Project Zug Promotes International Jewish Textual Study Using Internet Video Technology
Source: The Jewish Daily Forward
Project Zug, Skype based international Hevruta study sessions, has already connected 200 American and Israeli Jews since launching in February 2013. The program’s scope is expanding to link Jews in Israel to those in Australia, Africa, Europe and South America. And within five years, they hope to enlist more than 5,000 “students” in this bold hybrid of an ancient method and cutting-edge tools.
The basis of Project Zug’s hevrutot is a library of online study materials curated by Midreshet, an Israel-based organization that promotes the study of “Jewish wisdom” in contemporary contexts. With input from a high-profile team of “facilitators” — including director Basmat Hazan Arnoff, historian Jeremy Leigh, and Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels, founder of Or HaLev – Center for Jewish Spirituality and Meditation — the two organizations launched a library of more than 200 courses, from “Stillness and Movement in Jewish History” to “Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and the Roots of Activism.” A short streaming video accompanies each new study guide, which includes text excerpts and discussion questions.
Using Project Zug is straightforward; after registering, signing in and creating a profile, users choose a course from the library. Based on areas of interest, the amount of time available to study, and other criteria, the Project Zug team matches up students for their Skype hevruta sessions. The paired discussions play out over 12 weeks; fees range from $36 to $72, based on a “pay-what-you-can” model.
Read more at the Jewish Daily Forward.