The Rabbi Dr. Ochs Chair for the Teaching of Jewish Religious Studies

Head: Prof. Elie Holzer

About us

The Chair seeks to pioneer and advance scholarly inquiry into ‘Pedagogies of Jewish Spiritual Teaching and Learning’, with a particular emphasis on Hasidic texts. This emerging field requires foundational research to establish its theoretical framework and methodologies.

Principal activities and achievements

To achieve this goal, we aim to engage leading educators in Israel and North America in this evolving scholarly discourse. We facilitate the development of a theoretical framework, promote the exchange of insights and practical experiences, and foster a scholarly community dedicated to advancing this field.

The inaugural project brought together prominent master teachers of Hasidic homiletics from around the world. Participants were introduced to this innovative approach to inquiry, leading to the drafting of scholarly articles that detailed their pedagogical methodologies, nuanced interpretations, and key challenges. They later convened for a three-day conference to refine and advance this new area of scholarship. Following the conference, participants submitted revised and enhanced versions of their articles. These sixteen articles are scheduled for publication in the Fall of 2024 under the title: Elie Holzer (editor), Renewed Hasidic Spirituality - Teaching Hasidic Homilies in a PostSecular World, Boston: Academic Studies Press.

International Engagement

A new project is currently underway in partnership with The Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University, MA, USA.

Impact

Both of the aforementioned research initiatives intentionally involve master teachers from diverse Jewish educational backgrounds. Coupled with the pedagogical focus of the forthcoming publication, this work is expected to resonate with and influence a significant number of practitioners in the field of Jewish spiritual teaching and learning.

Furthermore, it aims to encourage the participation of additional master teachers, thereby enriching an emerging research community that bridges scholars and practitioners in meaningful collaboration.

Contact Information

Elie.Holzer@biu.ac.il