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ALLEGRA FRANCO EDUCATING OUR FUTURE

www.allegrafranco.org | instagram @allegrafranco_betmidrash | email info@allegrafranco.org

‫לשונה‬-‫פיה פתחה בחכמה ותורת חסד על‬

mission statement

The Allegra Franco Bet Midrash and Career Fellowship was created to enhance and advance the study of Limudei Kodesh for women in our community.

This program caters to those who are passionate about Limud Torah for the sake of learning. At the same time it gives those looking towards the educational track the tools and support they need to become master Judaic Studies educators.

For the past twenty years, the Allegra Franco Sephardic Women’s Teacher’s College has been producing stellar Judaic Studies teachers for the benefit of our community schools. Now the program is taking its standards to an even higher level, with the expectation that its participants obtain Masters Degrees, keep up with the latest pedagogical discourse and engagingly apply content to the real world.

The Allegra Franco Bet Midrash & Career Fellowship Program, as it will now be known, will pride itself on preparing the next generation of community teachers through the following three initiatives.

The Women’s Bet Midrash

is open to all those who desire to learn Torah.

We welcome potential teachers, current Judaic Studies educators and community members of all ages who wish to advance their own learning le’shem shamayim.

Through learning, students will gain mastery over the Judaic Studies material that is traditionally taught in our community schools.

Led by Rabbi Albert Setton, a graduate of the Sephardic Rabbinical College and a student of Rabbi Shimon Alouf and Rabbi Harold Sutton, Bet Midrash learning will be focused on group study, coupled with guided notes and sources, and a followup shiur to ensure proper understanding and retention. This multifaceted program will enable participants to gain fluency in reading, comprehending and enlivening our sacred texts.

Learning does not stop at the classroom door. While we all strive to become well-versed in Torah, its lessons impress themselves upon us most when they connect to our lives. Applying Torah to our experiences as 21st-century Jews and having its guidance infuse everything we do is what Yeshivah education is all about. It is when lesson plans veer off course and textual passages give way to spontaneous discussion,s that Torah most comes alive. We believe that teachers who can answer students’ questions that go beyond the scope of theplanned lessons, are those that will make the deepest impact. These are the kinds of educators we want in our schools and that the Allegra Franco Bet Midrash and Career Fellowship aims to produce. Women who are absolute masters of their material and are capable of communicating it effectively.

The Career Fellowship Program

caters to those seeking a more professional route.

This program will ensure that learned skills will be easily transferable to the classroom. Upon completion of our program’s requirements, fellowship students will receive a stipend towards their master’s degree in education which will better equip them for the challenges of today’s modern world. This program provides educators with a strong theoretical foundation and the creativity necessary to be facilitators in the classroom.

Graduate students leave a Masters program feeling invigorated and ready to transfer all that they have learned to their students. Along with three years in the Bet Midrash they will be armed with an understanding of Tanach, Halacha, and the Sephardic traditions of our Syrian community. It is our hope that they will carry this love of Torah with them forward and imbue their students with the special majesty inherent in being a Jew.

7.

Choice of Jewelry

8.

iMac Computer and Office Desk

9.

Ladies Evening Package

The Scholarship to Israel

3. AF EXCHANGE DINING TABLE AND SERVER 12.

Textures $3,000 Gift Certificate

This is the third and final facet of the program is our Experience has shown that a love of Torah and facility with Ivrit is nurtured in Israel, during the gap year between high school and college. With that understanding, Allegra Franco administrators aim to bolster and support senior High School girls bound for Eretz Hakodesh. In that effort, we will be awarding five annual scholarships to deserving senior girls who will be attending yeshivot in Israel the year following graduation. The scholarships will awarded to five young women who demonstrate the potential to be our future spiritual leaders, as evidenced by their deep commitment to Limud Torah and desire to enrich others.

Allegra Franco A�H effortlessly tread the delicate balance between remaining steeped in the language and traditions of our past, and ooking towards the future of both secular and Jewish education. Her grandson, Ezra Ashkenazi, was profoundly inspired by her ways and his vision is now paving the way for our future teachers with the creation of the Allegra Franco Bet Midrash & Career Fellowship

Program Overview 1. CHOICE OF EXQUISITE JEWELRY

2. FINE ART IRENE MAMIYE 10.

Choice ofBY Sterling Silver

Encourage a gap$3,000 year inGift Israel for high school 11.

