Biographical Info

Areas We Address

A day school would engage with us if they are looking to develop or enhance:

• A culture of connection where students, teachers and students feel they are developing relationships with each other, themselves, G-d and/or Jewish values.
• Greater emotion, meaning making and personal connection to the study of Torah or Jewish values
• Cultivation of greater empathy, curiosity, self-awareness and authentic dialogue
• Strengthened sense of community amongst faculty, in a class, a grade or across the school
• A reinvigorated teachers’ personal connection to Torah, spiritual/religious growth and sense of mission
• Tools to facilitate any of the above

Expected Outcomes

Working with us, a school should expect to:

• Develop the mindset and cultivate greater empathy and flexibility from teachers and students
• Develop greater awareness of one’s presence and blindspots in classes and conversations

Key Activities

We help schools achieve their goals by implementing the following:

• Offering a multi-year School Cohort Program that include:
  Establishing dedicated (at least bi-weekly) time for faculty to learn together following Lifnai Vlifnim protocols. These sessions serve as a vehicle for teachers own growth and modeling for what they will implement with students
• Attending seminars designed for school based facilitators and/or teachers
• Bi-weekly coaching calls for school based facilitators
  Access to a library of resources designed for the approach
• Staff visits to schools to observe and meet individually with teachers and/or students

Setting Expectations

To ensure the impact of our support, we expect schools participating in our School Cohort Program to:

• Assign two school based facilitator (manchim) to lead the work in the school and receive ongoing support from Lifnai Vlifnim

To ensure the impact of our support, we expect administrators to:

• Be open to engaging in a process of deep learning and culture work where it may take time to see results
• When appropriate, participate or facilitate faculty and/or student sessions
• Design a schedule that allows for consistent bi-weekly meetings for all teachers participating in Lifnai Vlifnim work
• Dedicate time for school based facilitators and teachers to learn from Lifnai Vlifnim, attending seminars or participating in coaching provided for them
• Design a schedule for students to engage in a weekly Lev Hashavua where the Lifnai Vlifnim approach is implemented (can be after Year 1)
• Be a champion of the program’s goals and approach with various stakeholders in the school community

To ensure the impact of our support, we expect classroom teachers to:

• Be open to engaging in an experiential process of deep learning and connection that may challenge assumptions and ask for vulnerability as trust develops
• Participate in faculty sessions in their schools and attend seminars designated for them
• Take advantage of web based resources and the growing community of Lifnai Vlifnim educators