ERIC Number: EJ988547
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1524-4113
EISSN: N/A
The Challenge of Ethical Liberalism to Jewish Education in the 21st Century
Alexander, Hanan
Journal of Jewish Education, v78 n4 p294-296 2012
This article presents the author's response to "Reinventing Jewish Education for the 21st Century" by Jonathan Woocher. The author agrees with Jonathan Woocher that American Jewish education in the 21st century requires change no less comprehensive than that initiated by Samson Benderly and his students around a century ago, and that this should include greater focus on learners, relationships, and relevance to the lives of Jews. Especially impressive is his call for a new spirit of cooperation between existing institutions including schools, camps, informal programs, and support agencies; and a long list of innovations such as PJ Library, Experiment in Congregational Education, Birthright Israel, Moishe House, Melton Adult Mini-School, the iCenter, and more. Yet, the author is unconvinced that Woocher's proposal addresses the most pressing problem facing Jewish education in North America today. Many American Jews have become overly enamored with "ethical" as opposed to "political" liberalism. The former views universal Enlightenment values such as freedom and equality as the basis of a comprehensive vision of the Good Life against which other visions are to be judged. The author discusses the challenge of ethical liberalism to Jewish education in the 21st century.
Descriptors: Political Attitudes, Ethics, Jews, Foreign Countries, Religious Education, Educational Change, Institutional Cooperation, Freedom, Values, Teaching Methods, Educational Innovation
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A