Parci Parla Certificate

graduates

13. Sports Memorabilia Package

Completion of Undergraduate Program

14. Full Invisalign or Braces by Halabi Orthodontics

$75 TABLE Personal mentorships with community teachers

15. Ranch at Live Oak 4.0 Malibu Luxury Boot Camp Trip 16. Bar Package

Student internships: Practical application of learned techniques inside community classrooms

$25 TABLE

Completion of Bet Midrash Program Hebrew Immersion Program Leadership Opportunities Stipend towards Graduate Degree in Education

Rabbi Yahel Tsaidi Head of School, Yeshivah of Flatbush “While school’s invest tremendous funds and resources into educational programs, activities and curriculum, all schools would agree that our ultimate priority and the area that we collectively need most is recruitment and training of the next generation of Judaic Studies teachers.”

Rabbi Richard Tobias Principal, MDY “Training young women to go into Torah education is incredible and absolutely necessary work. Our community schools are thirsting for female leaders who can inspire our young women and become their role models. Coupling a rigorous Torah background with a masters degree in education to produce female Judaic Studies teachers is a game changer for our yeshivot and a major step in the right direction.”

Mrs Annie Savdie Looking forward to growing a Bet Midrash that will be a dynamic learning environment with advanced Torah study, allowing women to develop spiritually and make important contributions to the community at large.

Rabbi Moses Haber Rav Yeshiva, Barkai “The Allegra Franco Bet Midrash & Career Fellowship Program is a vital program for women in our community.

By a ratio of 8:2, female teachers make up the majority of Qodesh teachers in our schools. Women who are educated and inspired by the excellence of Yahadut will only be better role models and teachers for all our children.”

Rabbi Albert Setton is a proud graduate of the Sephardic Rabbinical College. He studied under the guidance of Rabbi Shimon Alouf and Rabbi Harold Sutton for seven years.

He has served the past 6 years as Assistant Rabbi in Magen David of West Deal and the Chair of the Navi Department at Hillel Yeshiva High School.

Stephanie Dweck holds a BA in Mathematics from Macaulay Honors at Brooklyn college. She will be starting Brooklyn College Graduate School for Mathematics Education. Currently Stephanie is teaching math at Yeshivah of Flatbush High School and is co-President of Sephardic Synagogue’s Hayil Minyan.

Research Development Key Points

> MDYHS - Rabbi Richard Tobias and Rachelle Tawil > MDY Elementary School - Rabbi Alan Berkowitz > YOF Elementary School - Rabbi Yahel Tsaidi > YOFHS - Rabbi Joseph Beyda and Ms Esther Hidary > Barkai Yeshivah - Rabbi Moses Haber, Ms. Sara Rosenfeld, Ms. Vicky Kairy and Ms. Shoshi Abowitz > Barkai Yeshivah - Rabbi Joseph Dweck - former head of school > Yeshiva University, Sephardic Synagogue - Rabbi Dr Richard Hidary > SAR Fellowship Program Participant - Ms. Denise Samstein > Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education - Dr Laya Salomon > 12 undergraduate/graduate students who took part in the SCA Advanced learning program

IMPORTANCE OF GAP YEAR IN ISRAEL

MASTERY OF CONTENT

CONSISTENT MENTORSHIP & GUIDANCE

STRENGTH IN PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS

> Instill a love of learning and a deep appreciation of our texts & traditions > Immersion in the hebrew language > Develop connections > Exposure to different styles of learning > Ability to identify candidates from an early stage > About 15% of our female students spend their gap year in Israel

IMPORTANCE OF GAP YEAR IN ISRAEL

> Encourage participation by designating scholarships

Bet Midrash Program Led by Rabbi Albert Setton > Guided self study creates ownership of material MASTERY OF CONTENT

> Chebruta style learning - Students supporting & learning from one another Sunday Mornings 9:30-12:30

Tanach Mepharshim Intensive

Tuesday Nights 8PM-10PM

Introduction to Torah Shebe’al Peh

Wednesday Nights 8PM-10PM Open Bet Midrash Wednesday 2PM-5PM

Nach Be’iyun and Rambam Study

Facilitated by Mrs Stephanie Dweck CONSISTENT MENTORSHIP & GUIDANCE

> One on One Private Mentor PLUS Group Mentoring Sessions > Strong Support System and Personal Connections > Classroom Observations and Valuable Feedback > Ivriyon and Leadership Programs > School Observations and Debriefings

Guided by a Director of Professional Development

> Teachers College, Columbia University Ranked 7th in the

country by U.S. News and World Report

> New York University (Steinhardt) Ranked 15th in the country by U.S. News and World Report > Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education > Bank Street College of Education > Touro College and University > Hunter College School of Education > Brooklyn College School of Education

