J.E.P.
I sent a copy of my post about J.E.P. to the coordinators of J.E.P. I received this response. Instead of posting it in the comments section, where I am afraid it might not get seen, I am putting it in a separate post.
A blog is meant to be a conversation. I'm so happy that we have fostered this important conversation between our Hebrew School and J.E.P. The more information we have about their programs, the better we can feel about our children participating in them.
Here is the response from Dani at J.E.P:
Hello my name is Dani, an employee of JEP. I believe we met that Wednesday night in Ohav Shalom, and you paraphrased my statement about JEP's motives in your memo.
I would like to clarify what I said, and perhaps explain why we feel that Ohav Shalom is an excellent place for JEP programs. You mentioned in your article that JEP's goal is to reach out to unaffiliated children. Although much of JEP's work caters to unaffiliated or moderately affiliated families and children, many of our programs are geared to a much wider market. A significant number of our JIL and Camp Nageela participants are children from Orthodox homes, many of whom enjoy a full Jewish Day School education. Additionally we have complete programs geared towards Ultra- Orthodox Yeshiva High School students. Certainly our target group is not limited to the "unaffiliated."
Why? If these children already have a sturdy Jewish base, and high quality Torah education what is JEP trying to do?
There are many approaches to education. Unfortunately, most youngsters and even some adults who are heavily affiliated and well educated in Jewish facts and values have trouble connecting Judaism to their lives. Just because someone has learned a chapter of Talmud does not necessarily mean that he or she is committed to Judaism.
We at JEP feel that we offer a unique slant on education, meant to compliment existing Hebrew School or Day School education, and to make it more meaningful, relevant and exciting for our participants. Certainly we recognize that members of Ohav Shalom- as very involved Jews- are not in the same unfortunate situation as the vast numbers of totally unaffiliated Jews. The fact remains, however; that JEP and similar programs are a useful and important part of even your children's lives and education.
Please feel free to contact me regarding this or any JEP related issue. My phone number is 718-261-4189.
Dani Locker
JIL Coordinator
lockeroom@verizon.net
A blog is meant to be a conversation. I'm so happy that we have fostered this important conversation between our Hebrew School and J.E.P. The more information we have about their programs, the better we can feel about our children participating in them.
Here is the response from Dani at J.E.P:
Hello my name is Dani, an employee of JEP. I believe we met that Wednesday night in Ohav Shalom, and you paraphrased my statement about JEP's motives in your memo.
I would like to clarify what I said, and perhaps explain why we feel that Ohav Shalom is an excellent place for JEP programs. You mentioned in your article that JEP's goal is to reach out to unaffiliated children. Although much of JEP's work caters to unaffiliated or moderately affiliated families and children, many of our programs are geared to a much wider market. A significant number of our JIL and Camp Nageela participants are children from Orthodox homes, many of whom enjoy a full Jewish Day School education. Additionally we have complete programs geared towards Ultra- Orthodox Yeshiva High School students. Certainly our target group is not limited to the "unaffiliated."
Why? If these children already have a sturdy Jewish base, and high quality Torah education what is JEP trying to do?
There are many approaches to education. Unfortunately, most youngsters and even some adults who are heavily affiliated and well educated in Jewish facts and values have trouble connecting Judaism to their lives. Just because someone has learned a chapter of Talmud does not necessarily mean that he or she is committed to Judaism.
We at JEP feel that we offer a unique slant on education, meant to compliment existing Hebrew School or Day School education, and to make it more meaningful, relevant and exciting for our participants. Certainly we recognize that members of Ohav Shalom- as very involved Jews- are not in the same unfortunate situation as the vast numbers of totally unaffiliated Jews. The fact remains, however; that JEP and similar programs are a useful and important part of even your children's lives and education.
Please feel free to contact me regarding this or any JEP related issue. My phone number is 718-261-4189.
Dani Locker
JIL Coordinator
lockeroom@verizon.net
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