Want to be involved in innovative Jewish education?
Want to be part of a team that values your creativity?
We’re looking for folks who love children, love to learn, and feel comfortable trying new things. Interns, too!
The Jewish Enrichment Center is a new Jewish center for afterschool and Sunday enrichment in Hyde Park, Chicago. We partner with children in long-term, project-based Jewish exploration, in a warm, Hebrew- and text-rich environment. All Jewish children are welcome and valued at the Jewish Enrichment Center – unaffiliated, congregational, and day school families alike.
We take four Jewish themes/year and explore them through five lenses: biblical, rabbinic, historical, cultural, and personal. Educators use principles from the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education and project-based learning to offer children opportunities to engage intellects, bodies, and senses in Jewish exploration, in a richly textured educational environment. We work cooperatively to document children’s ideas, play, and social relations, and offer these pictures, transcripts, and videos back to children, parents, and our educators. Children’s interests play a strong role in determining the direction of exploration. In addition, we focus on building community among the children, by modeling and practicing social awareness and relationship skills. We empower children to be co-creators of their educational experiences and to be valued members of Jewish community.
The Jewish Enrichment Center is growing. This fall, the Jewish Enrichment Center will offer multiage classes from infants through 3rd grade. Children in Kindergarten and older attend sessions at least two days/week. Each day includes paid time for staff collaboration and professional development. Educators are responsible for keeping notes on children’s progress and for blogging 1-2 times/week.
The Jewish Enrichment Center seeks motivated Jewish educators. The desired candidate will be flexible, a quick learner, and enjoy working as a team-player in a fast-paced environment. Experience working with Reggio and/or project-based learning is a plus. Strong Judaic knowledge and intermediate Hebrew is preferred. Full-time fellowship opportunities available, with extensive professional development, offered in conjunction with the Institute for the Next Jewish Future and jU Chicago.
Salary commensurate with experience.
Candidates are encouraged to read our blog (jewishenrichment.org/blog/) to gain a better understanding of the way we work with children and our community’s culture. Additional information about the Jewish Enrichment Center may be found at jewishenrichment.org and facebook.com/jewish.enrichment.center. Please send a cover letter and resume to Rabbi Rebecca Milder at jewish.enrichment.center@gmail.com, or call 773-234-9403 to apply.