STRENGTH IN PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS

Marketing Plan >> Soft Launch campaign by sending out applications to potential candidates for the scholarship to Israel. >> Complete production of marketing materials including promo video, print advertising and gatefold. >> Launch Instagram Campaign >> Selection of 5 recipients of the scholarships to Israel award. Meet to review requirements. >> Work with HS Administrators to create a list of potential applicants for Bet Midrash Program >> Reach out to seminaries in Israel to introduce the newly structured Allegra Franco and work out payment plans >> Staff all necessary administrative positions. >> Market Allegra Franco with SCA, shuls and schools via email and instagram and print delivered to schools. >> Meet with Propel, SBH, Pathfinders and MDY Career office to discuss the opportunities offered by our program. >> Website in full service

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ALLEGRA FRANCO EDUCATING OUR FUTURE

THE NEW ALLEGRA FRANCO

MORE THAN JUST A NEW LOOK >>

Allegra Ashear Franco, A"H 1900-2000

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BET MIDRASH AND CAREER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM ‫לשונה‬-‫פיה פתחה בחכמה ותורת חסד על‬

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OUR COMMUNITY WIDE BET MIDRASH IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ADVANCE THEIR LEARNING IN LIMUDEI KODESH

ALLEGRA FRANCO EDUCATING OUR FUTURE

Advanced Learning Bet Midrash

OUR CAREER FELLOWSHIP IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PURSUE A CAREER AS A JUDAIC STUDIES EDUCATOR

Engage in Tanach, Mepharshim, Torah Shebe’al Peh, and Philosophy Hebruta style learning and guided self study Select Times available for the community at large. Registration required

Career Fellowship for Future Educators

Assisting in the development of professional teaching standards for Judaic Studies educators on a graduate level Applicants will be eligible for a stipend towards their graduate degree

THE YEAR IN ISRAEL SCHOLARSHIP IS OPEN TO HS SENIORS LOOKING TO FURTHER INVEST IN THEIR JUDAIC STUDIES EDUCATION

Guidance and Mentorship

Individual attention to maximize each students potential

Post High School Israel Scholarship

Yearly awards to outstanding applicants to further develop deeper connections to our land, language, texts and traditions

www.allegrafranco.org | instagram @allegrafranco_betmidrash | email info@allegrafranco.org

Hi, my name is Sylvia Cohen and I will

IS NOW OPEN

-Sylvia

MEET A 2020 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

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WHAT’S NEW at ALLEGRA FRANCO?

Master’s Accreditation Community Wide Women’s Bet Midrash Year in Israel Scholarship

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SYLVIA COHEN, MDY HS

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program in Israel, and truly developed my love and passion for the land of Israel.

I can’t wait to learn my favorite Tanach studies during my year in Israel including Jewish Law and Navi!

Meet the Recipients of 2020’s Year in Israel Scholarship

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Program after graduating Magen David Elementary School in 2016. This past summer I went on Ilead, a leadership

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soon be graduating Magen David Yeshivah High School. I joined the MDYHS Scholars

ALLEGRA FRANCO EDUCATING OUR FUTURE

READ HOW THE ALLEGRA FRANCO BET MIDRASH AND CAREER FELLOWSHIP IS TAKING JEWISH EDUCATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL

A SCHOLARSHIP TOWARDS

‫חנוך ﬥנער‬ ‫על פי דרכו‬

A POST HIGH SCHOOL YEAR IN ISRAEL IS AWARDED ANNUALLY TO

– Educate a child according to their way

(Proverbs 22:6)

5 QUALIFYING APPLICANTS. R H & CA EER FEL LO AS DR

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POST HIGH SCHOOL ISRAEL 2020

ALLEGRA FRANCO EDUCATING OUR FUTURE

MEET THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Teacher licensing on JES agenda

By ABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN Beauticians, embalmers, accountants, and dentists have to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise to earn a license to work in their fields. Jewish educators in New Jersey — and in many other places — do not.

According to Jewish Educational Services of North America, nearly half of day-school educators and two-thirds of supplementary-school teachers who responded to a survey it issued last month do not have valid teaching credentials even though the vast majority hold a bachelor’s or a master’s degree.

"This means the field does not have national or state-mandated requirements or a standard measure against which it can evaluate the basic competence of educators in Jewish schools," the report concluded.

None of this comes as a surprise to Wally Greene, director of Jewish Educational Services at the UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey. The issue of teacher licensing has been at the forefront of his agenda for years, to little avail.

"Every profession requires practitioners to be certified either by the state, by voluntary accrediting agencies — AMA, Bar Association, etc. — or by both," said Greene, a former Jewish day school principal himself.

"Jewish education is the only profession in which untrained, uncertified, and often unskilled individuals can become teachers. General studies teachers must be licensed. Why aren’t the same demands made for those who teach Jewish studies?"

