The first II participants in the ambitious “Jerusalem Fellows” program for Jewish educators have been selected from over 70 applicants, and preparations are under way for the start of their studies here in the fall.
Prof. Seymour Fox, head of the School of Education at the Hebrew University and a key figure in the Jerusalem Fellows program, is travelling to the U.S. and Europe this week to discuss detailed study courses with the II successful candidates.
Jerusalem Fellows is a three-year study-in-Israel program for experienced and academically well-qualified Jewish educators. It is sponsored by the World Zionist Organization and funded in large part by Bank Leumi, Israel’s largest bank. The Fellows, who are to be accommodated with their families in Israel for the duration at their three-year course, must pledge to work for the following five years (at least) in Jewish education in their own home-countries. The assumption is that they will assume senior positions in this field.
Interviewed by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency before his departure, Fox said he was surprised by the high quality of the applicants for the program. Of those chosen half have a Ph.D. degree, he noted. A large number of applications are already being considered for next year — there will be three overlapping annual programs, each with a dozen participants — Fox said. He hoped that South Africa and Mexico, unrepresented this year, would be included in next year’s selection.
Each of the Fellows is to take courses specially tailored for his or her needs and qualifications–and it is to work out these courses that Fox is to meet with this year’s Fellows now.
THE II EDUCATORS IN THE PROGRAM
The Fellows for this year are:
*Dr. Alexander Chanan of Teaneck, N.J., presently on the academic staff of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
*Dr. Ellen Rosansky of Bethesda, Md., presently a National Institute of Education Associate.
*Marc Rosenstein, an ordained Reform rabbi with degrees from Harvard and Hebrew University, of Deerfield, Illinois, presently principal of the Solomon Schechler day school in Chicago.
*Dr. Moshe Sokolow of New York, a Bible assistant professor at Yeshiva University.
*Susan Wall of Philadelphia, Pa., presently principal of a large synagogue afternoon school in that city.
*Peretz Rodman of Newton, Mass., on the academic staff of Brandeis University.
*Alastaire Folk, a Cambridge University graduate and presently senior teacher at Carmel College, a prestigious Jewish secondary school in Britain.
*Michael Gillis, an Oxford University graduate, presently on the academic staff of Yakar, a Jewish outreach program in London.
*Jean-Jacques Wahl, of Geneva, Switzerland completing Ph.D. at the University of Strasbourg, France, presently director of the European Association of Jewish Community Centers.
*Alberto Limonic of Buenos Aires, past executive director of Circulo Social Hebreo, in Buenos Aires, now studying for a masters degree at Brandeis University.
*Gustavo Perednik, also of Buenos Aires, presently director of the Centra Hebreo lona, a community he founded.
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