CESJDS Announces Grant Funding for the Center for Excellence and Engagement in Jewish History
Rockville, Md., January 31, 2023 — With the support of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Boruchin Center, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (CESJDS) is proud to announce the launch of the Center for Excellence and Engagement in Jewish History (CEEJH), a hub for Jewish History consulting, training, and learning. The Center:
- Trains teachers and administrators in Jewish History content and pedagogy
- Works with schools (Jewish, private, independent, and public) to set and achieve curricular goals in Jewish History particular to their school’s needs
- Offers substantive adult education on topics in Jewish History
To propel the work of the Center forward, CESJDS secured a substantial grant from the Jewish National Fund-USA Boruchin Center and a matching grant from alumni parents Jill and Rob Granader to support its first initiative - a year-long professional development and curriculum initiative with a focus on Israel education. Through this grant, the CEEJH will provide training and consulting to a cohort of six to eight Jewish day schools to develop a unique Israel curricular project contextualized within the full breadth and depth of Jewish History.
“The Jewish people’s history is a tapestry rich with stories of courage, fortitude, and resilience,” said Boruchin Center Chair Scott Schreiber. “Through the Boruchin Center’s philanthropic investment in this CESJDS-led initiative, we will inspire a new generation to embrace their Jewish heritage, and traditions in a way that connects them to Israel and Jewish people everywhere.”
“With the support of the Jewish National Fund-USA Boruchin Center and the Granader family, CESJDS is excited to share our signature Jewish History approach with Jewish day schools across the country,” added CESJDS Head of School Rabbi Mitchel Malkus. “Thousands of students across the United States will benefit from the quality Jewish History education that CESJDS students experience every day.”
The Center’s work will kick off with a Jewish History Summer Institute at CESJDS in June 2023, and the CEEJH faculty will continue to support the school projects through individualized consulting and site visits throughout the year. In this way, CEEJH will impact the study and learning of Jewish History for hundreds of Jewish day school students across the country.
Through the launch of the Center for Excellence and Engagement in Jewish History, as well as the Center for STEM in Jewish Education, CESJDS has become a hub for Jewish learning and education well beyond our campus. By leveraging the School’s resources, faculty, facilities, and curriculum, we are developing programs and partnerships to support and enhance Jewish education across the country. We are grateful to the Jewish National Fund-USA Boruchin Center and Jill and Rob Granader for their generous support and commitment to the Jewish future.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jewish National Fund-USA
Stefan Oberman
212.879.9305 x 222
CESJDS
Suzie Thompson
301.692.4837