More than $4 million for Jewish educational and religious programs has been allocated for 1986-88 by the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, Philip Klutznick, president of the Foundation, announced at the Foundation’s biennial convention here.
Klutznick said that almost $2 million was earmarked for institutional grants for Jewish education projects, Jewish scholarship and special needs in various countries. He said institutional grants were given for 158 projects.
Klutznick, who was elected to a second term as Foundation president, said the allocations were divided as follows: $532,323 for Foundation doctoral scholarships; $682,762 for fellowships; $451,317 for post-rabbinic scholarships; $567,040 for the Foundation’s international community service program, which helps qualified persons to train for careers in the rabbinate, Jewish education, community service or as religious functionaries in diaspora Jewish communities needing such personnel.
The Chicago Jewish leader also announced that the Foundation granted 78 doctoral scholarships to recipients in 13 countries; 73 fellowships to recipients in seven countries; 92 post rabbinic scholarships in five countries; and 134 community service scholarships to recipients who will serve in 24 countries.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN JEWISH EDUCATION
The Foundation released last Thursday what it called the most comprehensive report to date on the use of new technologies in Jewish education and said the Foundation will test these technologies to enhance Jewish education in areas where the Foundation can have its strongest impact.
Klutznick said that, in keeping with its goal to explore the potential of the “information revolution” to improve Jewish education, the Foundation commissioned Dr. Jacob Ukeles, described as a noted educational consultant. Ukeles was asked to draw on all possible resources to discover the Jewish educational potentials of videocassettes, computer programs and audiocassettes and to recommend a strategy for the Foundation in the use of the technologies.
Ukeles told the convention delegates that there are about 1,325,000 Jewish children living outside of Israel and most of them get “little or no Jewish education. Only about one Jewish child in six receives a full-time education.” He said another one out of two gets some Jewish education, perhaps a day a week in the years preceding Bar or Bas Mitzvah. The rest get no Jewish education, Ukeles said.
He said serious efforts at media utilization by Jewish schools are underway, though fragmented, with problems of quantity and quality but the “potential is real and important” in this area.
Ukeles reported there are at least 30 Jewish education-media centers in the United States and Canada which disseminate material, provide technical help, publish newsletters and catalogs and in a few cases produce audio and/or videotapes.
He said the Jewish Media Services, a central Jewish agency which promotes educational media in Jewish communal life, has shifted focus from broadcast strategies to home videocassette. The Jewish Media Service is a joint project of the Council of Jewish Federations, JWB and the United Jewish Appeal. It is administered and headquartered at JWB offices in New York.
FIVE TARGET AUDIENCES
He cited five target audiences which he said represented the greatest potential for electronic media in Jewish education — pre-school children at home in large communities; post Bar-Bat Mitzvah youth in high school in large communities; informal study groups of mixed ages in small communities; Jewish communities in Eastern Europe; and teachers and principals.
Ukeles said that while there is no accurate estimate of the number of computers used in Jewish schools, the use of computers in Jewish education was “significant and promising.”
Klutznick then announced that, in response to the findings and recommendations of the Ukeles report, the Foundation would undertake technology-related programs in areas where it has impact, including dispersed Jewish communities; continuing Jewish education; and the Jewish family.
He said the point of Foundation entry into this area would be two-pronged — for Jewish families at home, using video; and for Jewish schools, using audio and video to upgrade the skills of teachers and making new computer-related technology available to teachers and schools.
Klutznick said the Foundation would support new applications of technology in Jewish education and initiate new ideas and programs “and will organize the planning and testing of these new ideas.”
Dr. Jerry Hochbaum, Foundation executive director, said a catalog will be developed by the Foundation of existing Jewish audio and video materials and computer software.
ACTIVITIES CONCERNING THE HOLOCAUST
Hochbaum told another session that “to help integrate the Holocaust into the communal life experience of Jews, the Foundation will fund the development of model commemorative services for Jewish schools, synagogues and community centers in the diaspora.” He said the Foundation will also prepare a manual and a guide for visits to the sites of Nazi death camps.
Hochbaum added that in research, “we will give priority to areas not adequately covered so far — such as the USSR, France and Greece during the Holocaust.” He said the Foundation plans to assist in the preparation and publication of selected personal memoirs of survivors who can provide unique testimony and new information, evidence and insights.
He reported the Foundation has sent more than $3.6 million to institutions since 1965 for Holocaust projects. He also reported that the Foundation allocated $2,160,000 to East European Jewry from 1965 to 1982 for research and education projects.
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