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BUILD YOUR TEACHING PRACTICE

Professional learning to support teachers early in their careers

Building
Foundations

These workshops meet virtually for an intensive 15-hour series across three Sundays. Participants will leave with practical tools and a stronger foundation to build joyful Hebrew classrooms.

$838 / $699 Member Schools

For an additional discount for three or more teachers, contact Paula Levine: paulal@hebrewatthecenter.org

  • SERIES

New Hebrew Teacher
Boot Camp

  • Virtual | 11:00 am - 4:00 pm ET

Sundays: August 16 |

August  23 | August 30

Introduction to the core principles of Hebrew language teaching including hands‑on preparation for teachers’ first days in the classroom. Participants leave with practical tools and ready‑to‑use lesson plans.

  • SERIES

Early Childhood
Hebrew Teacher Training

  • Virtual | 11:00 am - 4:00 pm ET

Sundays: January 31 | February 7 | February 21 (no class February 14)

Explore engaging, story, song and play-based strategies, collaborate with fellow educators, and leave with lesson plans, routines, and practical tools for building joyful, language-rich learning environments for our youngest learners.

Free Webinars

Fully-subsidized 60-minute previews of Hebrew at the Center Online Courses with Hebrew College. 

  • FREE WEBINAR

Building a Culture of Respect and Engagement in the Hebrew Classroom

  • 8:00 - 9:00pm ET

August 25, 2026

  • Learning Community
  • FREE WEBINAR

Inclusive Hebrew Education:
Language, Israeli Culture, & Identity

  • 8:00 - 9:00pm ET

November 30, 2026

  • Hebrew and Israeli Culture
  • FREE WEBINAR

Between Acquisition and Learning: Understanding How Hebrew Is Learned and Taught

  • 8:00 - 9:00pm ET

February 9, 2027

  • Theories & Philosophies of Education

Deep Learning

These facilitated courses allow educators to slow down, deepen practice, and apply new learning directly to their classroom. Each course meets weeky and builds across six weeks. 

 

$400 / $360 Member Schools

Stackable towards a basic or full professional certificate. 

  • 6-WEEK COURSE

Building Community in the Hebrew Classroom

The reality of a heterogeneous Hebrew classroom can be challenging in terms of planning lessons and teaching a class with students from a range of proficiency levels, learning styles and interests. Teaching can be even more challenging if you have ongoing behavior issues with your learners. For teachers to teach and for students to learn, teachers need to establish routines and mutual respect in their classroom that are grounded in equitable educational philosophy. In this course we will review and analyze examples of classroom policies, procedures and norms for student engagement and draft a plan to support equitable student engagement that meets your students, your style and your school’s policies and culture.

  • 8:00 - 9:30 PM ET

Tuesdays

October 27 – December 1, 2026 

  • Learning Community
  • 6-WEEK COURSE

Inclusive Hebrew Education:
Language, Israeli Culture & Identity

Using authentic materials in Hebrew instruction offers meaningful opportunities for students to engage with Israeli culture, society, and contemporary issues while developing their language proficiency. In this course, Hebrew teachers will explore guiding principles for selecting authentic texts that reflect diverse perspectives within Israeli society and support discussions about identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through examples of classroom lessons using a range of texts—from classical literature to contemporary media such as tweets and posts—participants will learn instructional strategies for making authentic materials accessible to students of different proficiency levels and age groups. The course will also introduce discussion protocols that promote thoughtful dialogue and help students use Hebrew to reflect on personal and collective identity.

  • 8:00 - 9:30 PM ET

Tuesdays

January 12- February 16, 2027 

  • Hebrew and Israeli Culture
  • 6-WEEK COURSE

Between Acquisition & Learning: Understanding How Hebrew is Learned and Taught

Understanding how we learn languages is essential for effective language teaching. In this course, Hebrew teachers will learn how language is acquired, both naturally and through means of pedagogy. Participants will explore biological factors that influence language acquisition as well as major theories about how languages are learned. We will examine how different linguistic and psychological perspectives on language acquisition lead to varying approaches to language teaching. Together, we will consider which approaches best support effective language, and identify teaching practices that are based on language acquisition.

  • 8:00 - 9:30 PM ET

Tuesdays

March 2- April 13, 2027

(No class March 23)

  • Theories & Philosophies of Education

Hitkadmut: The Annual Hebrew Educators Conference

  • Nov 15-16, 2026 | $69 / $59 Member Schools

 
The field’s premier professional learning gathering of Hebrew educators, school, and lay leaders supporting Hebrew education.

