Israel at the Center, a three day kallah (convening) hosted by the iCenter, will feature a diverse group of over 100 Israeli and North American Jewish educators, scholars, artists, technology experts and cultural leaders who will explore ways to integrate and reframe how to teach Israel through the use of cutting edge technologies and methodologies, many of which were pioneered in Israel.
Held August 18-20, 2009, at Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute in Wisconsin, the kallah is the first time that experts in diverse fields are coming together to integrate different approaches to teaching about Israel. This gathering will focus on bringing together a broad variety of disciplines that include elements of Israel, from visual arts to music, history and the Hebrew language. The mission of the event will be to explore how the field of Israel education--informed by culture and cutting edge technology--can be integrated into formal and informal Jewish education. There will be no keynote speakers at the gathering; rather, everyone will participate in a number of experiential sessions, from high-tech virtual learning to arts and cultural immersion to Israeli wine tasting. Conference goers will also be exposed to Israeli art in galleries that are being specially curated and will participate in Beit Midrash study sessions and in interactions with teens, who will also be joining in the gathering.
The Evolution of a Field
A highlight of the event will be the groundbreaking involvement of SIT, Systematic Inventive Thinking, an Israeli company that has pioneered a method to help organizations and individuals to think more innovatively. SIT has worked with over 800 companies in 54 countries, including Eastman Kodak, Johnson & Johnson and Ahava, to invent new products, solve technological problems, and create advertising campaigns. This SIT unique method will be used for the first time to enable a transformation in the field of Israel education in North America.
Additionally, there will be leaders from Israeli high-tech firms and web-based ventures including a 3-D web-based evocation of ancient Jerusalem called Timeless Jerusalem, Israel Interactive Software and Compedia’s Jland program. Israeli educators including Dr.Ken Stein of Emory University-based Center for Israel Education and Dr. Barry Chazan, a world-renown pioneer in the field of Israel education, are among the scholars who will be in attendance. Israeli cultural personalities including actor & director Doron Nesher, photographer Zion Ozeri (Jewish Lens) and musician Udi Krauss will also be at the kallah.
Joining these personalities will be educators from the youth movements, day schools, religious movements, and federations. The kallah is being co-sponsored by Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute - OSRUI, the camp and meeting center of the URJ in the Midwest. A major facility for Jewish learning for more than five decades, OSRUI is considered an innovator in educational endeavors with Israel education as an integral component.
"The list of participants is a list of stars in their field," said Anne Lanski, iCenter CEO. "Any of these folks alone is going to do something amazing, but with all of them together anything is possible. A core and unique component to the iCenter is a collaboration between talented and passionate Israeli and American educators, which this gathering is meant to foster.”
The iCenter is a new national address for Israel education, dedicated to igniting passion about Israel into the hearts and minds of young North American Jews. Launched in 2009, the organization is promoting a number of educational initiatives to rethink Israel education aimed at school-aged children. The iCenter is supported by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and the Jim Joseph Foundation.
For more information visit www.theicenter.org
