In our amazing week at the Adelson Campus, the most inspiring educational experience for me was their Humanities class in 9th and 10th grade – which they started this academic year, and where they combine Literature, History and Judaics. For me, coming from the perspective of Jewish studies at our school, it was amazing to see this class in action, and to see how this is a solution to the issue of integrating Jewish knowledge into other fields of humanities, of showing the kids a more holistic approach and world view, to show them how history and literature can be looked at from a Jewish lens, and also how Jewish issues have a historical and a literary perspective as well. Also, it was very interesting to experience the three teachers cooperate in such a fruitful way, and to see not only all the effort, thought and time they put into it, but also the positive attitude of the children. I love the idea that if as a school we want to help our students look at the world around them from a Jewish context, it is important to show how we as educators can do the same thing with our own subjects and topics. Everyone sitting in class could see how the teachers learn from each other – again, an amazing way of showing in action the Jewish value of lifelong learning. I taught in each one of the two grades – having planned and discussed my topics in close collaboration with Inbar. It was an honor to be part of these classes, and this was the jewel in the crown with my work with Inbar. I wish we could work together on a daily basis, but in lack of that, I am sure we will work together in projects for our kids, for future exchange programs between our two schools. Having seen the children in action and in class makes me confident that our exchange program will be meaningful for our students as well: despite all their differences, they are so similar in many ways, and there is much they will be able to learn from each other. As a takeaway from these classes, we became so enthusiastic, that we immediately started brainstorming on how, or what elements of this humanities class could be adapted to our school, which colleagues should be the first ones to take on board. ~Szonja
