody a broad spectrum of educational and political perspectives as well as religious practices. But above all, they are committed to Jewish learning and the raising up of the next generation of literate, engaged Jews.
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Good luck to ADRABA. We wish them success.
Shabbat Shalom.
GAJE
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 