Tag Archives: Matan Institute

The Matan Institutes

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“After attending many conferences, I must say that this was two days of true meaningful, powerful learning. It is obvious that you all spent a lot of time pouring over our intake forms and applications because I felt like this seminar spoke directly to my needs. I told my colleagues that I was drinking everything up with a straw…I couldn’t gulp it down fast enough!”

Participant in the Inaugural Matan Institute for Education Directors, March 11-12, 2012

This year, 40,000 children are returning to their Jewish education programs where 550 of their teachers and 50 of their heads of school have had the opportunity to learn how to accommodate diverse learners in the classroom. Because of Matan’s increased and ongoing focus on professional development, 40,000 children – whether they learn “typically” or not – will experience a more meaningful Jewish education that is specifically tailored to their needs.

This year, in honor of Matan’s 12th year, we aim to raise $12,000 by 12.12.12 from supporters like you. These funds will go directly towards the next Matan Institute, which will engage a new cohort of Jewish educators and provide them with top-notch training, ongoing mentoring and additional support as they strive to make their programs accessible to all children.

Thank you in advance for your contribution.

Different Styles, Same Goals

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Originally published in the New Jersey Jewish Standard, July 27, 2012
Written by Larry Yudelson

Participants in the Matan Institute for Congregational School Teachers in Montclair next Sunday will have plenty of ways to take in the schedule.

They will have a handout. It will be projected on the wall. And it will be announced orally.

What might seem like communications overkill is designed to illustrate an important principle for religious school teachers, according to Dori Frumin Kirshner of Closter, Matan’s executive director. “You need to make sure every time you’re teaching a concept that you’re using all those different ways of presenting the material” to engage students with different learning styles, she said.

The institute aims to “empower the teacher with real tools for how to plan lessons that will impact all kinds of learners,” Kirshner said.

One of Matan’s central goals is promoting the inclusion of all students in Jewish education. The organization’s upcoming day-long institute in Montclair, presented in conjunction with the NewCAJE conference on Jewish education, is in part the result of a grant from the Adler Family Innovation Fund of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. (Read more…)

As February Ends…

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Although Jewish Disability Awareness Month got an extra day thanks the the leap year, we can all agree that 29 days is still not enough time to explore inclusion in the Jewish community.  That’s why Matan focuses on it for all 365 days of every year.  Still, we love February.  Our work seems to take on a new urgency, we discover books, people, events and blogs that we were not aware of before, and we have the opportunity to showcase more of Matan’s work.  February 2012 seemed to be the most effective Jewish Disability Awareness Month yet – and we give credit and thanks to everyone who played a role in that.

Now we must look beyond February and not forget the urgency of including everyone in the fabric of Jewish life.  At Matan, this begins immediately with our first ever Matan Institute coming up on March 11.  Twenty-two Education Directors will have the opportunity to impact their 3,500+ students. We have designed a high quality program that includes concrete tools for differentiated instruction, individualized religious education plans, assessment tools, goal setting and community planning.  The Institute will provide accounts from individuals with disabilities who have grown up in the Jewish community, and discussions with experts on topics such as executive dysfunction, attention deficit and behavior management.  Ultimately, Matan aims to transform the Jewish community’s ability to include all learners in synagogue settings.

We congratulate and commend the following individuals who are beginning this journey with us in just a couple of weeks:

Irene Bolton, Temple Beth Or, Township of Washington, NJ
Sarah Brokman, Park Avenue Synagogue, New York, NY
Melissa Cohavi, Temple Sinai, Stamford, CT
Lena Eson-Roe, Congregation Beth Elohim, Brooklyn, NY
Froma Fallik, Congregation Bonai Shalom, Boulder, CO
Charlotte Frank, Adath Shalom, Morris Plains, NJ
Cantor Michelle Freedman, Montebello Jewish Center, Montebello, NY
Arielle Garellek, Central Synagogue, New York, NY
David Gronlund-Jacob, Temple Emanu-El, Westfield, NJ
Marcia Kagedan, JCC of Paramus, Paramus, NJ
Rabbi Shelley Kniaz, Temple Emanuel , Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Talia Kushnick, Congregation Shaare Zedek, New York, NY
Lynn Lancaster, Forest Hills Jewish Center, Forest Hills, NY
Flora Oynick, Temple Beth Sholom Schools, Sarasota, FL
Gena Rosenzweig, Temple Judea, Coral Gables, FL
Rabbi Eve Rudin, Park Avenue Synagogue, New York, NY
Judy Van Der Stelt, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, Tampa, FL
Jen Vegh, Beth El Synagogue Center, New Rochelle, NY
Gila Hadani Ward, Temple Beth Sholom, Roslyn Heights, NY
Jenn Weinstein, Congregation Simchat HaLev, Syosset, NY
Ira Wise, Congregation B’nai Israel, Bridgeport, CT
Olga Zelzburg, Temple Beth-El , Ithaca, NY

The Matan Institute

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We are thrilled to announce the first ever Matan Institute for Education Directors, to be held in Manhattan on March 11-12, 2012 and 2 more days (TBD) in March, 2013.  These days – and the months that follow – will be filled with opportunities to make your school even more inclusive, in a manner that works for your individual community.

Our time together will kick off with a keynote address by Jacob Artson, an 18 year old from Los Angeles who has Autism, and his father, Rabbi Bradley Artson, Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University.
Click here to get started on the application for The Matan Institute for Education Directors. Appications are due January 6, 2012. If you have any questions, please contactMeredith@matankids.org.
The Matan Institute for Education Directors has been generously funded by The Adler Family Innovation Fund of Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York, The Natan Fund, and The Solelim Fund of UJA-Federation of New York.