Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education, Brandeis University

09/01/2026

More information about the MCSJE Undergraduate Teaching Fellows Program can be found here: https://www.brandeis.edu/mandel/programs/undergraduate-fellows/index.html

08/31/2026

Brandeis University students - don't miss the opportunity to apply for the Mandel Center Undergraduate Teaching Fellows Program. Sharpen your teaching skills and earn a $500 stipend. More info is here: https://www.brandeis.edu/mandel/programs/undergraduate-fellows/index.html

MCSJE's Undergraduate Teaching Fellows program offers professional learning to undergraduates who are working in supplemental Jewish education. Working in collaboration with other student fellows, under the mentorship of a master educator, they explore their own Jewish journeys, reflect on their te...

08/27/2026

Mazel Tov to MCSJE Director Jon Levisohn, who will be on sabbatical from Brandeis for Fall 2026.
During this semester, the center's programs, events, and research will continue under the leadership of Interim Director Jenny Small.

08/26/2026

We’re excited to welcome Brandeis University students back for a new year! We’re especially delighted to have Miriam Herstein returning as the Mandel Center student office worker. We’re so thankful for her support of our work!
University

07/30/2026

If you or someone you know is teaching this year in a Boston- or Providence-area supplemental school, there is still time to find out more about the Mandel Center Undergraduate Teaching Fellows Program. This program offers mentorship and a stipend for undergraduates to enhance their teaching skills and learn with other students in a supportive community. Information sessions are happening now. For more information and to apply for the fellowship, visit https://www.brandeis.edu/mandel/programs/undergraduate-fellows/index.html

MCSJE's Undergraduate Teaching Fellows program offers professional learning to undergraduates who are working in supplemental Jewish education. Working in collaboration with other student fellows, under the mentorship of a master educator, they explore their own Jewish journeys, reflect on their te...

07/28/2026

How do students who are new to Jewish day school engage in meaningful Tanakh learning? And how can teachers embrace the different perspectives and interpretations they bring to enrich the classroom for everyone?

In their recent Prizmah article, "The Child Who Doesn't Know How to Ask: Learners New to Jewish Studies," Esther Friedman and Ziva Hassenfeld (Brandeis University) explore how educators can support students who are new to Jewish learning while creating richer, more inclusive discussions. Drawing on insights from their Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education collaborative research project, Using Research to Inform Classroom Learning, the article offers practical strategies for welcoming diverse learners into Jewish text study.

📖 Read the article: https://prizmah.org/hayidion/cusp/child-who-doesnt-know-how-ask-learners-new-jewish-studies

Learn more about the project:
www.brandeis.edu/mandel/programs/continuing-the-research.html

07/23/2026

What has America meant to Jews, and what have Jews meant to America? Only at Brandeis University, only this year: You are invited to a special open course organized by the Brandeis University Center for Jewish Studies and featuring Brandeis faculty and distinguished guests. Learn more here about 'America and its Jews at 250.' https://www.brandeis.edu/jewish-studies/america-250/index.html

The Brandeis Center for Jewish Studies brings together leading scholars, research centers, and public initiatives to explore Jewish history, identity, antisemitism, Israel, education, gender, religion, and contemporary Jewish life.

07/21/2026

We're delighted to welcome Aimee Close to the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education (MCSJE) at Brandeis University as Project Director for ST Next.

Building on the success of the past four years of Project Stronger Together, ST Next is now hosted by MCSJE and will continue to be supported by CJP - Combined Jewish Philanthropies and The Beker Foundation.

In this new transitional phase, Aimee will bridge a partnership with MCSJE, CJP, and The Beker Foundation to strengthen and expand the work of the Boston Jewish Day School Initiative, among other projects, exploring new ways to support not only Jewish day schools but the broader Jewish education ecosystem in Greater Boston.

As a Brandeis alumna, Aimee brings both deep professional expertise and a personal connection to the university. We're excited to have her join our team and look forward to what's ahead for ST Next and MCSJE.

Please join us in welcoming Aimee to MCSJE!

Aimee Close has spent over 30 years working in local and national Jewish organizations, focusing on nonprofit management, strategic planning, and program design. Throughout her career, she has worked to identify unmet needs and design solutions to meet those needs.

07/20/2026

Great new post at eJP today by Sharon Avni and Laura Yares, giving a window into some of what they've learned from several years of working on their terrific new book, Judaism Mediated.
Learn more about their project here: www.brandeis.edu/mandel/research/past/cultural-arts.html

When Emma, a young Jewish woman in her early thirties, moved back home after college and found herself weighing the cost of a synagogue or a gym membership, she chose the gym. By most conventional measures used to track Jewish engagement, that choice would likely have categorized her as an unaffilia...

07/16/2026

Calling all Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island College (RIC) and Providence-area undergraduate students who are teaching or wish to teach in Jewish supplemental schools. Applications are now being accepted for the Mandel Center Undergraduate Teaching Fellows Program. This year-long fellowship offers professional learning under the leadership of a master educator while working in collaboration with other student fellows. Learn more and apply at https://www.brandeis.edu/mandel/programs/undergraduate-fellows/providence.html

MCSJE's Undergraduate Teaching Fellows program offers professional learning to undergraduates who are working in supplemental Jewish education. Working in collaboration with other student fellows, under the mentorship of a master educator, they explore their own Jewish journeys, reflect on their te...