Professional Practice

In all of its work to bring Jewish learning to life for pre-teens and teens, The Partnership pursues a strategy to promote a meaningful balance of formal and informal (or academic and experiential) educational experiences in every venue.

This means the inclusion of informal experiences in traditional classroom settings, as well as the development of intentional educational objectives to animate informal experiences in youth groups or summer camps. The Partnership promotes these efforts through several programs:

The Partnership for Jewish Learning and Life has a focus on the learner, wherever he or she may be. Some learners wish to supplement their formal learning with personal tutors. For others, a personal teacher is their primary way to learn about the richness of Judaism.

In an effort to support learners who want to learn more, The Partnership has lists of educators available for personal learning in Judaic studies, Hebrew language, and Trope. These lists are self-selected. These educators asked to be included and we are happy to share their information with you. They do not represent The Partnership in any way and students are encouraged to learn as much as they can to determine if any of these educators is right for them. B’hatzlatcha – Good luck.

Please contact Suzi Adelson Wainer at swainer@thepartnershipnj.org if you would like to review these lists.

Flora Yavelberg receives 2010 Hoffman/Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award

The Partnership for Jewish Learning and Life gives an award every year to an outstanding Jewish educator in an Early Childhood, day school or complementary school setting called the Hoffman Award in honor of funders Gene and Adele (z”l) Hoffman. The winner of this award goes on to become a candidate for the national Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for excellence in Jewish education. (This award is facilitated by JESNA.)

Flora Yavelberg of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union, in West Orange, NJ is the 2010 recipient of the Hoffman/Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for excellence in Jewish education. She is a Judaic Studies teachers of 8th grade Rabbinics and 10th grade Bible, is the Upper School Judaic Studies Chair, and is a Mentor of new teachers through the Jewish New Teacher Project. Nancy Leaderman is the principal of the Upper School and Dr. Joyce Raynor is Head of School.

She now joins our other recent winners:

2009 Winner: Mindy Schreff of Temple Sha'arey Shalom in Springfield, Cantor Amy Daniels, Director of Education. 

2008 Winner: Lilach Bluevise of Solomon Schechter Day School in West Orange, Dr. Joyce Raynor, Head of School

2007 Winner: Nava Scheckman of Temple Emanu-El of West Essex in Livingston, Barbara bar-Nissim, past Education Director, and Sherry Nemiroff, present Education Director