Ruben Shimonov (he/him), National Director of Sephardi House and Education, American Sephardi Federation
Aḥdut (Unity) & Yeḥidut (Diversity): A Mosaic Peoplehood Approach to Jewish Pedagogy and Belonging — Artifact exploration and discussion (will include recorded music)
The journey of the Jewish People has always been marked by simultaneous diversity and connectivity. In our session, we will explore this special duality as a powerful pedagogical tool for Jewish educators—a tool that can help learners explore Jewish identity, history, and traditions in a dynamic way that both deepens their knowledge of the eclectic tiles, and the entire collective masterpiece, of the Jewish mosaic. By investigating the theory and practice of the “mosaic Jewish Peoplehood model”, we will also engage in a more expansive definition of Jewish texts. Simultaneously celebrating Jewish diversity while also deepening a sense of global Jewish belonging and unity, this pedagogy can offer new ways to address pressing issues facing our communities today.
