Education

Joint Program Entices More Students

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The teacher switched off the Israeli rock and hip-hop tunes blaring from his laptop and, although only a handful of students were at their desks, dove right into the day's topic: What does it mean to be a Jewish hero? In the past few months, they have discussed a range of figures -- from baseball legend Sandy Koufax to funny...

Education

Students Get Comfy With Heritage at School

By:

Aaron Passman, JE Feature

When Jena Verlin started looking at colleges last year, she was looking for a small school not too far from home with an active Jewish community. As one who regularly attends services at Congregation Adath Israel in Merion Station, the 17-year-old said that when it came to college, she didn't want to be "That Weird Girl Who Goes to Services...

Education

Resolution Addresses Anti-Semitism on Campus

A Pennsylvania state senator seeking to become the state's next governor introduced a resolution last week condemning anti-Semitism on college campuses. A draft of the resolution, prepared by State Sen. Anthony Williams (D-District 8), cites recent incidents at the University of California-Irvine and Columbia University, but does not mention any here in the Keystone state. Anti-Semitic behavior on campuses across...

Education

Raising the Bar: A New Urban Outlet for Hebrew?

By:

Bryan Schwartzman

Plans to open a publicly funded, Hebrew-language charter school in Center City this fall are moving full steam ahead, despite some substantial stumbling blocks. The school, which organizers are hoping to open in September, would be the region's first charter school aimed primarily at Jewish children. Proponents say that the curriculum will focus on the Hebrew language, as well as...

Education

Life's Lessons From Time Spent Abroad

Nine college juniors who grew up as the closest of friends in the suburbs along Philadelphia's Main Line struck upon an idea: Come to Israel, for a semester, together. And so, here they are, living as roommates in the dorms of Tel Aviv University, taking classes on Israeli politics, cooking Shabbat meals together, whitewater rafting down the Jordan River, hiking...