About

About the Israel Educational Seminar 

The Israel Educational Journey designed by the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education of Hebrew College, is a holistic, hands on journey designed to connect the participants with the land, people, history, and Jewish tradition of Israel. The Israel Education Journey is only one component of a series of on-going academic and professional development seminars and conferences that are offered throughout the year at Hebrew College in Newton, Massachusetts, all designed to promote leadership and excellence in the field of Jewish education.

About the Itinerary


This itinerary was developed by Rachel Raz, Director, Early Childhood Institute of Hebrew College, Linna Ettinger, Assistant Director, with Keshet, the Center for Educational Tourism in Israel, the Boston Haifa Early Childhood Connection partners in Haifa. This program is partially funded by CJP Boston Haifa Early Childhood Connection.

About the leader of the group and the mind behind the itinerary

Rachel Raz is the Director of the Early Childhood Institute at the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education at Hebrew College, Newton MA, and the Director of the Boston-Haifa Early Childhood Educators’ Connection (under CJP). Rachel has designed and led educational seminars in Israel and Boston since 2010. The seminars in Israel are for Boston based educators and professionals and vice versa.  Rachel, a native Israeli and a naturalized US citizen, shares her knowledge, experiences and love for Israel in many forums and setting. She is a member of the Boston’s Israel Academic Forum, which focuses on sharing stories of innovations by Israeli scientist and companies; and is a member of the Israel Committee of Temple Emunah, Lexington MA, which focuses on connecting the community to Israel through cultural events. In 2016, she ran a pilot summer camp in Manchester Vermont titled, “Bringing Israel to Manchester Vermont.” Rachel is the author of the Children books, “ABC Israel” (2012) and “The Colors of Israel” (2015).

Rachel earned her BA from Bar-Ilan University (Israel) and MJED from Hebrew College and has extensive experience in the field of education at all levels.

About the Early Childhood Institute (ECI) of Hebrew College

The Early Childhood Institute (ECI), founded in 1987 by Hebrew College under the leadership of Ina Regosin, is dedicated to expanding and deepening the Judaic and pedagogic knowledge and skills of early childhood educators in the Jewish community. Its academic and professional development programs reach out to many communities within and beyond the Greater Boston area to include educators from around the world.  

The ECI is part of the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education of Hebrew College, located in Newton, Massachusetts.  The Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education prepares professionals to transform and elevate Jewish educational settings for 21st century learners. Founded in 1921, Hebrew College is committed to training Jewish professionals who have a strong foundation in classical Jewish studies and are equally well equipped to engage in the complexities of contemporary Jewish life.

About Boston Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP)

CJP is at the heart of Greater Boston's Jewish community, but CJP's reach is felt around the world. CJP brings together the resources, volunteers, leadership and expertise in Greater Boston to care for people in need, advocate for Israel and ensure a vibrant Jewish future. Rooted in compassion and justice and driven by innovation, CJP cares for the vulnerable, forges strong connections with Israel and above all, inspires the next generation to embrace Jewish life and learning.

About the Boston Haifa Early Childhood Educators' Connection

The Boston-Haifa Early Childhood Educators' Connection (BHECEC) is funded by Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), the Haifa Municipality, the Greater Boston and Haifa communities, and educators participating in the program. BHECEC is part of the broader CJP Boston Haifa Connection comprised of programming for a wide range of cohorts including students and adults. 


The BHECEC program, facilitated by Hebrew College (Newton, Massachusetts) since 2009, and the Department of Education in Haifa (Israel) since 2001, is designed to strengthen the personal and professional partnership between educators, students and their families, of Haifa and the Greater Boston area. Educators and professionals who participate in BHECEC learn from each other by sharing curricula from their classrooms.  By equipping participants with more knowledge about Israel, the United States, and about different ways to teach Jewish curriculum to children and to the community, our participants are more able to teach about Israel and Judaism in their home communities. 


For more information or to partner with us please contact Rachel Raz, Director, Early Childhood Institute, Hebrew College; Director, CJP Boston Haifa Early Childhood Educators' Connection and group leader, at rraz@hebrewcollege.edu or 617-559-8629.

1 comment:

  1. Hi I'm Andrea, I am very much looking forward to exploring Israel and meeting our partners there and learning together. We have so much to learn from each other!

    ReplyDelete