Delving into the Jewish Sources related to education.

Ohr Torah Stone prides itself on being on the cutting-edge of education. This past academic year saw three innovative projects with far-ranging goals for both teachers and students:

• Writing a New Curriculum
Family life has been a challenge since the days of Adam and Eve,” says Yehuda Stauber, OTS’s Director of Education. “Yet, there is currently no comprehensive curriculum available for teaching this most sensitive and important topic on a high school level.” Thus, with the characteristic OTS approach of openness and relevance, a group of ten teachers from all six OTS high schools have begun writing a curriculum on the Jewish Family in the Modern World that includes units on the challenges of family life in modern times, relationships between men and women, the meaning of love, physical awareness and modesty, and equality in the family. The completed curriculum will be used in all OTS high schools, and will be made available to high schools across Israel.

• Educating for Leadership
Tenth-grade students at Ohr Torah Stone high schools enthusiastically participated in a pilot program on leadership. “The program was aimed at strengthening their self-image and self-actualization as well as developing leadership for the school and the community,” Stauber explains. “It was built out of a number of components. First, they studied about leadership: what it is, the history of leadership, Jewish leadership and more. These lessons were augmented by meetings with current Israeli leaders, such as former IDF chief of staff Moshe Yaalon and former Labor Party head, MK Amram Mitzna. Finally, the students participated in workshops aimed at teaching leadership skills like effective negotiating and teamwork.”

• Advanced Study for Teachers
Continuing education for faculty members is a unique facet of OTS that plays a special role in keeping its educational programs on the cutting edge. This year, 30 OTS principals and program directors gathered on a regular basis for an intensive beit midrash study program aimed at enriching their collective educational capabilities. The program, which began in January with a two-day seminar called “Mixed Messages,” and continued with monthly meetings, enabled them to delve into Jewish sources relating to education. “We worked together to broaden our partnership and dialogue through serious Torah study,” says Stauber. “Our goal was to forge a common language that will enhance our experience as educators.”

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