"בְּהִתְאַסֵּף֙ רָ֣אשֵׁי עָ֔ם יַ֖חַד שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל"
COVID-19 has presented the world with many challenges, especially in the field of higher education.
Orot Israel College is proud that the third year of Orot's Teacher Training Program for the Diaspora at the Beit Hana (Бейт Хана) Educational College in Dnipro, Ukraine took place this summer – virtually on Zoom.
The Zoom screen shared a fascinating workshop for Beit Hana's students including virtual tours throughout Israel and the studying of Torah, Mishna, Talmud and other Jewish sources.
Due to the success of the online summer program and a desire to share personal stories, a zoom conference was conferred to increase the national awareness of this important program.
Participants included: Eyal Ram, Deputy Director of the Israeli Ministry of Education, Adi Yahalomi, Director of Jewish Education in the Diaspora, Professor Yuval Sinai, President of Orot Israel College, Dr. Shimon Weiss , CEO of Orot Israel College, Rabbi Stemler, President of the Beit Hana Educational College in Dnipro, Ukraine, Rabbi Eitan Izman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Orot Israel College, Yitzhak Amitai , Chairman of the Board of Directors., Rabbi Chaim Fogel a member of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Noah Greenfeld, a friend of the Orot Israel College and Dr. Rina Benti, a representative of Beit Hana Educational College.
The conference was moderated by Rabbi Dr. Moshe Rachimi .
Prof. Yuval Sinai, President of Orot Israel College, welcomed everyone and emphasized his immense appreciation of this important program. Rabbi Eitan Izman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Orot Israel College, gave an inspiring Dvar Torah and shared the Board's greetings.
In a very emotional movie documenting a summer semester, the graduates of the program expressed how the program has changed their lives, both personally and professionally and helped them build their Jewish identity as Diaspora teachers.
The Zoom participants were able to experience active learning by the lecturers' representatives in the program: Long-distance learning workshop and learning technologies with Ms. Malka Wasserman, a trip through the pages of Jewish history in experiential innovative learning with Ms. Hagit Rosenberg, touring the land with a Bible with Ms. Etty Goldstein and researched the ancient coins and experienced building a learning environment with Ms. Sarit Gizbar.
The workshop brought a glimpse into collaborative learning in an innovative way that brings about the strengthening of Jewish identity in connection with the Torah, people and the land of Israel.
Rabbi Stemler presented a movie of graduates who teach in the Ukraine. They explained how they have applied in their classroom what they have learned from the program. Rabbi Stemler emphasized the importance of the program in preventing assimilation and it is a beacon of light to Jewish schools in the Diaspora.
Eyal Ram, Deputy Director of the Israeli Ministry of Education, unexpectedly had the chance to converse with some of the graduates in the Ukraine. Mr. Ram expressed his great appreciation for this unique program and promised to convey it to the Ministry of Education.
by Mrs. Aliza Lipsker, Coordinator of the Teacher Training Program for the Diaspora at Orot Israel College
