For Our Children

CJL serves Milwaukee's four preschools, five Jewish day schools, ten supplementary schools, and various informal Jewish education programs. We assist schools in helping children develop a sense of their Jewish identities. We also provide a range of curricular and instructional ideas.

For Our Teens

CJL has convened a Teen Education Think Tank composed of concerned educators and lay participants. The Think Tank's long term goal is to build a coalition that will create and maintain a varied array of educational programming for Milwaukee's teenagers. The Coalition has invited all the organizations that work with teens to join in sponsoring a "Day of Discovery" for teenagers. The program will feature a variety of presentations on topics suggested by the planning committee. Through the Holocaust Education and Resource Center (HERC) we offer the FIF program and the Speakers Bureau in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin.

For Our Adults

As Jewish learning is a lifelong pursuit, CJL offers the Day of Discovery, an experiential taste of the broad array of Jewish learning settings available in the community. Last year, 550 Milwaukeeans participated in this day of study and cultural activities. With Learning Links, our on-line listing of adult education programs, we encourage everyone to become an ongoing part of a community of learners. CJL, along with the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center (JCC), also offers Ulpan classes for adults interested in mastering Hebrew, the language of our common heritage. Through HERC we provide speakers who can speak on Holocaust related issues to adult audiences.

For Our Families

Recognizing the pivotal role the family plays in transmitting Jewish heritage, CJL has facilitated the introduction of Jewish family education in several synagogues and agencies, coordinates the Jewish Family Educators Council, and offers families information about Jewish education options in Milwaukee and elsewhere. CJL has developed a "Sefer Safari" reading project to enable families to explore Jewish children's books together. Fifteen different age appropriate books are combined with special activities and discussion guide to enrich the family's shared experience. These books with accompanying materials are available for loan at CJL and participating synagogue libraries.

For Our Teachers

CJL provides programs that enhance the knowledge and effectiveness of more than 325 local Jewish educators. Included among our initiatives are the CJL Creativity Center, pedagogic and Judaic training, assistance with staff recruitment, and teacher recognition. CJL provides mentoring for novice teachers and a series of classes for all interested instructors. Hebrew and Judaic teachers may enroll in TRIP (Teacher Recognition and Incentive Program). Through this program, teachers create individualized professional growth plans. Then TRIP funding assists them in implementing their plans. The Coalition is also assisting 15 educators pursuing advanced degrees at either Siegel or Spertus College. CJL also regularly publishes the Professional Jewish Educator, a journal disseminated to all teachers in local Jewish schools. Through HERC, we periodically offer courses on history and pedagogy of the Holocaust. HERC's Holocaust Materials Trunk is a valuable tool for teachers teaching the Holocaust.  We also provide speakers and a program for elementary and secondary school students - 2000 students per year participate in programs featuring a presentation by a Holocaust survivor and educational activities. This year, in cooperation with Keshet of Wisconsin, CJL will implement a pilot program that will provide inservice and special needs consultation to religious school teachers.

Connection With Israel 

Partnership 2000 (P2K) is a program designed to cultivate people-to-people relationships  by linking Milwaukee with the Sovev Kinneret Region in Israel. P2K is a program of the Jewish Agency for Israel and is supported by funds from the annual community campaign of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and other federations across the United States. Through one of the creative P2K projects, CJL provides active links between Milwaukee and Israeli children. In 2000, five Milwaukee educators participated in the original Educator's Mifgash in Israel. Four additional teacher and principal mifgashim (encounters) have taken place in Israel and Milwaukee. The local schools participating in the Education Bridge are: Beth Torah Religious School, Children's Lubavitch Living and Learning Center, Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun, Congregation Shalom, Congregation Sinai, Hillel Academy, Milwaukee Jewish Day School, Nicolet High School, and Yeshiva Elementary School.

P2K teachers continue to plan activities for classroom implementation, which are utilized with Israeli and American students throughout the school year. Visit P2K's Education Bridge web site www.yarden.ac.il/p2keb to find out more about our joint projects.

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For more information about any of the programs or activities above, call the Coalition for Jewish Learning office at (414) 963-2710