Learning About Learning: Conversations with Scholars of Jewish Education

Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University

Israel Education

Everyday Antisemitism

Jewish Day Schools

October 7th

Israeli Education

Teacher Well-Being

Jewish Education

College Campuses

Antisemitism On American Campuses

Hebrew College

Trauma

Zoom

Pedagogical Content Knowledge

Beit Midrash

Women In Judaism

Anti-Israelism

Israel-Palestine On Campus

Relational Spirituality Model

Professional Development In Jewish Education

October 7, 2023

There is great scholarship being done in the field of Jewish education, but it’s not always accessible. And even when it is, it’s not always obvious why people in the field of Jewish education should care about it. That’s what this podcast is about—making really interesting scholarship on Jewish education accessible and talking with scholars about why it matters. Learning About Learning draws on l... more

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Publishes	Monthly	Episodes	45	Founded	4 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Religion & SpiritualityJudaismEducation

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Latest Episodes

Episode 45: The Impact of Everyday Antisemitism

Reports from research centers and in the media make it clear that overt antisemitic incidents have surged on college campuses since October 7. But what about those subtle forms of antisemitism, which are much less likely to be reported and documented... more

24 Apr 2026 • 28 min

Episode 44: Spotlight on Israel Education Research

What, if anything, can be considered “best practice” in Israel education? What are the challenges of learning about Israel in every stage of life? In this session, we explore what a team of scholars learned about research and practice in Israel educa... more

27 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 8 min

Episode 43: Why Teaching Jewish Texts is Not Enough

The heart of Jewish education, it seems, is the study of the Jewish textual tradition, or what insiders call “learning Torah.” There are good reasons to think about Jewish education that way. But there are also some reasons to question that assumptio... more

6 Mar 2026 • 31 min

Episode 42: Jewish Educators’ Responses to "You Never Told Me"

In this session, we explore insights into how Israel educators from Jewish high schools across the denominational spectrum approach teaching modern Israel in response to the "you never told me" phenomenon: graduates expressing disillusionment that cr... more

30 Jan 2026 • 29 min

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Recent Guests

Yael Silverstein

PhD candidate in social organizational psychology; Mandel doctoral fellow; co-author of Making the Invisible Visible

Columbia University Teachers College; Mandel Center collaboration

Episode: Episode 45: The Impact of Everyday Antisemitism

Jon Levisohn

Director of the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University

Brandeis University

Episode: Episode 43: Why Teaching Jewish Texts is Not Enough

Benji Davis

Assistant professor at the Osreale Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration of Yeshiva University, director of Impact Israel Education

Yeshiva University; Impact Israel Education

Episode: Episode 42: Jewish Educators’ Responses to "You Never Told Me"

Tali Zelkowicz

Director of Curriculum and Research at Wexner Foundation; sociologist of Jewish education

Wexner Foundation

Episode: Episode 41: Teaching and Learning in Jewish Day Schools Book Launch

Amanda Pogany

Head of School, Luria Academy of Brooklyn; former Pardes Educators program associate director

Luria Academy of Brooklyn

Episode: Episode 41: Teaching and Learning in Jewish Day Schools Book Launch

Dan Held

Chief Program Officer, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto; PhD in Jewish Education

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto

Episode: Episode 41: Teaching and Learning in Jewish Day Schools Book Launch

Ziva Hassenfeld

Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Assistant Professor of Jewish Education at Brandeis University, recently promoted to Associate Professor

Brandeis University

Episode: Episode 40: How the Conflict Shapes the Israeli Classroom

Hadar Fisher

Psychologist and instructor at Harvard Medical School

Harvard Medical School

Episode: Episode 40: How the Conflict Shapes the Israeli Classroom

Nina Bruder

CEO of the Jewish New Teacher Project; Brandeis alumna

Jewish New Teacher Project; Brandeis University

Episode: Episode 39: Spotlight on Jewish Education Two Years After October 7

Hosts

John Levison

Director of the Mandel Center; host of the Mandel Center podcast series; moderator of sessions.

Jonathan Krasner

Core faculty member and host of ongoing series at the Mandel Center; guides scholarly discussions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#104	Canada/Religion & Spirituality/Judaism
Apple Podcasts	#11	Germany/Religion & Spirituality/Judaism
Apple Podcasts	#48	Taiwan/Religion & Spirituality/Judaism
Apple Podcasts	#167	South Africa/Religion & Spirituality/Judaism
Apple Podcasts	#196	Brazil/Religion & Spirituality/Judaism

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 39: Spotlight on Jewish Education Two Years After October 7

Q: How are educators coping with the political and social climate affecting Jewish education?

Educators are balancing protection with openness, often adopting a cocoon mindset to shield learners while gradually incorporating more complex, multiple-narrative perspectives and preparing students for a challenging external environment.

Episode 39: Spotlight on Jewish Education Two Years After October 7

Q: What's changed in the last two years since October 7th for Jewish education in North America?

A broad reorientation is underway, with stronger emphasis on trauma-informed teaching, greater integration of Israel education into everyday curricula, and a shift toward professional development that supports both instructional change and emotional resilience.

Episode 43: Why Teaching Jewish Texts is Not Enough

Q: What are the implications for day schools, camps, and Hebrew schools?

Educators should preserve and value Beit Midrash study while integrating and valuing home literacy, sociocultural literacies, and other non-text-centered practices to support holistic Jewish education and living well in community.

Episode 43: Why Teaching Jewish Texts is Not Enough

Q: What are the other sites of Torah you discuss, and why do they matter?

Beyond the Beit Midrash, the burial society (Hever Kadisha), the home (including lullabies and early language learning), and the Salon in middle-class homes provide meaningful spaces where knowledge, norms, and cultural practices are transmitted, shaping Jewish life and education.

Episode 43: Why Teaching Jewish Texts is Not Enough

Q: How did you come to rethink the centrality of text study in Jewish education?

The shift came from personal pedagogy, ethical considerations about who gets access to text study, and an intellectual curiosity about how Jewish culture operates in locations beyond the Beit Midrash; the argument is for acknowledging diversity of contexts and responsibilities in educating for a good life.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Learning About Learning focuses on making scholarly work in Jewish education accessible and relevant to practitioners, educators, and researchers. Episodes feature live conversations between core Mandel Center faculty and guest scholars, covering topics like how students and teachers experience antisemitism on campuses, Israel education across developmental stages, pedagogy beyond traditional text study, and the wellbeing and professional development of teachers in crisis contexts. Notably, discussions often blend rigorous research with practical implications for schools, universities, and policy, and frequently address how to translate complex scholarship into classroom and campus practice. The format often includes multi-voice panels or p... more

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Yael Silverstein
2. Jon Levisohn
3. Benji Davis
4. Tali Zelkowicz
5. Amanda Pogany
6. Dan Held
7. Ziva Hassenfeld
8. Hadar Fisher

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