Torah V’Chochmah Completes A Successful First Year

The inaugural cohort of teachers participating in Torah V’Chochmah, a premier teacher training and curriculum initiative established by the Rabbi Sacks Legacy, has successfully completed the first year of the program. Aimed at integrating the wisdom of Rabbi Sacks into middle and high school classrooms, Torah V’Chochmah offers teachers top-tier professional development with leading experts in Jewish studies and pedagogy.

Each participating teacher developed a customized Jewish curriculum for their school, drawing on Rabbi Sacks’ ideas, and over the past 12 months the program has facilitated 6 parshat hashavua curricula, 7 machshava curricula, and 12 chumash curricula, from which over one thousand students have already benefitted. These curricula will soon be implemented across all 17 participating schools in North America.

At a recent Celebration of Learning marking the program's completion, teachers reflected on its significant impact on their students. Rabbi Dr. Jay Goldmintz of Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck said: “Many of our students recognize Rabbi Sacks as one who speaks to their minds and to their hearts, one who can convey not only intellectual depth of Judaism, but the subjective romance one can have with Judaism as well.”

Kate Milgrom, of Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, added: “Topics like ‘Call to Responsibility’, ‘Anti-Zionism is the New Antisemitism’, ‘Why I am a Jew’ and ‘The Great Partnership’ have sparked meaningful discussion among out students and parents. The Torah V’Chochmah program powerfully elevated our curriculum.”

Many teachers noted that the mentorship they received from the program's faculty greatly enhanced their teaching skills. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy will continue to support the participating teachers and schools as they roll out these new curricula over the next year.

Rabbi Jeremy Bruce, Director of Programming at The Rabbi Sacks Legacy, said: “The dedication and creativity of these teachers have been truly inspiring. By bringing Rabbi Sacks’ teachings into the classroom, they are developing a deeper understanding and appreciation of Jewish values among their students.”