WE BELIEVE that each child’s voice is essential to the vitality of Jewish life.
We’ve made it our mission to pioneer, research, and advance an educational approach in which children’s Jewish learning is fully entwined with their growth as compassionate, courageous, connected human beings. Whether you are a family or community member, educator, donor, or academic — join the conversation. Explore, stretch, and contribute to The Institute for Jewish Enrichment. Welcome.
CULTIVATING JEWISH CHILDREN’S LEARNING
What we do.
FIELD SCHOOL
The Field School is our flagship school for Chicago-area families. It offers new direction for Jewish children’s learning by demonstrating the power of taking seriously the child’s voice in Jewish children’s learning.
EDUCATOR DEVELOPMENT
We offer introductory and intensive educator development in both our framework and signature project process. We are committed to fusing theory and practice.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
The Institute drives creative thought leadership, changing the field of Jewish Children’s Learning. We conduct research and development in an educational process to raise the child’s voice in Jewish learning.
3 VOICES IN PERPETUAL DIALOGUE
Our innovation.
At its core, we see our educational approach as a perpetual dialogue of three voices — the child, their world, and Judaism — rooted in dignity for every living being. This dynamic interplay fuels every element of a child’s Jewish learning: from children’s interactions and what’s on the walls, to rhythms of time and choice of Jewish texts. [ MORE ]
SETTING THE STAGE FOR ALIVE JUDAISM
A values-infused environment.
Here, every element of a child’s learning environment speaks the values we hope will grow inside children. Every moment, everywhere they turn, children encounter language and materials and opportunities that build capacity to meet challenges, to think critically and creatively, to dialogue with compassion and conviction. The intentional environment affirms that alongside every human on this planet, children carry a powerful, sacred voice. [ MORE ]
5 POWERFUL STEPS TO REACH A NEW INSIGHT
Our signature process.
Our Signature Project Process invites children to wrestle with Jewish text to realize a new, personal insight that impacts self, others, and the world. Yetzirah — ongoing creativity through art — empowers every child to wrestle with ideas and express them in the child’s own voice. Here we offer a snapshot of our project process with the expanding perspective, increasing connections, and growing complexity that results. At the Institute for Jewish Enrichment, the process is the product. [ MORE ]
“You could learn some Hebrew words in any room in a synagogue, and probably get bored. At [IJE], we interpret every part of being Jewish. We don’t just learn about the history of Judaism. We learn how to be Jewish—what it means and why it’s important.”
— CHILD (age 11)
“IJE doesn’t simply prepare children for a life of Judaism. It makes that life inevitable. Through some sort of magic I still don’t entirely understand, each child internalizes all the important lessons of Judaism and helps them treasure Judaism. I simply can’t imagine a more important institution in my children’s lives.”
— JEFF R., FIELD SCHOOL PARENT
“The deep, deep questioning we do with children and the deep listening to the children is so powerful. I’ve grown so much in that, like knowing what questions I can ask to get underneath children’s words, and also how to help them connect the text and our own lives.”
— MAISIE S., EDUCATOR | FIELD SCHOOL EDUCATOR
“This class has completely changed the way I think about educating children, the way it should be done, the way it could be done, what the possibilities even are.”
— CAROLINE S., EDUCATOR (National).
“I wanted to thank you for every single year that I have been at [IJE] because genuinely I have had so many laughs, smiles, amazing memories, and insightful thoughts. I feel so lucky that I was raised in a place where I could make MY OWN Judaism, however it felt right to me.”
— MIRIAM N. (age 15)
“This is a revolution in the way the North American community thinks about Jewish children’s learning. It’s exactly what my family has been looking for.”
— JESSI A., FIELD SCHOOL PARENT
“I often marvel at how lucky the children in our program are to be able to figure out at such a young age their meaningful connection to Judaism. I am so grateful that someone in the world decided this was worthy of doing and committing their blood, sweat, tears, and life to. It’s truly special.”
— SHTERNA G., EDUCATOR | FIELD SCHOOL EDUCATOR
“Rebecca is a thoughtful practitioner who puts dialogue, active listening and thoughtful brainstorming at the core.”
— CHARLIE S., EDUCATOR (National).
FROM OUR FOUNDER, EDUCATORS AND CHILDREN
Late breaking ideas.
