Section archive - Technology & Computers

In this article, the authors explore the broad implications of the impact of the technology revolution on Jewish education. It is adapted from the “core narrative” that is part of JESNA’s special website devoted to technology and Jewish education.

The CEO of the Israel Ministry of Education recently announced the launching of a new collaborative workspace for Israel educators – The Carrier Pigeon System. As part of the National Telecommunications Program for Adapting the Israel Education System to the 21st Century, the Carrier Pigeon system is being made available to the entire k-12 education community. With the launching of the system, all communications between the Ministry of Education and members of the education community will be delivered to their personal secure Carrier Pigeon email accounts.

In a recent online Hebrew YNET article, Tamar Trebelsi Hadad writes of the discussions held by the Psychological Counseling Service of the Israel Ministry of Education on the relationships between teachers and students on social networks such as Facebook. Alongside the pedagogic and personal benefits attainable by these interactions on social networks, most teachers are not yet aware of the problems which may arise from these ties. In order to make schools more aware of the issues involved, the Counseling Service plans to publish suggested 'dos and don'ts' for use of social networks by teachers.

The New York Times recently carried a story describing the new trend of 'e-prepping' for Bar & Bat Mitzvah ceremonies via the internet. More and more 'cyber Rabbis' are offering Bar Mitzvah training using Skype and a webcam for personal one-on-one training sessions aided by digital audio and Youtube recordings of the melodies for the Torah and Haftarah readings. The lessons can include Hebrew reading and preparation of the dvar Torahs (an explication of the themes set out in the day’s readings) as well as reviewing progress on the charitable projects that have become a staple of bar mitzvah programs. The students can do their prepping from home at times that meet their busy schedules.