Wake up, educators! Move beyond conveying information, beyond the classroom, to engaging the soul.
“We ask you to take a step back from your teaching, to take a long hard look at the impact you are making—versus the impact you want to make, the impact you became a teacher to make. And if you, like so many of us, find a disconnect between the two, we offer suggestions to help you grow as an educator, to become a soulful educator.”
—from “Who Is This Book For?”
This is the essential guidebook for everyone from educators and rabbis to parents and grandparents—anyone working in formal or informal education, whether for children, teens, emerging adults, adults or seniors.
In this bold revisioning of effective education, renowned educator Aryeh Ben David recalibrates the focus of teaching from the acquisition of knowledge to touching the soul and impacting life. He presents six steps to help educators of all kinds teach to the heart, engage students in knowledge gathering without preaching or controlling, and enable students to authentically and personally integrate Jewish wisdom into their lives. He offers guidance for how teachers can share their own vulnerabilities and yearnings to model personal growth and help their students gain new clarity on their own infinite potential for positive change.
“Gives teachers the keys to opening their students’ inner lives in ways that can animate their active lives, fostering a Jewish life of authenticity, passion and life-giving impact on the world.”
—Parker J. Palmer, author, The Courage to Teach, A Hidden Wholeness and Let Your Life Speak
“A trusted guide … gently opens our eyes to the deepest truth about education: without the heart, the head may think but it can neither understand the inner life nor transform the learner.”
—Rabbi Rachel Cowan, co-author, Wise Aging: Living with Joy, Resilience and Spirit
“A soulful guide to shaping an inspirational and meaningful Jewish learning experience. A must read for every Jewish teacher!”
—Dr. Ron Wolfson, Fingerhut Professor of Education, American Jewish University; author, Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community
“Through his personal journey, and the methodology and authentic questions he has developed, Aryeh Ben David offers us a path to unleash the creative force in our students, our sacred texts and, perhaps most importantly, ourselves.”
—Rabbi Marc Baker, Head of School, Gann Academy
“Zeroes in on the most pressing issue within the field of Jewish education today: How can we get young people to truly connect with Torah in a deep, genuine and transformative way?... An essential text for anyone seeking to become ‘soulful’ and impactful educators.”
—Rabbi Ari Segal, Head of School, Shalhevet High School
Rabbi Aryeh Ben David, a world-renowned educator, is committed to plucking the soul strings of teachers and students alike in order to transform how we learn and grow. He is the founder of Ayeka: Center for Soulful Jewish Education, which trains educators of all denominations, campus professionals, and staff of middle and high schools how to teach Jewish subjects with more soulfulness, personal meaning and impact on life. Formerly he was a senior faculty member and director of spiritual education at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem. He has been the keynote speaker for national conferences of Reform, Conservative and Orthodox rabbis, and has served as the educational consultant for Hillel International for three years.
Dr. Erica Brown is an educator and author who consults for non-profits and currently serves as the community scholar for The Jewish Center in Manhattan. The recipient of a Covenant Award for her work in education, she is author of Inspired Jewish Leadership: Practical Approaches to Building Strong Communities, among other books.
