PROPOSAL
The Jewish
Light Experience
A Multimedia
Musical Show & Educational Workshop
Promoting
Mutual Respect, Appreciation & Positive Relationships
To Be
Integrated With
Beth
Hatefutsoth -The
Special
Educational Program
Approximately 10,000 children will be inspired over
the next five years!
(Later to be also presented in JCC’s, Communities, and Schools)
A cooperative effort of the
Project Synopsis:
The Jewish Light Experience
is an original and innovative educational program, which explores, models, and
promotes the values of Judaism, and the celebration of Jewish life….
With an emphasis on mutual
respect, appreciation of differences, and healthy relationships
…. Utilizing
….
An interactive multimedia
musical show - with original music and script, and slide show, audience
participation, Q&A and discussion, accompanied by a special museum program
& educational workshop.
-------------------------
Program
Overview:
This
project brings together the expertise of a team of specialists from a variety
of disciplines in order to create and present a powerful, effective,
inspirational experience to teach and promote mutual respect, understanding,
and cooperation among Jewish teens, young adults, and families, who live in
The
program is a four-hour experience at Beth Hatefutsot
(The Diaspora Museum) in Tel Aviv, consisting of:
1.
‘The
Jewish Light Experience’ - An interactive multimedia musical show, with
original music and script, a slide show, and audience Q&A and discussion.
2.
A
Both
components focus on teaching values of pluralism and diversity within Judaism,
while promoting Jewish identity and celebration of Jewish life, with mutual
respect and understanding.
‘The Jewish Light Experience’ -
1.
A
multimedia stage show including musicians, singers, songs and narration
2.
Audience
participation – (including opportunities to perform in the show)
3.
Facilitator
led Q&A (questions and answers) and discussion with the performers and
audiences
Special Educational Museum Program will present the Jewish sources for the importance of Kavod HaAdam – The respect for
humankind -, as well as demonstrate the dangers that face societies, which lack
this value. Participants will examine how Jewish communities throughout history
have been affected by the precept, ‘one’s fellow’s honor should be as important
to you as your own’.
Need: Unfortunately, a large percentage of youth in
Goals
and objectives: This unique and
innovative program can facilitate mutual understanding, respect, and
appreciation across denominational and ethnic boundaries, and encourage
friendship and cooperation, as well as celebration of Jewishness, as it is
expressed in its many forms.
The
Jewish Light Experience is designed to serve the Jewish individual, the
Jewish family, the Jewish community, and the Jewish people, by providing the
many benefits listed below:
1.
Increase
understanding and appreciation of Jewish values, beliefs, traditions, and
customs.
2.
Facilitate
mutual understanding, tolerance and appreciation of Jews from different streams
of Judaism.
3.
Help Israelis to appreciate the Jewish value of
living in
4.
Increase
positive identity with Judaism.
5.
Facilitate
positive attitudes and feelings between ‘religious’ and ‘secular’ Jews.
6.
Provide
opportunities for communities to have positive Jewish multi-ethnic and
multi-denominational/ secular/religious experiences.
7.
Reduce
prejudice & negative stereotyping towards Jews of different streams of
Judaism.
Target
audience: This program is designed for
students of middle school and high school, as well as young adults and
families. It will be presented initially at the
Target
number of participants: The initial
pilot project will be presented to between 600 and 1,000 students, who will
participate in the Jewish Light Experience as part of their visit to the
After
the pilot program at Beth Hatefutsot (the
Work
Plan with Timeline: Program Components:
1. Integration of the Jewish Light Experience
with the museum’s special educational program.
This
will be accomplished through meetings and discussions among the educational and
production staff, and will take place during the 1st month after
funding. Included will be
a)
Development
of the flow of the Jewish Light Experience Show
b)
Choosing
the focus of each of 10 songs to be composed and scored for the show
c)
Planning
of the slide show
d)
Creating
an overview of the script
2.
The composing of music, lyrics, and script for the show
This
will be accomplished during the 2nd and 3rd months after
funding. Included will be:
a)
Hiring
production staff, including, composer, lyricist, educational consultant
b)
Composition
of music, lyrics, and script
3. Hiring of performers and rehearsal.
This
task will be accomplished during the 2nd month after funding
a)
The
producer will have a talent search and hire the performers
b)
Rehearsal
will take place as compositions are being completed
3.
Creation of multimedia slide show
This
will be accomplished towards the end of the completion of the composition and
scripting of the show (probably the end of the 3rd month after
funding.
a)
The
Museum staff, in consultation with the show’s producer, will accomplish this
task.
4.
Marketing
The
Museum will be primarily responsible marketing the program during the pilot
phase. Marketing plans will begin during the 1st month after
funding, as we want to be providing services during the beginning of the school
year, after the holidays. Marketing will include:
a)
The
creation of marketing strategies to schools, JCC’s,
etc.
b)
The
creation, printing, and distribution of brochures
c)
Telephone
follow-up after mailing of brochures
5. Preparation and training of museum
tour guides. This will take place during the 4th month after
funding.
6. Rehearsal of show at Museum.
During
the 4th month after funding. Rehearsal of the various components of
the project in real time.
7. Presentation of the Diaspora Museum
program featuring: A guided tour, educational workshop, and the Jewish Light
Experience.
The pilot program will
begin after the holidays. During this period improvements will be made to
prepare for a continuing series of self-funded presentations to thousands of
Israeli teens, young adults, and families, for years to come.
Staffing Needs: The Loving Heart Fellowship, The Diaspora Museum and the Jewish Light
Experience will be using only professional experienced staff for all of the
various tasks and functions during the creation and implementation of this project.
A combination of existing staff, consultants, and out sourcing will be
utilized. For example: the Museum staff in conjunction with a consultant will
create the slide show, whereas the creation and printing of the brochure will
be out-sourced. The staff members and respective responsibilities are described
above in the work plan.
