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Gandel Student Registration Reaches 500! | |
The Gandel Institute, now in its fifth year, has broken through the 500 student barrier. Challenged by the Gandel Trust to in-crease at least 10% per annum, the Gandel Institute has succeeded in over-shooting its target.
This year new classes opened in Natur (South Ramat Hagolan), Haifa, Kadima, Haifa, Netanya, Tel Aviv, Rishon Le'Tzion (Hebrew speakers), Jerusalem (Russian speaking), Ashdod (Russian speakers) and most recently in Marom Ha'Golan (the very north of Ramat Ha'Golan). We have seen a particular interest among Russian speakers, who comprise nearly a quarter of our students.
An important aspect of learning at Gandel is its addictive nature. The Gandel study groups are reporting an increased number of students who have completed the "Gandel marathon", having completed all four courses. In Karmiel and in Yessod Ha'Maala veteran students are demanding graduate courses and are continuing their studies with in-depth courses in Talmud, Jewish philosophy and Jewish Thought.
We are aspiring to double our numbers over the next five years and to solidify our position as the largest network offering pluralist year courses for adults in Israel.
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Gandel is a 'Winning Organization' | |
In a recent correspondence Eli Silver, Executive Director of the Avi Chai Foundation in Israel, wrote as follows: "AVI CHAI is delighted to have been a partner in the development of the Gandel study materials. In 2000, the Foundation decided to invest in a winning organization that already had proven its ability to design quality programs of Jewish study for adults in the Diaspora. At the time, we were confident that the Gandel staff would meet the new challenge of producing a relevant and stimulating program for Israeli Jewish adults. The results have affirmed the wisdom of our investment many times over - the creation of an insightful, thought-provoking curriculum of study that is attracting growing numbers of Israeli Jewish adults to learn more about the essential foundations of their Jewish heritage and its relevance to life in Israel."
We are delighted to have received such praise from this prestigious Foundation.
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Gandel Institute Study Groups:
Afula, Arad, Ashdod, Aza Region, Beersheba, Beit Kama, Beit Shemesh, Emek Hefer, Givat Brenner, Hadera, Haifa, Hod Hasharon, Hod Hasharon, Jerusalem, Kadima, Karmiel, Kfar Shamai, Kfar Vradim, Kiryat Haim area, Kiryat Tivon, Marom HaGolan, Menashe Region, Modi'in, Naharia, Natur, Netanya, Omer, Rehovot, Rishon LeZion, Rosh Pina, Tzfat,Yavne, Yesod HaMaalah
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Israel's fastest growing
adult Jewish learning pluralist network
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Gandel Courses Recognized by Israel's Minister of Education |
Recently the Gandel courses were recognized by Israel's Minister of Education as professional development courses. The significance of this recognition is that employees in many government and non-government industries will be able to study at Gandel for credits in professional development and towards salary increases. In addition, in certain sectors, workers' unions will subsidize the tuition of workers who enroll in Gandel courses.
According to Dr. Yonatan Mirvis, founding Director of the Gandel Institute, and International Director of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, this recognition is of major importance and can open the doors of the Gandel Institute to multiple populations who until now had not considered studying Jewish literacy courses for professional development.
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| Growing Numbers Among Russian Speakers | |
A major area of growth for learning at Gandel has been among Russian olim. Deprived of a Jewish education in the FSU, these olim are thirsty for Jewish literacy. Due to their secular outlook many do not respond to the courses offered in orthodox settings and have been under-served in the area of Jewish education. At present there are 6 Russian speaking classes in the following regions: Karmiel (4th year), Rishon Le'Zion (2 groups), Rehovot (a women's group), Jerusalem (a group of young professionals) and in Ashdod.
The importance of this endeavor is recognized by the Minister of Absorption and two thirds of the students receive a subsidy in order to study at Gandel. The significance of these studies is well illustrated in these two Gandel stories:
 Ida Igra and Riva Barbia, mother and daughter who study together in the Rishon Le'Zion group, come from the FSU where they never had the opportunity to study what is Torah, Jewish culture or Israeli culture. "All my life", says Riva, "I belonged to this Nation but knew nothing about it. Gandel was our first encounter with traditional and modern Jewish texts. It has given us a chance to understand what Ida's children are grappling with at school and gives us some common ground with our colleagues at work."
