The articles in this volume originated, in large part, as papers presented at a conference convened by the Melton Coalition for Creative Interaction in December 2014 at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The Melton Coalition is a consortium of the three Melton Centers established over the years by the visionary philanthropist Samuel Mendel Melton: at the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Ohio State University. The conference was devoted to the various forms of interaction that obtain between the oral and the textual modes of discourse in Jewish history and contemporary Jewish life. Some of the essays dwell on oral and textual media in historical context – while others place more emphasis on the contemporary educational implications of the phenomena under discussion. All the essays in this volume articulate patterns of oral and written discourse that can greatly enrich our knowledge of both the history of Jewish culture and the theory and practice of Jewish education.

The use of the term “pluralism” has become widespread in the context of Jewish education. The articles in this volume are a contribution to our understanding as researchers and educators, and to the development of a language which can deepen educational and research discourse. The volume seeks to mark out some of the educational dilemmas, possible educational aims as well as some of the costs and benefits that arise from the encounter between Jewish education and pluralism. A number of articles contain reflections on the idea of pluralism, making conceptual distinctions between pluralism and related themes such as tolerance and relativism. Articles in the philosophical section of the book propose a basis for the connection (or opposition) between Jewish education and pluralism. The book’s next main section – one that focuses on theory and pedagogy - proposes educational theories concerned with pluralism and discusses their pedagogical potential. It also includes the reflections of practitioners whose work, in a variety of educational settings, is animated by a commitment to pluralism and, at the same time, is challenged by it. The last section of the book brings together empirical studies that describe and analyze the practices of pluralistic Jewish education. Bringing together these studies, which represent a wide range of disciplines and approaches, brings into focus the multiple ways of describing and analyzing the expression of, and responses to, pluralism in Jewish education in Israel and abroad .

We are proud to present our readers with volume 13 of our series Studies in Jewish Education . This volume is concerned with the possibility of "translating" insights derived from areas of knowledge sometimes thought to be outside the purview of education – to issues and problems on the agenda of educational thinkers, researchers and practitioners. As we have learned from our teachers, Prof. Seymour Fox, of blessed memory, and Prof. Michael Rosenak (may he be granted many more years of prolific creativity) – "translating" from philosophical systems or lead concepts, from principles deriving from the tradition of Jewish thought, or from cultural visions – to educational thought and practice, is a most complex matter. Some prefer to work in the "normative" mode, wherein normative world views are "translated" from fundamental philosophical "principles" to educational " ideals ," "goals" and "means." In the transition from one category to the next, however, certain terms must necessarily be modified or reinterpreted. This process is both enriching and impoverishing – as certain understandings are inevitably "lost" in translation even as other insights are gained. Others prefer to work in the "deliberative" mode, beginning from symptoms of malaise emanating from the field of educational practice, accessing world-views and disciplines of knowledge in order to arrive at an informed formulation of the "problem," then generating alternative solutions to the "problem" – alternatives from among which some will be chosen for implementation and others, perhaps just as promising, will have to be discarded or shelved. For those who feel more at home in this mode – worldviews, concepts, disciplines and cultural visions do not function as overarching norms, but rather as "resources," drawn upon to the degree that they are seen to address problems as experienced by those affected by them. As if this were not complex enough, Prof. Rosenak has reminded us that neither mode – normative or deliberative – is, or should be sufficient in itself. On the one hand, normative discourse that does not also have its "ears to the ground," picking up on current educational problems and addressing them in terms intelligible to those who suffer from them, will end up being sterile and hortatory. Deliberative discourse, on the other hand, is always anchored in normative assumptions, without which one could not articulate what it is about the "problem" that is "problematic," or in need of amelioration. According to Rosenak, there must be a constant, dialectical interaction between the normative and deliberative modes if educational issues are to be addressed both honestly and intelligently.

