New York, June 13, 2023 — M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education is bringing together over 100 influential Jewish educators from across North America and around the world for 18X18, a three-day summit near New York City. The invitation-only event aims to explore innovative educational pursuits and develop dynamic, goal-oriented plans for individuals and organizations using the 18×18 Educational Dimensions for Jewish Life. The summit will begin on June 13, 2023.
The 18×18 Framework, originally developed by Dr. Benjamin Jacobs and Dr. Barry Chazan in 2018, offers 18 distinct ways for how engaged Jewish adults might experience, celebrate, observe, express, and participate in Jewish life. M² adapted the framework to create the 18×18 Educational Dimensions, which include “Connecting with the Jewish people and its diversity”, “Responding to issues facing contemporary Jewry,” “Partaking in Jewish culinary traditions,” and “Experiencing Jewish arts and culture.”
“The 18×18 Educational Dimensions for Jewish Life offers an opportunity for educators to consider how they are setting educational goals for their organization, and how they might deepen or expand those goals to reach their fullest potential,” said Clare Goldwater, Chief Strategy Officer at M2.
At the summit, the 18×18 Dimensions will come to life for influential Jewish education professionals from all over the world, including Bulgaria, Germany, El Salvador, Israel, Poland, South Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The schedule for the summit is colorful, diverse, and deeply rooted in Jewish life and learning. A range of workshops will help participants understand how they can adapt, adopt and build on the framework, with each corresponding with one or more of the 18 dimensions.
M²’s program faculty and accomplished guest educators at the summit include Laynie Soloman, Associate Rosh Yeshiva, SVARA; Shlomit Naim Naor, M² Israel Program Director; Shuki Taylor, M² Founder and CEO; and Samuel Torjman Thomas, a bandleader, Professor of Ethnomusicology & Sephardic Studies and Director of Musical Arts at the City University of New York. The summit features over 35 sessions, ranging from explorations of Abraham Joshua Heschel’s writings on the power of awe and wonder, to revealing the meanings behind Purim menus from around the world.
“For the educators in attendance, the 18×18 Summit is a chance to refuel, recenter, and recalibrate – to find inspiration from across the vibrant, diverse Jewish educational landscape, to determine one’s unique contribution to that landscape, and to develop a plan to bring that vision to life for themselves and their organizations,” said Mollie Andron, Senior Program Director of Fellowships at M2.
“One of the major challenges to Jewish education today is a lack of clarity, let alone consensus, on what our goals ought to be. The 18×18 Summit is an important step forward in addressing that deficit,” said Mark Charendoff, President of the Maimonides Fund. The 18×18 Summit is generously supported by the Maimonides Fund.
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About M2
M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education specializes in experiential education, content development and professional trainings. They provide consulting services and support research for promoting the field of experiential Jewish education, and work to amplify its impact and achievements. For more information, please visit ieje.org.
Media contact: Oshrat Slama Grozman | oshrat@ieje.org