Greene is president of the National Board of License for Teachers and Principals of Jewish Schools in North America, which has been offering certification for Judaic studies teachers and principals since 1941. Thus far, however, only a handful of American Jewish schools require such licensure for employment.

"We [UJA-NNJ] give a million [dollars] to the schools each year, just because they exist, with no accountability," said Greene. "I’m not objecting to that. But if we took that same amount and said, ‘We will give this to you per capita licensed teacher,’ I don’t think they would blow away the money." This type of arrangement is already in place in St. Louis, according to Greene.

Howard Charish, UJA-NNJ executive vice president, told The Jewish Standard that the federation is not in favor of tying allocations to licensure at this time. He said it is committed to encouraging it on a voluntary basis, through JES, starting with the day schools.

"We believe there is a premium in teacher training and licensing," said Charish. "Just because someone has knowledge in a subject area, he or she does not necessarily have pedagogical expertise."

While others in the field of Jewish education endorse the idea in theory, some question Greene’s contention that "standards-based training and licensure lead to more effective teaching and improved student learning." "We treat licensure in the same open-minded way we treat other promising ideas," said JESNA President Donald Sylvan. "If we believed there was clear evidence that licensure improved Jewish education, we’d be championing it. We have not seen that evidence."

Such studies have been done in general education, but not in Jewish education. Greene said it would be difficult to do so because curriculums vary widely from place to place.

"I’ve proposed to Wally that we should take a community that requires licensing [for Jewish studies teachers] and another similar community that does not, so we can have a real empirical test to determine its impact," said Sylvan.

Those communities include Toronto, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Miami, St. Louis, Seattle, and Cleveland. "If he can give me that information, I would work with the National Board of License to find funders."

Meanwhile, Greene concedes, "many directors of Jewish educational agencies have verified that NBL certification is simply not within the realm of possibility for most of those teaching in congregational schools. Day schools experience similar frustrations. Principals are happy to hire anyone because it’s so hard to get teachers."

Rabbi Stuart Saposh, headmaster of Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County in New Milford, said he is comfortable with the qualifications of his Judaic studies staff. "All our teachers, licensing aside, have completed a university program in America or in Israel that establishes their credentials as a teacher," he said. "That satisfies us. Perhaps there could be another tier of training or qualification, but I’d have to do more research to comment on it."

While NBL has a relationship with master’s degree programs at graduate education programs associated with, among others, the Jewish Theological Seminary, Hebrew Union College, Yeshiva University, and Gratz University — and many teachers and principals do pursue licensing —

Greene contends that unless it is required or encouraged, there is little incentive for educators to make the effort.

If teacher contracts had rewards built in for participation, that would provide the necessary motivation, said Jeffrey Lasday, executive director of the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education.

"CAJE is working with NBL to provide teachers with a [pre-license] scaffold to direct them to skills and knowledge they should have as Jewish educators to succeed in the classroom," Lasday said.

Perhaps as early as this summer, teachers could complete certifications in different content areas at CAJE’s annual conference, "then patch them together over the years for a license," said Lasday. "NBL licenses begin with criteria that are out of reach for a congregational educator. We want to build a system that would get them in the door." NBL offers five levels of teacher certification earned through academic study, professional experience, and "life experience" in general Judaica and Hebrew literacy. Some credits are awarded upon completion of recognized professional-development and continuing-education programs, including CAJE conferences.

Diana Yacobi, educational director of the religious school at Temple Emanu-El of Closter, said she’d welcome focused licensing for particular areas of study, such as Bible, prayer, Hebrew language, and Jewish history. "If it can be customized to the region or structured by discipline, that would help us tap into academic training that’s out there and would be attractive to teachers," Yacobi said. "Otherwise, it’s not realistic. And if institutions don’t attribute value to it, it

won’t happen. At my board of education, it hasn’t come up."

Yacobi added that finding teachers "is always a challenge," but that in six years on the job she has developed teams of teachers who specialize in certain areas. She prefers that they have teaching experience, "but they don’t always, and then it becomes my job to work with them to turn them into teachers. What’s critical is that they want to work with children and are team players and demonstrate some cre Recently, a tripartite alliance was forged between the 63-member Association of Directors of Central Agencies (Greene’s colleagues at federations across the continent), JESNA, and the NBL. "This confederation representing lay leaders, agency heads, and educators is united in the desire to ameliorate the current status of professional development opportunities available to Jewish

Chanoch LaNa’ar Al Pi Darco – Educate a child according to their way

(Proverbs 22:6)

www.allegrafranco.org | instagram @allegrafranco_betmidrash | email info@allegrafranco.org

‫לשונה‬-‫פיה פתחה בחכמה ותורת חסד על‬