Workshops offered across all Competencies and along four specialized tracks:
Novice Teachers
Veteran & Accredited Teachers
Hebrew Leaders
Schoool & Lay Leaders

Professional Community

Professional communities provide ongoing connection and professional learning through facilitated conversations, peer exchange, and collective problem-solving across the year. 

  • COMMUNITY

Hebrew Educators Learning Circle (HELC)

  • 8:00 - 9:00 PM ET

Sept 2, 2026 | Jan 20, 2027
Mar 10, 2027 | May 5, 2027

Discussion driven community practice for Hebrew at the Center Member Schools

Not yet a member?
Learn more about joining Hebrew at the Center

Build Your Teaching Foundation

Gain practical training and tools for teachers early in their career

Expand Your
Educator Skills

Deepen pedagogy and expand skills with courses and with community

Strengthen Your Hebrew Program

Maximize the potential of your Hebrew program schoolwide.

Resources for
Informal Educators

Experiential learning in camps, synagogues, & other community programs 

Not sure where to start?

We’re here to help you find the right learning opportunities.

Contact Us
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Adina Kanefield
Director

Adina Kanefield is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Israel USA, leading efforts to build support through strategic partnerships, dynamic programming, and community outreach across North America.

Previously, Adina founded a consulting practice focused on strategic growth and resource development, serving as a lead consultant for Hebrew at the Center. She has held leadership roles at the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center, the Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School, and the Center for Israel Studies at American University, and earlier practiced regulatory and employment law.

A graduate of The George Washington University School of Law, she also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees, summa cum laude, from Emory University. Adina lives in Washington, D.C., and serves on Hebrew at the Center’s Board Development Task Force.

Adina lives in Washington, D.C., and is active in Jewish communal life. She serves on the Board Development Task Force for Hebrew at the Center and is a frequent presenter on the intersection of Jewish heritage, cultural preservation, and the mission of the National Library of Israel.

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Sanford “Sandy” Cardin

Director

Sanford “Sandy” Cardin is the founder of Global Jewry. A graduate of Harvard University, Sandy is a member of the bar of DC, Florida, Maryland, and the United States Supreme Court, as well
as the Senior Consultant for Philanthropy and Impact at Cresset Capital.
After a short stint practicing law, Sandy shifted into the NGO world. He started as the Mid-Atlantic Director of the Jerusalem Foundation before moving to Tulsa, OK in 1994 to become the first executive director, then first president, of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family
Foundation.
Sandy spent 25 years guiding the CLSFF before leaving to become the CEO of Our Common Destiny, a global effort to
bridge the widening gap between the Jews in Israel and those living elsewhere.
Sandy has served on many Jewish boards (including as chair of the board or Leading Edge) and is currently involved in the JCC Association of North America. He has also held leadership posts at the Council on Foundations and National Center for Family Philanthropy.
Sandy lives with his wife, Melody, in Queenstown, MD.

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Walter A. Winshall

Director

Walter A. Winshall is a founding member of the board of Hebrew at the Center. He is a Principal in Collaborative Seed and Growth Partners, LLC, an investment firm specializing in the commercialization of early-stage technology. He is also a director at a number of early-stage companies. In addition to HATC, he is a board member of the National Yiddish Book Center and MIT Hillel. He was a founding board member of JCDS, Boston’s Jewish Community Day School and the Institute for the Advancement of Hebrew.
He graduated from MIT in electrical engineering and from Harvard Law School. Walt lives in Weston, Massachusetts with his wife, Arnee, chair of the Hebrew at the Center Board.
Walt serves on the Finance Committee and the Advocacy & Strategic Task Force Committee.

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Daniel Serfaty

Director

Daniel Serfaty is currently Chair of Aptima. As Aptima’s Founder and CEO, Daniel Serfaty has led Aptima to become the premier Human Performance Engineering business in the world. His work optimizes the integration of humans with intelligent technologies in defense, healthcare, aerospace, and education. His keynote addresses around the world are encouraging his audiences to imagine a future in which human and artificial intelligences work together in the service of humankind.
Daniel’s interdisciplinary background includes degrees in mathematics, psychology, aerospace engineering, and international business from the Université de Paris, the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, and University of Connecticut. His doctoral work has pioneered the study of distributed command teams. He is the recipient of the UConn Distinguished Service Award and has been inducted in its Engineering Hall of Fame.
Daniel is the co-Chair of the New England Israeli American Council (IAC), the board of the Friends of the Academy of Hebrew Language and, in addition, serves on the boards of several business and philanthropic organizations in both the United States and Israel, with an eye towards building bridges between these communities. Daniel serves on Hebrew at the Center’s Yom Iyyun Task Force and is co-chair of the Board Development Task Force.
Daniel lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with his wife Irene.

