Insights & Inspiration

By Amanda Varkel (Head of Educational Support) & Rabbi Sam Thurgood (Head of Jewish Life and Learning)

Attending the Prizmah Jewish Day Schools Conference in America was an enriching experience that allowed us to engage with top educators, explore cutting-edge research, and reflect on Herzlia’s unique role in Jewish education. In addition to the conference, we visited two outstanding Jewish schools in New York, gaining valuable insights into different approaches to learning and school culture.

Exploring New Ideas in Jewish Education

The conference sessions introduced us to innovative research and methodologies shaping Jewish day schools today. We explored best practices in teaching literacy (including Hebrew Literacy), written language skills, social-emotional learning (SEL), and parent-school relationships, with a focus on creating a warm, engaging, and meaningful Jewish experience for students. One particularly compelling session examined a 10-year study on the long-term impact of Jewish day schools, offering deep insights into how Jewish education influences identity, values, and community connection.

Conversations with leading researchers and educators gave us a fresh perspective on school culture and leadership and how to prioritise a values-based school culture and integrate this into everyday teaching and learning experiences. We were part of discussion forums around the use of technology and screens in schools. We engaged with experts such as Dr Scott Goldberg on Hebrew literacy and Dr Alex Pomson on Jewish school data, exploring strategies for enhancing Jewish learning while fostering a sense of community, belonging and purpose among pupils.

Learning from Leading Jewish Schools

In addition to the conference, we visited The Heschel School, a pluralistic Jewish school known for its dual-curriculum model, and The Shefa School, which specializes in supporting pupils with language-based learning differences. Seeing these schools in action reinforced the importance of differentiated instruction and assessment, a focus on the development of language and literacy skills, and the importance of working collaboratively with parents, lay leaders and community stakeholders.

This experience has inspired us and reaffirmed Herzlia’s role as a dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking Jewish school. We are eager to bring these insights home and continue enhancing our educational offerings for our pupils and community.