03/06/2026
Much of Jewish education focuses on big ideas, values, and texts. But for generations, the "how-to" of daily Jewish life—from reciting Birkat Hamazon to navigating a shiva home—was caught, not taught. It was absorbed naturally at home and in the community.
Today, that reality has shifted. For the vast majority of youth, formal schools are carrying the weight of teaching these essential day-to-day Jewish "life skills."
How do we teach halakha and ritual practice in a way that respects diverse family backgrounds? How do we keep it from turning into a rote memorization checklist of dos and don'ts? And how do we bridge the divide between what we do as Jews and our actual connection to God?
If you are a teacher, school leader, or informal educator with a perspective, strategy, or classroom-tested pedagogy to share, we want to hear from you.
Our CALL FOR PAPERS for our upcoming issue: "Educating Towards Jewish Practice and Halakha" for our Jewish Educational Leadership journal is open! See here: https://www.lookstein.org/call-for-papers/
