The following is a list of some of the Education Programs that the Daniel Centers run and co run in Tel Aviv-Jaffa
Shonim B’yahad (Embracing Our Differences)
Together with the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, Shonim B’yahad is an artistic educational project aiming to endow the values of equality, tolerance, recognizing the “other” and shared existence.The initiative was led in Israel by the Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism, in cooperation with a number of schools, institutions, and organizations in the city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa and other central cities, which chose to participate in the program’s pilot year – the 2014-2015 school year. Central to the project is an exhibition of the art work which was created by students of the participating school from a variety of ages and backgrounds. Of the hundreds of works submitted, our panel of judges, comprised of experts in the arts and education, chose thirty-five works of art, which were enlarged to 10 square-meter posters, which were exhibited outdoors in the Port of Jaffa during the spring of 2015. The municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa and the office of the mayor were partners to the project and supported its goals.
Shonim B’yahad has just begun its second year and the final exhibition will be held at Dizengoff Center in June of 2016.
School & Shul
School and Shul is our oldest and flagship program that for close to 20 years has provided students structured – but brief – opportunities to celebrate holidays at our synagogues which are designed to introduce pluralistic Judaic content to secular public schools. In the past few years thousands of students from the greater Tel Aviv-Jaffa area have taken part in a variety of School & Shul programs. For many, it is the first time setting foot in a synagogue. About 5,000 children from K-12 participate over the course of a school year.
Bar & Bat Mitzvah in the City
We initiated and partnered with the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality, the Tel Aviv – Los Angeles Partnership program and Pisga Training Teacher Centers to launch a City Wide Bar/Bar Mitzvah program in 2013. This program provides 6th grade students in participating schools a unique Jewish experience involving text study, community work, leadership and identity building components, and an opportunity to connect with peers in the Diaspora. 800 sixth grade Israeli students participated in 2012-2013.
Jewish Soul Overhaul
Jewish Soul Overhaul is a program designed to create a profound change in the schools in which it is implemented and bring Jewish values and tradition into the classroom and beyond. The program involves intensive instruction in all classes, teachers training and community work. It goes beyond enrichment to turn secular public schools into progressive “Jewish” schools where Jewish identity and values penetrate every aspect of the school life. Jewish Soul Overhaul is supported by the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles as well as by the City of Tel Aviv