Ida holds a Ph.D. in Education and has lots of opportunities to study academic courses and she chose to do Gandel for two reasons: the level of studies, the combination of Jewish and Israeli culture appealed to her, and the fact that she can study together with her mother makes it all the more meaningful.
Lea studies in a Hebrew speaking group in Arad, where she has lived since making aliyah from Russia. She began her studies with no confidence in her abilities to study but very soon became an active member of the class. Leah in one of the classes told her fellow students how she has been reborn through Gandel. It has given her insight into why she feels at home in Israel even though she does not understand Hebrew and knew practically nothing about Judaism.
Gandel studies have not only introduced her to exciting content and contact with Israelis, it has given her new friends who have opened their home to her and include her in their Friday night dinners and Pesach seders. For Leah "Gandel studies have exposed me to our ancient culture and modern Israel as well as changed my social life."
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Professor Avigdor Shinan Opens 5th Annual Gandel Shabbaton |
  
One hundred and fifty Gandel students took part in the 5th Gandel Shabbaton, a weekend of study, held jointly with the Shabbaton of the progressive movement in Israel. This year the Shabbaton, held in Jaffa, was sold out weeks before the start of the weekend. We were honored to have Prof. Avigdor Shinan, Head of the Academic Committee of the Gandel Institute, who enthralled all the participants with his opening lecture on the question of: Are our sages' stories folk stories?
One of the highlights was Rabbi Shalom Sharon who was born in Ethiopia and made aliya on his own as a young child. He had all participants in fits of laughter with his description of the absorption of the Ethiopian community into Israel. Today Rabbi Sharon heads an Ashkenazi community in Kiryat Gat and is currently writing the Shulchan Aruch for the Ethiopian Jewish community: "We have an oral Shulchan Aruch for thousands of years and it is time we put it in writing" he says.
This outstanding Gandel Shabbaton held just before Purim focused on the subject of happiness and humor in Jewish and Israeli Culture. In addition to the guest lectures, nine Gandel faculty members gave workshops on the topic which were very well received by the participants.
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What our Faculty are Saying... | |
 | | Rabbi Nir Barkin |
 | | Avi Paskal |
 | | Rabbi Meir Azari |
 | | Sigalit Ur |
 | | Eitan Gur-Arye. |
Rabbi Nir Barkin (Modi'in): "Teaching at Gandel allows for contact with a wide Israeli audience looking to delve into the ocean of Jewish knowledge and to grapple with ancient and modern Jewish texts. The challenge of teaching these inalienable assets to an Israeli audience in the Jewish State is a process of continuing spiritual uplifting."
Smadar Meir (Naharia): "The books are full of content and advice for the facilitators, most of the lessons are outstanding and a big thank you for that.... I enjoy the encounter with people thirsty for knowledge and contribute as much to the class as they receive."
Avi Paskal (Naharia): "I chose to be a member of the Gandel faculty as this is a unique opportunity to engage with people about Judaism, while acknowledging, hearing and studying different interesting approaches, and getting to know people from all sectors of the population: various ages, backgrounds, approaches, values and worldviews. For me, the format of a Bet Midrash for study is the most enriching. I especially enjoy the intellectual encounter, sharpening of the mind, a type of "spiritual massage".
Rabbi Meir Azari (Beit Daniel, Tel Aviv): "We chose a partnership with the Gandel Institute because of the name it has earned for itself as a leading Institute in the field of pluralistic Jewish education. As a teacher of one of the courses I enjoyed the well developed study program that was relevant to the needs and character of the Israeli public."
Sigalit Ur (Karmiel-Misgav): "I chose to be a Gandel facilitator as I believe in the vision of the program - systematic teaching, and a command of the tools which provide a familiarity with a wide range of texts on Jewish tradition. ... I especially enjoy teaching Gandel because of the students. There are courses I have taught a number of times however each course is different due to each group's unique encounter with the text. Even sources I have taught many a time suddenly gets a new angle through a student's comment.
The Gandel program facilitates in-depth teaching and analyses of fascinating subjects, relevant to personal life as well as to core issues of debate in Israeli society."
Eitan Gur-Arye (Rishon LeZion, Givat Brenner, Bet Shemesh): "I am happy to be a part of a professional network whose aim is to expose the basis of Jewish culture to its students, and to expand and deepen this knowledge. Expecting Gandel facilitators to acquire and show greater knowledge in the field we teach, requires personal professionalism and this is the personal gain of the facilitator."
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