The Center for Jewish Education of Rockland, CJER, was created in 1986 by the Jewish Federation of Rockland County to serve as its community instrument for Jewish educational planning and services.

1.    The central mission of the CJER is to empower all Jews in Rockland County to live Jewishly through life-long Jewish education.

2.     The CJER carries this mission forward in the following ways:

·        using a pluralistic approach, accept all who want to learn

·        provide a warm, caring atmosphere for learning

·        make a commitment to high standards of education

·       motivate participants to want to take part in programs and Jewish life by providing workshops and materials that are current in the field

3.     The CJER targets 3 specific populations:

·        Principals and Teachers in Jewish day and supplementary schools in Rockland County

·        Jewish Teens - affiliated with schools and youth groups

·        Jewish Adults - affiliated and not affiliated with synagogues

4.     The programs of the CJER take place mainly at the CJER.

Outreach and special programs will take place at various synagogues and schools.

The CJER works with home, school, and synagogue to create a community-wide base of Jewish life-long learners.

CJER is actively associated with the county’s 14 synagogue schools and 3 day schools representing 400 teachers and approximately 3,000 students.

CJER pursues this mission through:

¨    advocacy on behalf of Jewish Education

¨    professional development

¨    consulting and assisting individuals, teachers, schools, and other communal agencies in the areas of educational planning and programming

¨    educating lay and professional decision makers through locally conducted seminars, workshops, and presentations

¨    visiting schools to apprise the principals and teachers on up-to-date materials

¨    providing incentives for creative teachers

¨    promoting cooperative activity to strengthen Jewish education among agencies, schools, and organizations, within Rockland County

¨    providing grant monies for special education programs

Resource Center

The Center for Jewish Education operates a lending library for teachers in Jewish settings.  We maintain an extensive collection of books, videotapes, audiotapes, posters, slide/tape shows and creative resources, and have logged approximately 350 items borrowed during the past year.  We are proud to have over 250 visits by teachers, principals, and individuals from the community. since opening.  In addition, we operate the CJER Store with items for sale to teachers and other interested people.  Our library items are being entered into a database for easy access. 

The CJER lending Policy is as follows:

Books and Other Materials

All books, magazines, audiotapes and posters may be borrowed by CJER members for four (4) weeks, and may be renewed for an additional two (2) weeks unless another member has requested the materials.  Materials may be returned to the CJER  Monday through Thursday, 10 AM - 5 PM.

CJER Video Tapes

All CJER videotapes may be borrowed for two (2) weeks, and may be renewed for an additional week unless another member has requested the video.

Seasonal Holiday Materials

We ask that members be considerate of others when borrowing materials of a timely nature, and not borrow all of the materials pertaining to a particular holiday or topic.

Overdue Policy

As of September 1, 1999 all borrowers will be charged an overdue fine of $0.25 per day for each item not returned to the CJER on the designated due date. Overdue notices will be mailed out periodically.

 Borrowers will be charged for the replacement of lost or damaged materials, in addition to overdue fines.

Jewish Heritage Video Collection

In addition to our regular collection of videos which members may borrow at no charge, the 200 piece Jewish Heritage Video Collection is available for rental of individual videos.  Although there is no charge to become a member of the JHVC, there is a $3.00 rental charge per tape.  Tapes may be rented for two (2) days only.

Members may rent tapes at the Front Desk of the JCC-Y of Rockland, Monday-Friday and Sunday 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.  

We now have more than 200 members of the JHVC, including many members of the Rockland community who are not directly connected to the field of education. 

Excellence in Jewish Education Awards

Ellen Kahn Froncek Creative Teaching Awards

An annual award for excellence in creative teaching

Who may apply?
Educators in supplementary or day schools in Rockland County.

How are curriculum programs judged?
On the basis of creativity and practicality in the classroom setting.

What is the award?
$400 to the educator
$100 to the educator’s school

How will the award be presented?
At a community-wide event, date to be determined

What is the deadline for applications?
April 1, 2005 at 5:00 pm.

Ellen Kahn Froncek has been  a strong supporter of the Center for Jewish Education of Rockland. She has been a Creative Teaching Award winner, a CJER intern, CJER Committee Chair, judge of Creative Teaching Awards, teacher of CJER workshops, teacher at Mini-CAJE Conferences, teacher in the LIMUD Teacher Development Institute and a member of every CJER Committee. She is an artist and teacher of Jewish education. She now lives in Maine with her husband Tom. Ellen’s friends and family graciously endowed this award in her honor.

Phyllis and Herb Schulman Jewish Educator of the Year Awards

An annual award which honors and thanks outstanding Jewish educators

Who may be nominated?
Educators in supplementary or day schools in Rockland County, who work a minimum of eight hours per week.
How are candidates evaluated?
On the basis of their overall contributions to the field of Jewish education.
What is the award?
$1000 to the educator
$500 to the educator's school
How will the award be presented?
At a community-wide event on a date to be determined
What is the deadline for applications?
Thursday, April 1, 2005 by 5:00 pm

A national award recognizing exceptional achievement in Jewish education
Who may be nominated?
Jewish Educator of the Year winners county wide.  Past Winners
How are the candidates evaluated?
By a clearly identified and significant impact on their students and the Jewish community
What is the award?
$1500 to the educator, to be used for his or her professional development
How will the award be presented?
At a reception at the General Assembly at a date to be determined
What is the deadline for applications?
May 1, 2005

Through this Association, the educational directors of our congregational schools are afforded the opportunity to define mutual concerns and provide direction to countywide programs designed to address those concerns.  The association is, as well, a forum for sharing ideas and successful strategies.  

County-Wide School Programs

Chanukah, Tu B'shevat and Yom Ha'Atzmaut Programs sponsored by the CJER, the Educators Association and the Y Village, are geared for students of the same age from all of the Rockland supplementary schools.  Students gather to study, socialize and experience Judaism in a hands on fashion.
Yom HaShoah Program sponsored by the CJER, JCC-Y and Holocaust Museum & Studies Center.

The Teacher Development Institute:
·        is a two year training course for vocational teachers (with minimal teaching experience)
·        provides instruction in basic pedagogic skills and conten

An annual one-day pedagogical conference for all segments of the Jewish educational community.  The attendees participate in workshops and classes covering many aspects of Jewish education, as well as, enjoy collegial networking. 

This year the mini-CAJE Conference will be held on January 18, 2004. The theme is "A Taste of Israel: Creative Ideas for Teaching Knowledge and Commitment."

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