Lifnai Vlifnim Gathers 150 Educators for Spiritual Education Training Across North America

As they have done each winter for the last few years, Mayberg Foundation partner Lifnai Vlifnim brought together their community of educators for professional development and reflective time with Rav Dov Singer (the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Makor Chaim), Yishai Singer, and Rabbi Yehuda Chanales. This year, over 150 educators from more than 30 schools and four countries came for two days dedicated to facilitating deeper connections between students, teachers, Torah, and G-d.

New participants got their first taste of the Lifnai Vlifnim experience. Teachers from already participating schools took a deep dive into the components of Lifnai Vlifnim's Lev HaShavua model, learning how to build presence, facilitate reflective Torah learning, and listen to others. There were numerous opportunities for teachers to experience and practice facilitating text learning that asks mah bo, mah libo, and mah li bo (what is in it, what is at the heart of it, and what in it speaks to me). School leaders explored the broader goals of Lifnai Vlifnim and evaluated their progress as they work to transform the culture of spirituality in their schools. Everyone enjoyed a lively evening with music and inspiration from Rav Dov, Dovid'l Weinberg, and their growing network of Lifnai Vlifnim colleagues.

Beyond the seminar, Rav Dov and Yishai joined Yehuda visiting schools around the New York area and in Montreal, learning with teachers and students. They also gave adults a taste of Lifnai Vlifnim learning in Montreal, Flatbush, Teaneck, and Riverdale. They spent Shabbat in Manhattan at Lincoln Square Synagogue and West Side Institutional Synagogue, including parent-child learning with Manhattan Day School, a Friday night conversation on educating at home and in schools, a pre-shacharit preparatory learning session, a Q&A with Rabbi Robinson on prayer post-October 7th, and an interactive shiur to end Shabbat. The Makor Chaim team also held an evening in Silver Spring to reintroduce the community to the school and Rav Dov. All these meetings are an attempt to cultivate lay leadership who might become supporters of Lifnai Vlifnim's work.

Mayberg Foundation Senior Advisor for Education Grants and Programs Rachel Abrahams joined the team for their session at Yeshiva of Flatbush and for one day of the seminar, and JEIC Managing Director Sharon Freundel joined the evening in Silver Spring.

To learn more about Lifnai Vlifnim, see last year's Chanukah publication and sign up here to receive their weekly Lev HaParsha and information about upcoming opportunities.