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Todd Sukol

Director

Todd Sukol has worked in and around the nonprofit and philanthropic sector most of his career. At the Mayberg Foundation where he is Executive Director, he oversees the foundation’s strategic philanthropy, grant-making and development of the Jewish Education Innovation Challenge (JEIC) and the Incubator for Emerging Jewish Initiatives (IEJI). In addition, Todd is a founding board member of The Witness Institute. Previously, Todd was president of Do More Mission, a firm that increases nonprofit impact through philanthropic advisory services to high net worth individuals and foundations and management services to small and mid-sized charitable organizations.

Todd received his formal training in Journalism and Public Relations from Pennsylvania State University. He studied
at the University of Manchester in England and completed a two-year Yeshiva program at Machon Shlomo: Alexander and Eva Heiden Torah Institute in Jerusalem, Israel. Sukol graduated from the Executive Master’s program
at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University where he is currently enrolled in a doctoral program. Todd and his wife Amy (an active Hebrew at the Center volunteer) live in Silver Springs, Maryland. Todd was a member of the Strategic Reset Group, chaired the Strategic Transition and Planning Work Group, and is the current co-chair of the Governance Committee/Committee on Trustees and Board Development Task Force.

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Neil Kuttner

Treasurer

Neil Kuttner is the Chief Operations Officer of Cross Shore Capital Management, LLC, a registered investment advisor. He has worked in the financial services industry for forty years, previously at Sanford Bernstein & Co. where he was the CFO. Neil is a CPA and has also taught tax planning at Lehman College. Neil has BA in economics from City College of New York and a master’s degree in business administration from the Wharton School.
Neil lives in Manhattan and has two grown sons, Sam and Matthew, both of whom are involved Jewishly. Neil has long been active in the Jewish community has previously served as treasurer of Camp Ramah in New England, treasurer of the Foundation for Jewish Camp, board chair of the Academy for Jewish Religion, and synagogue president of Park Slope Jewish Center.
Neil views fluency in Hebrew as one of the important building blocks in positive Jewish identity, though his Hebrew language skills do need brushing up. He chairs Hebrew at the Center’s Finance Committee and is looking forward to continuing to contribute both his time and expertise.

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Joanne Blauer

Clerk

Joanne Blauer was formerly the Associate Dean, Secretary and Executive Vice Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences in New York City.
Joanne has a BA in Philosophy and Religion from Scripps College and a JD from the University of Washington School of Law. She spent her junior year of college at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She is the past COO of Hebrew at the Center and a founding board member of the Institute for the Advancement of Hebrew. In addition, Joanne has previously served on the board of Scripps College, the National Association of College and University Attorneys and is an inactive member of the Washington State Bar Association. She lives in New York City and Richmond Shores, Massachusetts. Joanne co- chairs the Governance Committee/Committee on Trustees and serves on the CEO Support and Evaluation Committee (CSEC).

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Arnee Winshall

President

co-founded Hebrew at the Center with Dr. Vardit Ringvald and
Sharona Givol. She is Founding Chair of JCDS, Boston’s Jewish Community Day School and sits on the boards of Jewish Interactive and Incubator for Emerging Jewish Initiatives (IEJI).
In addition, Arnee is a member of the JEIC advisory and co-founder of DEEP (a PLC of Developing Embedded Expertise Programs). In the past, she served chair of the RAVSAK board, on the Board of Overseers of Hebrew College, on the Executive Committee of JESNA, as the lay co-chair of the Lippman Kanfer Institute, and on the boards of The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the JCC’s of Greater Boston, the Foundation for Jewish Camp, JECEI, and the Yiddish Book Center.

Arnee received her undergraduate degree in contrastive linguistics from Boston University and, after serving in the Peace Corps in Thailand, pursued graduate studies in developmental psycholinguistics at the University of Chicago.
Arnee has two adult children and lives in Weston, Massachusetts with her husband, Walt.