Contact Information

The Lookstein Center’s UK Jewish Education Initiative:
Enhancing Quality, Enriching Knowledge

In 1998, at the invitation of its UK Friends, Bar-Ilan University’s
Lookstein Centre for Jewish Education in the Diaspora arrived
on the British scene, bringing with them a proven track
record of creative training and programming in Jewish schools
around the world.

The goal: to catalyze a new era – a renaissance -- of Jewish
learning in the country’s day schools by enhancing the
standards of Jewish education in general, and Jewish Studies
programmes in particular.

The aspiration: to actively engage and involve the community,
its Head teachers, Heads of limudei kodesh, classroom teachers,
parents and children alike, in creative and innovative programming
designed to enrich the learning experience, from planning and
curriculum development, to advanced teaching techniques and
technological vehicles.

The Lookstein Fellowship Programme for Senior Jewish Educators
A 30 month undertaking conducted in the UK and in
Israel developed in cooperation with the AJE.
The programme provides in-depth practical training for
Heads of Jewish Studies departments in primary and
secondary schools. Through lectures and the use of advanced
distance learning technology, as well as supervised practical
work designed to improve the educators’ ability to implement
selfidentified goals within their home schools.


Classroom Teacher Professional Development Programme
Almost half of the Jewish Studies teachers in England have
participated in the annual teacher training seminars of
the Lookstein UK Jewish Education Initiative, and there are
plans to expand the programme still further. These
London-based meetings are organised around different themes
each year. Past topics have included Teaching Torah Texts in
the Jewish Studies Classroom, Curriculum Development in Jewish
Studies and Integration of Jewish and General Studies.


Making the Connection: The Gradel Distance Learning Forum
"I raised my hand in my classroom in London, and the teacher
called on me from the Bar-Ilan campus in Israel. It was brilliant!"
8th grade student, Hasmonean High School

This project was inspired by David Gradel of London and is
being supported by his generosity.
Using advanced teleconference technology; students in
London and Manchester can now have the exciting
experience of interacting with master teachers in Israel in real time.
Distance learning is now successfully established in five schools –
King Solomon, Immanuel College, Hasmonean Boys and
Hasmonean Girls in London, and King David School in Manchester.
This programme has expanded recently to include teachertraining
programmes for Immanuel College and Hasmonean schools.

From the introduction of a new lesson plan in a particular classroom to
the implementation of countrywide directives, the Lookstein Centre’s
guidance has been instrumental in the creation of an educational culture in
which change – and growth – are paramount.