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on-line learning community.
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What you will find here . . .
Welcome to the digital home of the Legacy Heritage Teacher Institute for Innovation, Cohort X. Come here to find a link to the itinerary, classroom resources, bios of the staff including contact information, and updates.
Who are we?
Eric Golombek
Director
ericg.ti.lhf@gmail.com
+972-53-281-9414
I made aliya from Canada in 2012 with my wife, Adina, and my four sons. In addition to directing the TII program, I also teach at a public school in Jerusalem, Chemed Eitan, where I am part of the leadership team. Trivia about me: In some capacity, I have taught every grade from K to grade 13, undergraduate and graduate.
Rabbi Dr
R. Dr. Howie Deitcher
Academic Advisor
howard.deitcher@mail.huji.ac.il
+972-50-404-8691
Rabbi Dr. Howard Deitcher is a Professor Emeritus and former director at the Melton Centre for Jewish Education in the Seymour Fox School of Education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He serves as the Senior Director of the Legacy Heritage Teacher Institutes and chairs the UnitEd Advisory Committee, an initiative supported by the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs. His current areas of research include: Philosophy for Children in Jewish Education, Spirituality in the Lives of Jewish Students, and Moral Education in the Lives of Young Children.
Joan Vander Walde
Mentor
joanvw.ti.lhf@gmail.com
+972-972-50-713-8364
+1-301-674-7646
Joan Vander Walde is an educator with over 4 decades of experience. She served as a teacher, counselor, curriculum developer and middle school principal, conducted field research on experiential education in Jewish camping, oversaw school twinning programs, and directed Pardes Institute's Rodef Shalom Schools Program. In addition to her work for TII, Joan currently teaches and produces wheel thrown ceramics, and coaches educators and educational leaders for BetterLesson. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland (near Washington, DC) and Jerusalem, Israel. She loves to hike, explore, brainstorm, swim, read, create and spend time with family. She is excited to begin her 10th year as a TII mentor.
Marion Gribetz
Mentor
mariongribetz@gmail.com
+972-54-9393381 OR
+1-781-308-3069
Marion Gribetz is on the faculty and is the Director of Educational Initiatives at Hebrew College in Newton, MA. She teaches courses on a variety of topics in contemporary Jewish education. She serves as a mentor and coach for educators in all settings of Jewish life. Marion has played a key role in dozens of policy research, evaluation, planning and implementation projects in Jewish education.
Marion splits her time between Sharon, MA near Boston, and Yavneh, Israel. Wherever she is, she can be found enjoying the outdoors, arts and her family.
Smadar Goldstein
Mentor
smadar2goldstein@gmail.com
+972-523656867
Smadar Goldstein is the Director of Partnerships for Jewish Educational Institutions at BetterLesson. She is excited to enter her 11th year in roles of educational support for Legacy Heritage Fund Programs. She lives in Jerusalem with her husband, family and pets. In spare (!) time, she can be found road biking the hills of Jerusalem, teaching yoga at the YMCA, or napping on her labrador.
Tamar Krieger
Mentor
tamarjkrieger@gmail.com
+972-58-613-0862
Tamar Krieger is an international educational consultant, curriculum designer, technology specialist, and leadership trainer with experience in formal educational settings, informal community building, and corporate team management. She leveraged her Master’s in Secondary School Education at the University of Pennsylvania to develop innovative student-centered curricula, and developed teams were all members could be the best versions of themselves. Tamar is currently the Executive Director for Tzemach David, an educational foundation in Israel.
Yardena Allon
Program Assistant
assistant.ti.lhf@gmail.com
+972-52-702-4319
Born and raised in Jerusalem, Yardena moved to New York in 2017 to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan. After graduating, she worked in multiple Hebrew Schools across New York City teaching Hebrew and Jewish studies. In 2022, Yardena returned to Jerusalem where she directed an English language enrichment program for children from a wide spectrum of socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. She is still passionate about the craft of acting and loves clowning and improvisation.