Kiruv Pros: Give and Take

Eager, as always, to develop educational modules to link the Jewish community, The Afikim Foundation hosted a roundtable conference in New York for kiruv professionals from around the country.

The conference opened with presentations on how the internet can be used to attract larger audiences and what sort of online Jewish educational format works well and inspires an audience. Rabbi Shimon Apisdorf chaired a session on Jewish educational publications which he and other writers had recently published.

When the floor was opened, dozens of suggestions for future publications on Jewish thought were put forward. A Daily Dose of Torah was presented with a discussion about the many ways it could be used by a kiruv Professional/ Rabbi/Educator.

One rabbi (Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe from Houston) shared how he had created an extremely successful 18 minute “call in” conference call learning group every evening based on the Daily Dose.

The conference call, which began with a handful of participants, is growing daily. Karen Hochberg chaired a session on films and speakers available to go on tour to a few locations at a time, which could be used as forerunners for a series of follow-up educational classes.

ToTal was the source of a lively discussion after presentations on new initiatives currently available for ToTal schools (See ToTal on B’nei Mitzvah program, Mitzvah Fair) and how they could be used in alternative, educational venues. Discussions also centered on the need for programming revolving around traditional Shabbos services. Parallel programs for toddlers and children during services were among the suggested “next best projects.”

This give-and-take sharing of notions, programs and results is a wonderful way to accelerate the use of effective kiruv tactics around the country. Afikim certainly looks forward to many more of them.

Back to Summer 2007 Newsletter highlights