JewsByChoice.Org

Last Sunday I attended a class for teachers that is something worth sharing. 

In the Los Angeles Unified School District the way to move up in salary is to take ’salary point classes’ .  It takes 14 points to jump to each next step.  As you can imagine, it’s important to move up in pay via points AND years simultaneously.  One challenge with finding salary classes is finding ones that are not on a Saturday.  Being Jewish and observant means I simply will not take a Saturday class that is not essential. However, last week I took the first of a two part class, on a Sunday, about nothing other than Judaism and Israel, go figure! 

Why am I talking about salary classes on the Jews by choice blog?  Because if you are a teacher and happen to be a Jew, a convert, or someone interested in Israel and Judaism, this class is great and fun!  The class I attended was through the organization learnisrael.org. 

Our morning started off at the Skirball Museum in Los Angeles.  We were treated to bagels and coffee.  Zeidler’s Café is dairy kosher; that’s the cafe at the museum that caters the class I went to.  The class simply rents a space there.  After breakfast a woman did a presentation on the incredible number of science and technological innovations that are coming out of Israel.  This presentation included hands on items on our tables to look at, videos, and powerpoint slides.  Afterwards an artist came in and discussed significant Israeli artists. At the end of her presentation we were given this really fascinating art project that mimicks the art of Yaacov Agam.  I would post a photo of mine, but it’s at work now :).  Our art project led into lunch.

Lunch was sandwiches and cookies.  Nothing spectacular but most classes offer no perks and this one so far rocked!  After lunch we learned about Ancient Israel, culture, and some traditions.  This concluded in a scavenger hunt around the Skirball Museum for 45 minutes.  Being one of the  6 or 7 Jews in the room of 30 or so teachers, I was able to offer lots of good info during our tour.  One girl in my small group of six was curious about Tefillin. She didn’t know the name but she described them to me since a friend of her’s wears them in the mornings and when they went camping she saw him outside his tent and was embarrassed to ask him what they were.  I was glad to help.

The final session of the day was wonderful.  A woman author came to speak to us about the Ethiopian Jews.  We saw a short film, listened to her speak of how she became involved in the movement to help, and then we each received a free copy of her book.  Next were an older couple who were part of the first group to go up to the mountains of Ethiopia to meet these people.  The are some of the founders of

Operation Moses.  They also brought some beautiful art made by the Ethiopian Jews of Israel.  I purchased the Mezuzah in this post there. In addition to the free novel written by the speaker, I also received a free copy of and Idiots Guide to IJewish History and Culture.

Although we may not see the opportunities to learn about our culture, our heritage, and our land often; sometimes the opportunities are right there for us in the strangest of places.  If you’d like more info on taking the class through LAUSD, I’d be happy to direct you to the right place.  Additionally, LearnIsrael.Org does present to schools and other places as well.