Informal Education: The Decisive Decade – How Informal Jewish Education Was Transformed in Its Relationship with Jewish Philanthropy

Abstract

Informal Jewish education in North America was transformed by its interaction with Jewish philanthropy during the decade of 1997–2007. This is one participant’s account of that decade based on available literature and interviews. This account raises the key question of how powerful philanthropists and Jewish educational leaders can learn to better understand one another’s differing perspectives on the purposes of educational innovation. Two case studies – from Birthright Israel and the Foundation for Jewish Camp – are examined for illustrative ways in which philanthropists and educational leaders have attempted to share mutual perspectives in creating more productive partnerships. Without effective communication, the danger is of two sides that end up working at cross-purposes with one another.