Evaluation/Outcome: The
expected outcomes include: greater understanding of different ethnic and
denominational expressions of Judaism; an improved attitude and relationship towards
Jewish identity, traditions, and values; and increased social contact between
different kinds of Jews. The evaluation of the success of this program will be
via pre and post questionnaires.
Funding: We have worked hard to raise approximately 8,000
dollars. We do not see the possibility of further immediate donations,
although we are continuing to do fundraising in a very difficult economy. The
good news is that we confidently believe that the Jewish Light Experience will
be self-supporting after it becomes more known and will be able to serve
thousands of Israeli students and families in the greater Tel Aviv area for
years to come.
Sponsoring
Institution:
Lead
Organization: The Loving Heart
Fellowship
Partner
Organization: Beth Hatefutsoth –
The
Program
Title: The Jewish Light
Experience
Contact
information: Dr. Simcha Sheldon,
972-8-976-2914, simcha@lovingheart.org
Information
about the Loving Heart Fellowship can be found on our home page www.lovingheart.org.
Bet
Hatefutsot's Organization’s
Includes:
The deepening of the knowledge of the residents of the state of Israel about Jewish
communities all over the world; to present the great personal drama of the
Jewish People’s dispersion in the past and in the present; to provide
educational programming for Israeli school children to learn about their
heritage and history; to understand the myriad ways of self-definition that
Jews have used over time.
Constituents:
Since opening its doors in 1978, Beth
Hatefutsoth, has hosted hundreds of thousands of visitors, of all ages and
backgrounds, from
Background:
In
presenting the story of the Jewish people, the museum has always presented an
inclusive approach. Consequently the participants of the Museum’s numerous and
varied audiences have always found their personal place within the history of
the Jewish people. During the past few years, many schools have participated in
the Museum’s “Honor and Respect”
program, which teaches mutual respect for the different elements in the Israeli
society. As a way of changing the program into a more dynamic and powerful tool
for changing attitudes among the students the Museum has turned to Dr. Simcha
Sheldon to develop a musical show dealing with these issues, in order to offer
a more effective approach that “speaks” to youngsters. The Museum will change
the elements of the existing program to incorporate into it a musical show and
a discussion workshop in addition to a special museum tour in order to make a
more meaningful program with results that will be felt in Israeli society.
The Project Directors:
Rabbi Dr. Simcha Sheldon, Director of the
Jewish Light Experience & The Loving Heart Fellowship
Simcha completed Bar Ilan’s Lookstein Senior Educators
Fellowship in 2001. He has many years of experience developing innovative
Jewish education programs. He is the director of The Loving Heart Fellowship, a
non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to promoting mutual respect,
cooperation, and unity among Jews. As a psychologist, rabbi, educator,
composer, and Rabbi (member of the Board of Rabbis of So.
Marc Kurs, The
Directed the museum’s
educational programs for the past three years. Formerly director of the
programming department, Israeli school teacher, informal education specialist.
-----------------------------------------
·
Barry
Schlessinger, Conservative Rabbi, of Congregation Moreshet Avraham in
·
Levy
Kellman, Reform Rabbi of Congregation Kol Hanishama, in
·
Rabbi
Yonah Fuld, Orthodox Rabbi, and Educational Director
of the Lookstein Senior Educators Program
·
Dr.
Vladimir Shvarev – of
·
Jerry
Yehudah Katz, formerly of Simcha Orchestra in LA, and
now the leader of an acclaimed music group in
Excellent
investment: Low budget – High output – Self-sustaining – Easily adaptable &
Expandable
The
budget for this project is much lower than most productions of this kind,
because we are utilizing people and organizations who really want to give of
themselves to make it happen, as well as individuals and organizations that are
donating resources.
This
is a project that will be financially self-sustaining and serve thousands of
students for years to come.
It
is expected that approximately 10,000 children will participate in this
Experience over the next five years. This yields a production cost of less than
three dollars per child. (The actual cost will be even less, as we hope that
many more will participate.)
This
is a project that can later be easily adopted for families and adults.
The
Jewish Light Experience will turn children on to embracing their Jewishness, so
that they can then want to be part of a Jewish pluralistic society.
Track
record of Success
Rabbi
Dr. Simcha Sheldon’s utilization of music as a successful approach in teaching
about Jewish values, identity, and pluralism, in his workshops, teacher
training, and performances have been acclaimed by the State of Israel
Department of Education and the Jewish Agency Department of Education, as well
as by many others. (Please see www.lovingheart.org/concertsreviews.htm & www.lovingheart.org/lecturesreviews.htm
& www.lovingheart.org/audiences.htm
)
Recommendations:
Recommendations
in
Misrad Hachinuch, Moshe Dror,
Sachnut
Department of Education, Tammy Levy
Shai Ben Yosef, Director of Programming for JCC’s
of
Letters
available upon request.
Visions
for the Future:
We
hope that after the success of this program at Bet Hatefutsoth, this project
will be expanded to help Jewish children and communities throughout the world.
PLEASE HELP MAKE THIS
VALUABLE PROJECT HAPPEN!
THANK YOU!!!
With
blessings from
Simcha
Sheldon and Marc Kurs
***
FINANCIAL NEEDS & REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE ***
PLEASE CONTACT US TO HELP US TO FUND
THIS WORTHY PROGRAM
Sponsoring
Institutions:
The
Loving Heart Fellowship, &
Bet
Hatefutsoth – The
Amount still needed: $42,840
Total Program Budget: $58,440
Contact information:
Dr. Simcha Sheldon
The Loving Heart Fellowship
Phone number:
In
In
Website: www.lovingheart.org
E-mail address: jlesupport@lovingheart.org