The collection of articles in 'The Hebrew Language in the Era of Globalization' is designed for researchers and teachers of Hebrew in Educational frameworks, and allows for a comprehensive study of varied aspects of the Hebrew language. The volume brings to center stage research issues regarding Hebrew in its cultural, social, and linguistic contexts; discusses the state of Hebrew in Israel and in the world; and looks into current curricula for the teaching of Hebrew as a Second Language. The volume is unique in that it combines theory and practice; deals with Hebrew as a first, second, and heritage language; and relates to learners of different ages and from a number of different populations – native speakers of Hebrew, the Arab sector in Israel, and Jewish communities in the Diaspora. The volume is comprised of three sections. The first section covers the following topics: The state of Hebrew in the context of Israel-Diaspora relations; Hebrew in European and American universities; the dilemma of the language of prayer; challenges confronting the modern reader of a classical text; linguistic and socio-linguistic trends in modern Hebrew; achievements of new immigrant students in academic Hebrew; the theoretical basis for the development of curricula for the teaching of Hebrew as a first and second language; and a model for a language policy in a multilingual and multi-cultural society such as Israel. The second section presents the new curriculum for learners of Hebrew in the Arab sector as well as curricula for the teaching of Hebrew in the Diaspora for kindergarten children, elementary school students and junior-high and high school students. The third section expresses concern about the future of Hebrew both in Israel and in the Diaspora in the era of globalization.

This is a platform for scholarly analysis of major issues confronting contemporary Jewish education thus reflecting the new age of examination and research emerging in that world. The list of contributors to these volumes includes experts in the different disciplines of Jewish Studies, academics that apply the scholarly tools of the Social Sciences to the study of Jewish education, scholars interested in the interdisciplinary aspects of Jewish Studies and their implications for Jewish education, educational leaders and directors of visionary educational institutions. Colleagues, students and friends have all contributed enquiries into the issues that have stood at the center of Mike's professional concerns. Languages and Literatures in Jewish Education thus invites the reader to participate in the ongoing dialogue on the key issues of Jewish existence and education today.

The essays in this volume are a summary of a conference held in honour of Prof Michael Rosenak on the occasion of his retirement from the Melton Centre. The articles all deal with, either directly or indirectly, the question of the cultivation of the educated Jewish citizen as viewed from plural perspectives. There is an article on the moral and intellectual challenges in teaching the Bible both in the Orthodox and non Orthodox school system. There is also an article on the introduction of Holocaust studies into different educational frameworks.

A look at The book of Joshua – The challenges of teaching the book of Joshua in contemporary Israeli society, for example how to grapple with questions of military power in 21st Century Israeli society whose primary concern is peace, and a book which proves the claim of the Jewish people on the land of Israel can appear dated at a time when giving land for peace is a main issue.

The essays in this volume are based on a conference devoted to Rabbinic thought and its instruction and the essays relate specifically to the educational aspects of the study of Rabbinic literature. Managing Editor: Vivienne Burstein.

A look at the beginnings of Jewish Educational Institutions around the world. Through examining the pioneering stories of the foundation of various Jewish educational establishments around the world ahead of their time, the reader is enthused with courage and hope and can learn about the challenges of educational initiatives. Cases dealt with include: - A Hebrew Gymnasium in Lithuania - Immanuel College (London, UK) as the Beginnings of an Educational Project - Camp Ramah: Origins, Problems and Partial Solutions - Bais Ya'akov as an Innovation in Jewish Women's education…

Amongst the essays in this volume is an essay by the late Nechama Leibovitz, who was a renowned biblical scholar and also a former recipient of the Israel prize. She writes on how to read a chapter of Tanakh. There is also an article on the child's understanding of the biblical personality, asking to what extent we can expect them to understand the biblical characters, and how to deal with this challenge.

This volume is dedicated to the subject of the curriculum and the teaching of Hebrew. One major challenge to Jewish education is the relationship of Jewish and general subjects within a single curriculum.