24 teachers from 9 different countries participated in our 13th professional development seminar for Israeli and European Jewish schools, held in Thessaloniki, Greece. Teachers learned about the Centropa database, explored our materials, and discovered the Jewish history of Thessaloniki.
During the seminar, each teacher paired up with a partner from another school. Together, they brainstormed cross-border project ideas aimed at connecting Jewish school students across Europe and Israel in creative and engaging ways. These projects will deepen the students’ knowledge of Jewish culture and strengthen their Jewish identity. Additionally, participating teachers worked in groups with the help of experienced educators. The groups analyzed Centropa films, discussed how these films can be used in class, and developed lesson plans.
Program highlights included:
- Exploring the rich history of Sephardic Jews and Jewish life in Thessaloniki
- Diving into Centropa’s vast collection of Jewish family stories, photographs, short films, and podcasts, with a special focus on Greece and Sephardic Jewry
- Sharing and learning innovative, technology-based teaching methodologies
- Connecting with fellow Jewish educators to develop lesson plans and cross-border projects
- Becoming a member of a unique community of Jewish educators
The seminar was co-funded by the European Union and the Jack Buncher Foundation
