Section archive - Informal Education

The Foundation for Jewish Camp is preparing to launch the third annual cohort of the Executive Leadership Institute (ELI). ELI was established to provide seasoned directors of nonprofit, residential Jewish camps in North America with the business, management and leadership skills to lead their camp toward greater excellence and deepen the impact of their mission in the Jewish community. The ELI curriculum was developed by experts in the fields of leadership development, change management and experiential Jewish education in collaboration with leaders in the camp industry.

JData recently published its inaugural issue of JData Revealed, a monthly newsletter with information and ideas from JData.com. Developed at Brandeis University with the generous support of the Jim Joseph Foundation, JData is a public repository of information about the organizations that comprise the Jewish education system in North America. This issue contains articles about the 2010 data from the world of Jewish summer camp----enrollments, budgets, staffing, and other data that define the size, shape, and health of the field. These data were retrieved on August 15, 2011. Note that JData is a dynamic system and numbers may change as more data are entered.

In recent years the Israeli city of Holon has turned many of its gardens into live storybooks, with giant statues scattered across the lawns, based on characters from famous children’s books. The latest storybook garden inaugurated in Holon — now termed the “children’s city” — is called “A Story from The Heart.” It is based on a children’s tale that explains the sometimes difficult subject of organ donations.

A new study has been released by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation that takes a look at the short and long term impact of BBYO (an independent youth organization that was part of B’nai B’rith International until 2000) on Jewish youth in their teenage years. Among other significant findings, the study makes clear that with the ingredients of close friendships, Jewish experiences and leadership opportunities, participation in BBYO leads to significantly greater commitment to Jews and Jewish life, both on a communal and personal level. Across several measures, BBYO alumni demonstrate a strong sense of Jewish pride and peoplehood, desire to play leadership roles in their communities and connection to the State of Israel. They support Jewish organizations with their checkbooks and free time, participate actively in Jewish social networks and exhibit a desire and commitment to raising Jewish families. Moreover, the study reveals that these individuals directly credit involvement in BBYO for their growth on these fronts.