Source: Jewish Voice
Five New York and New Jersey Jewish Day Schools are currently implementing Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy's (LVJA) courses to connect middle and high school students to substantive Jewish learning beyond the classroom walls. With LVJA, these schools are differentiating and individualizing instruction, offering a greatly expanded Judaic studies course catalog, and allocating resources responsibly. Today, LVJA, a project of Bar-Ilan University's Lookstein Center for Jewish Education, was named one of North America’s top 50 innovative Jewish organizations in the eleventh annual Slingshot Guide.
The five schools currently on board are Magen David Yeshivah High School (Brooklyn, New York), Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School (Livingston, New Jersey), Westchester Day School (Mamaroneck, New York), Yavneh Academy (Paramus, New Jersey) and Yeshivat Noam (Paramus, New Jersey).
The online curriculum is designed to support both community and Orthodox schools, as well as the multiple academic levels of students. LVJA has already worked with 700 students in 50 schools in Toronto, California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and many other states across North America in grades 6-12. Participants span multiple locations across the country and work in synchronicity (or not), independently or collaboratively. Whatever a student’s course of study, LVJA works closely with schools to ensure that their needs are being met and to support them through their instruction.
Selected from among hundreds of finalists reviewed by 93 professionals with expertise in grant-making and Jewish communal life, the Guide called Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy “a leader in educational circles,” and continued “it is using technology in the best way possible: to ignite positive educational change that is widely accessible.” Organizations included in this year’s Guide were evaluated on their innovative approach, the impact they have in their work, the leadership they have in their sector, and their effectiveness at achieving results.
LVJA is supported by The Avi Chai Foundation, The Kohelet Foundation, and The William Davidson Foundation, with additional support from The Joshua Venture Group.
Read the article at the Jewish Voice.